Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-03
Postmaster General Meyer Makes
Annual Report for His De-
partment.
LIMITED PARCEL POST
Asks Formulation to Establish Them
In -Four Counties As n Test-Should
Teach school Children How to
Use the Mnils.-Re comniends
Longer Vacations

WASHINGTON. November 29.--ln his
annual report for the fiscal year end
ed June 30 1868 Postmaster-General
Meyer gives the total receipts for the
year as s1o1,iiS.663, as against ex-
pcnditnrcs # s2os. Stl.SSG. tncreby !
SLOWING a deficit of SiG.S73,222, the
largest in the history of the depart
ment. with an additional loss from
fire, burglary, etc. OF s31"o6. Inc |
deilci, oc 1903 IL is estimated again /
viii exceed $4,000 900
Attention is particularly called TO n
number Of improvements in business
methods Of the department as tending 90
It's advantage and tho saving Of con- !
siderable amounts Recommendation IS |
again made for 'he creation &C the pc f,
ton of director of posts. at high salary. I
and who she'll hold office during good be-
nay.1r. tho object heirg to have con- !
tinuity Of policies for the benefit of the
postal service and the people Of the Uni ,
tod states.
LIMITED PARCEL POST.
Tie necessity for good roads is pointed
out in connection with the development
Of the rural FIRE, delivery service. 1t -
suggested that should Congress grant 'hc
department authority TO utilize rural
routes sim further by the establishment
nr a limited parcel post confined entirely
to Iural delivery routes II would then he
nossihlc To earn additional reTcuue q
mounting To- millions OF dollars and 1T the
same time benefit tho farmer by enabling
him 70 have merchandise delivered VIII III
ordered ny telephone or postal card, which
otherwise would not he purchased. "Thc
special parcel post" saws tho postmaster
general, will enable the farmers 10 have
small parcels delivered At their gates to
live better. and to obtain easily the ne
ces~aries ~ life" Permission Is request
cd tn establish eXNerimentallv limited
marcel rost In not to exceed four counties
IN order to demonstrate the rracticability
of the plan.
WANTS POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS
The postmaster general again urges leg
islation permitting the establishment OF
postal savings banks or depositaTies in
connection with post offices.
Experiments with stamp vending ma
! chimes says the postmaster general. are
still being conducted with every prosDect
, thst the defects which developed in tho
preliminary tests will be overcome Those
, machines. II is expected by the dopart-
nert will add immeasurahly to the public
ConVenlcDce.
Tho On n1paign Of education in the school
houses IN matters pertaining to tie ordin-
arv operation Of the postal service. SO
rs TO emrha size the Importance of care
'tl addressing. tho placing of the name
and address Of the sender on envelopes.
etc Is recommended to be continued. 50
, ms to save hundreds 81 thousands Of let
ters and packages from going to the
dead letter office each year MS Is now
: the case
IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICE.
4 marked improvement in the ethciencS
Of the service is noted by the postmaster
general which, he says IL due 10 th'
, rolicy of retaining postnlasters Of 81
! GRADES whose records have been sottSfnc
tori. We believes however. that the ap
continents of second and third clas
, nostmasters should lie with the post
. master general. as Is now the practic
a with fourth-class Offices. This. he sayr
9 would reserve to the President the ap
-. pointment of postmnsters at the NOR
!, important Offices and relieve him of
vast amount Of routine work that is
tax upon his time,
SHOULD HAVE POSTAL STATIONS
~ Tho postmaster general puts himsel
!. on record as being decidedly opposed I
y the law which prohibits the establish
h ment Of postal stations more than nv
d miles beyond the corporate limits of
rs city, although he says. no such restriC
y ton exists with reference to the exter
re sion of the free delivery service. The de
y partment he declares, should not h
re placed in the position of being able to d.
n liver mail from door 10 door and at tn
ff same time Of being forbidden to suppl
es the distric, 50 served with the other usu'
-. nostal convenences. TIE repeal Of II
er law complained ~ Is urged.
tie The maintenance of suitable post
V. service in New York city, it is stated, h.
comes more dinlcult ench year and r.
ouires Increased expenditures In order
reduce So far possible the heavy col
ty gestion Of mail matter there. Tho pos
m. master general speaks of what has het
e. done toward remedying this condltio
nd and saws that n night delivery in u
IN residential section has gone far in Nh
er direction.
y" LONGER VACATIONS DESIRED.
nv Recommendatio is again made that q
VS.. leave of absence with pay allowed by la
all to employees OF the postal service be
ed creased from fifteen to thirty days whe
,e- ever the postal revenues warrant it,
ire While favoring an increase in pay
lat the supervisory employees in post Office
sor the postmaster general says he has Il
to- estimated for additional promotions
the coming year because of the gre
IN ho