Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-26
WORKING FOR REFORM
IN POSTAL MATTERS
,,-.lcrick q. Reach Talks of Needed
improvements in the Service
10 All Patrons.

rr.aoricl, g. Beach. proprietor and
...,..,tc editor OF the Scientific Amcr-
r, .r Sew York. cditor-in-chicf of the
r,.,cIopaodia Americana. founder OF
.,. New York Camera club. and prosi-
ami af the Postal Progress league of
~. United States arrived in Salt Lake
,..farday afternoon. accompanied by
49, Beach and "a party of friends. Mr.
y.s.h De- en- route TO New York after
,.n TO the Pacific coast. Tic o. os-
-.auy interested in matters pertain
e. ID, nostal service Of the country and
@ .Hyocatlng many reforms in that
r-.r.h. In an interview Mr.. Beach
aVhat we want Go accomplish and
.,,o14a 20 DO, if --lsslbbe is 60 have the
cancels post ~ uii--lsrs- go as 20 pric-
r,4uy consolidate the present third and
t,urfb class mail matter into one class
80 b4sIs of cents per pound instead
of 1g as is now the case, or "a rever-
si,u to the rate IN vogue In 1874 We
,..r also endeavor TO have the weight
,i,-if raised from four to II pounds for
,,s,.. 20 most merchandise which Is the
,.Irrt sdt ;Sed by an foeign countries
having postal treaties with the United
ANOTHER matter We desire 10 accom-
rlI.n Il the devising Of some means
r.b.rehv the present large postal deficit
., he eliminated This deficit has
evisan through the general introduce
tI.n of the rural free delivery system
throughout the country
aAe % result Of the extension Of
Ella. svstem, and the fact that the pres
.rl law limits the carrying capacity
,f the rural deliveryman In "a wagon Co
. rounds per day, four-pound parcels
h..rr the limit, a deficit must necesaar-
..'rrs 25-pound limit was put in the
bill because Of the opposition TO- the
measure by Senator Platt, who is presi-
a-rt Uf the United states Express COM
r4ry who fought the bill from start TO
finish
.It has boon demonstrated that tho
average weight rural free delivery
WAGON can carry conveniently is 250
mounds. SO the average system curtails
frs possibilities Of the situation by
abouf nine-tenths. To assist in eHmin-
atinr the deficiency. it is proposed To-
establish @ very low local parcels post
rate in such a manner that farmer
living on a postal route can order gro-
caras. dour and other personal and
household necessities 10 be- sent him by
wreaIs post He likewise cam send
small lots Of farm produce To dealers iu
ralr-bv towns The schedule Is arr
ranged as follows.
Parcels up to 1-24 a cubic foot lNGXl2
inches. 1 cent.
Larger parcels up to . cubic foot
6yl2Xl2 inches, 8 cents.
Larger Parcels up to / cubic foot. Ok
1924 inches. size Of the ordinary suit
case or peach basket 10 cents.
"The salary OF the average carrier iu
1905 was $3.50 His average earnings
with the 2j-pound load Limit WAS not
more than 81 per month, or "a yearly
income OF Sl32 for the year. The aver
age Joss per route per annum was.
therefore. about Sl33 and for the 39lii
routes in the country now operating n
sum total of S29000,O00, or enough TO
nav the Standard oil company fine.
"Iuier tho schedule ] have quoted, &c
o. estimated that the additional inComo
viu Doe probably 81 more than expenses
r1 the whole route. That amount OF
profit Boo place of loss monthly on AN Of
Che routes of the country would soon
pay on the $lI0000o0 of existing def
ut
I've aim 20 have a parcels post based
ou the scent pcr-pound tariff with am
ll-pound weight limit In our own coun.
try We intend to exchange with for
agu countries desiring to do so, ON an
International basis Of II cents, or "A
similar basis g. TO be agreed upon.
AIR. Beach also favored tho postal
savings bank plan. saying that it would
mean "a positive guarantee 10 the depos
it1r as the United states would 90
necessity be behind the banks,
m we had postal savings banks.
said Mr.. Beach "in the event OF "a panic
There would be no clearing house ccru-
hcltes 10 befuddle the mind of tho more
ignorant. The governments resources
would enable SOME more satisfactory
4 arrangement 20 be made, and, II cur
uncy could not be issued. there would
sIu bc United states certificates of
deposit, amounting ga value to a gold
4 bond
Turning his attention TO things scien'
t.ic. MI Beach said h. though dying