The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-27


terIninc Such plan would relieve the
postoffice department OF a heavy expense
~ IT rs no" Obliged to incur In the handling
government establishment
Rura Free Delivery.
The rural delivery service has dsvel-
oped IN twelve years from an experiment
recurring an appropriation OF $4,000 TO
one oi the largest branches of the postal
ture exceeding s35. 900. 600 The postage
on mater mailed on ruray routes is esti-
mated At about s7,ooo.ooO. The impor
OF people Is fully appreciated II brings
the farms and villages into closer com
m,lunleation with commercial and educa-
provement OF country roads BY making
rurai life more attractive IL stimulates
sgp1cIfnre; eor No doubt IT is partly re-
ewing 10 the marvelously rapid growth
OF this service. however. 1t Is but natural
that defects have developed. The cost
tbsn it should be oW is an mapn
time for considering carefully tho condi-
lions under which II is operated. for per
introduction OF such economies as are
consistent with n proper conduct OF the
service.
Charges for Transportation.
In so far as the rates of payment
ior transportation OF the mails arc fixed
pf contracts based on competitive bid
ding. there can be no doubt as 10 their
fairness. The larger part of this item.
rates fixed by Law. The charge for this
service during the past fiscal year was
nearly $4,000 900.
I'm one respect. the postal service IS
susceptible OF marked Improvement 1t
needs u more effective system OF super
vision. Over 10000 offices scattered
throughout the length and breadth OF
the lard arc directly dependent or the
department at Washington for instruc-
lions, for authority TO make expendi-
lures and for supplies. 1t would seem
city postofficcs the centers of convenient
postal areas by giving city posJmasters
supervisory authority over the smaller
OFFICES of tho ncighborhood,
- Ino Department. recommends ton for
ihe establishment OF postal savings banks
Is earnestly renewed. AS 9S per cent OF
the savings of tho people are deposited
in the banks OF fourteen states the need
Tor additional savings repositories for
other parts of the country is apparent
lbosc portions of tho United States now
wanting in such facilities could be readily
supplied through the instrumcntal!ty OF
n postal savings system.
In Foreign Bottoms.
OF the vessels carrying malls 10 the
orient more than 30 per cent fly foreign
llaes' while not a single steamship now
SiiE SSarriEihE our mails to Australasia and TO
South America, except the north coast.
fies the American flag. These parts of
the world are OF great commercial i'm
portance: and the maintenance OF fire.
quents fast and regular mail service
would be the first step in establishing
closer trade relations with them Con-
tracts Tor service To these countries can
not he secured under the present law
More liberal remuneration IS necessary
Legislation should be enacted granting
adequate mail pay TO American steam
ships on routes OF this character
To provide n simple and cheap means
OF transmitting small sums through the
mails. and 10 lessen the use Of coins.
bills and postage stamps for that pur-
pose, II is recommended that a form OF
postal note or check be adopted similar
20 The present money order but issued
Tor lower fees without written applica-
tion i'll fixed denominations less than $40
suggestions are made I'm the report
OF means by which the public could IA
cilltatc the work OF the postofice de-
partment. Among them are these;
Public Might Help.
The equipment OF every residence
with private mail box in cities having
carrier service. posting heavy nailings
early in the day. instead of the evening,
the general use OF n return address on
envelopes. the prompt notification of
postmasters of all changes in addresses:
and the exercise Of care in the proper
addressing OF all mail matter.
Some idea of The size OF the postal