The Calumet news., 1911-12-11
P. 0. PARTMENT
ON PAYING BASIS
Continued From Page one.

ol cent pounu. III Wow OF the
large profit accruing. on the other hand
from frst-class mail It was pointed
out that a readJustment of rates on
the basis of cost would eventually per-
init the adoption OF 1 cent postage for
letters.
The controversy over the depart
ment's recommendations on this sub
ject had the desired effect OF directing
popular attention TO the second-clas
mail problem and the final outcome
was the adoption by Congress of a
joint resolution creating a commission
to investigate the subject and make
report. Extensive hearings were held
by the commission during the summer
at which the officers OF the depart
ment presented data i'm support of their
contention as To the great loss in
CURED in handling second -class mail
and submitted recommendation for
gradual equalization of postage rates
on the basis of cost AS the first step
In that direction the Department sug-
gested that the postage rate on second
class mail be increased 1 cent pound
thus making a fiat rate of 2 cents a
pound, which charge should be regard
ed as merely tentative, howver. leav-
ing for future determination such ad-
ditional increase as may be found nee
essary to meet the cost. II is hoped
that the commission will look with
favor on this recommendation and
that Legislation providing for it's adop-
tlon will be enacted by Congress.
The Franking Privilege.
In the last annual report IL was rec.
| commended that the ranking privilege
be discontinued and that legislative
authority be granted for the use of spe-
cial envelopes and stamps in the free
transmission of official mail, such en-
| requisition through the agency of the
postoffice department. 1t is to be hop
ed that favorable action on this rec
ommendation will be taken at the COM
! ing session. The desirability of the
plan has been demonstrated by its APP
plcation to the postal savings system
| Every letter and package mailed in
conducting the business of the system
has been required to carry postage
sufficient for it's weight and class
Thus il has been possible to ascertain
the exact amount expended by the
government for postage in this new
branch of the postal service. A simil-
ar opportunity to determine the proper
postage charges against other branch
es of the government establishment
ought TO be afforded. BY granting tn,
desired authority Congress can aid In
n substantial way the efforts of the
department to render still more accur-
ate it's system of accounting. The i'm
portance of such a reform is appar.
ent when it is understood that the an
nual cost of carrying franked mai
reaches into the millions.
Shipment of Periodicals.
Among the measures adopted by tht
department during the year that viii
materially reduce the annual cost o
carrying second-class mail is that o
shipping monthly and semi-monthl!
periodicals by fast freight. The plaI
is being put into successful operation
without serious inconvenience to pub
fishers or subscribers. 1t will not on
ly result in a large saving to the gov
ernment by utilizing a less expensive
method of shipment. but what is still
more important to the business inter
ests of the country IL will insure {
quicker handling of first-class mail
BY taking out Of the railway postoflic'
cars the heavy periodical matter for
merly sorted en- eroute more rapit
distribution of letters is made possible
Thus the new method of shipping Ger.
tain periodicals will mean greater eff
ficiency in the handling of a class o
mail that is far more important To tn,
public. The saving from the new plar
when in full operation will amount I,
several million dollars year.
Railway Mail Pay.
Another problem of great conse'
quenco to the postal service that
should be acted on by Congress durinl
the coming session is the compensa.
tion of the railways for carrying tn,
mails. During the year the depart
ment completed the investigation be.
gun early in the administration witt
the object of determining what IL cost.
the railways to perform this service
and the report of the inquiry was sub.
mitted to Congress on the 12th o
August last The statistics obtained
during the course of the investigation
disclosed for the first time tho
cost Of carrying mail i'm comparison
with the cost Of carrying passengers
and express. They also showed tho
relationship of the cost Of mail trans
portation to the revenue derived by
the railways from this service. 1t ap-
peared that while many Of the rail.
ways and particularly the larger sys-
TENS. made heavy profits from mai
transportation. certain tof the lines
were actually carrying the mails at 9
loss. As n result Of the inquiry the
importance Of making some change ir
the method of fixing railway mail pay
became apparent. and the department
after giving the subject careful consid-
Grafton. decided TO urge the abandon
ment altogether of the present plan oI
fixing such compensation on the basis
Of the weight of the mails carried, g
plan that has proved to be exceedingly