Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-12
POSTAL Deficit:
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! WlM EflLll =.
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creased 1 cent pound, thus making
flat rate Of 2 cents q pound, which
change should be regarded as merely
tentative, however. leaving for future
determination such additional in
crease as may be found necessary to
meet the cost 1t Is hoped that the
commission will look with favor on
this recommendation and that legisla
tion providing for it's adoption will be
taken by congress.
The Franking Privilege.
In the last annual report it was rec
commended that the frsamking privilege
be discontinued and tAat Legislative
authority be granted for the use OF
Especial envelopes and stamps I'm the
free transmission of official mail, such
envelopes and stamps to be furnished
on requisition through the agency OF
the postoffice department. It is to be
hoped THAT favorable action on this
recommendation will be taken at the
coming session.
Shipment Of Periodicals by Freight.
Among the measures adopted by
the department. during the year THAT
will materially reduce the annual cost
of carrying second class mail is that
of shipping monthly and semi monthly
periodicals by fast +: light. The plan
is being put into successful operation
without serious inconveA ience to pub
hshers or subscribers 1t will not
only result in a large saving to the
government by utilizing a less expen-
sive method of shipment, but what is
still more important to the business
interests of the country it will insure
a quicker handling of first-class mail.
Readjustment Of Railway Mall Pay.
Another problem of great conse-
should be acted on by congress dur
ing the coming session is the compen-
saMom of the railways for carrying the
mails. During the year the depart
ment completed the investigation be-
gun early in the administration with
the object of determining what it costs
the railways to perform this service,
and the report OF the inquiry was
submitted to congress on the 18th of
August last. The statistics obtained
during the course of the investigation
disclosed for the first time the cost of
carrying passengers and express.
They also showed the relationship of
the cost of mail transportation to the
revenue derived by the railways from
this service. It appeared that while
many OF the railways, and particular
ly the larger systems, made heavy
profits from mail transpo rtation, GER
tain of the lines were actually carry
ing the mails at a loss. Az a result
of the inquiry the Importance of max
ing some change in the method Of fix
ing railway mail pay became apparent,
and the department, after giving the
subject careful consideration, decided
to urge the abandonment altogether
Of the present plan of fixing such COM
pensation on the basis of the weight
of the mails carried a plan that has
proved to be e0cee'i ngly expensive
and i'm other respects unsatisfactory.
I'm substitution for this method the
department recommended a plan by
which the compensation should be de-
termined on the basis Of the amount
of space required I'm cars for the
handling of the mails, making proper
allowances Of course for the extent
and frequency of the service per-
formed. ~ NM .n,
Reorganization " ne halfway Mail
Service.
Following the inquiry into the cost
Of transporting mail on the railroads
the department started thorough
investigation of the railway mail serv-
ice. In certain branches Of that serv-
ice most unsatisfactory conditions
were disclosed az the result Of inefh-
Client management. It was found that
in some divisions the chief clerks had
not inspected their lines for several
years. Employees on certain lines
were compelled to work exceptional
ly long hours, while in other parts of
the service sufficient period of train
duty was not required In many in
stances the sanitary condition of tia
cars had been neglected and the
health of the employees jeopardized.
The reports Of the inspectors who
made the investigation showed that
the government had been paying large
sums for car space that was not prop.
erly utilized, indicating lack of prop
er supervision on the part OF the Of
ficers of the service. Owing to the
conditions disclosed by the investiga-
tlon a thorough reorganization Of the
railway mail service has been under: