Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15

i MI,
Justice to the department and consequent
~ to the people at large. Or they might
not represent even a fair average Of the
| weight Of mail carried. and that would
work an injustice 10 b the h saua oas - ,...
comment in certain quarters rejecting
upon the departments dealings with rail.
roads in the matter OF mail transporta-
| ton We have given the subject the mos'
| careful consideration. and now We are
convinced that the only just and scientific
wav to estimate the compensation to bt
| Maid for mail transportation is to pay
! Tor the car SPACE actually used for tina,
| purpose.
The New Plan.
THE department has not attempted
| to arbitrarily set a. price upon this
space. 1t has called upon the railroads
themselves to furnish the data to show
| it's cost to them. These data have been
carefully compiled and checked UP by
the. department., and 1t Is now an easy
matter to determine what it costs the
railroads to carry the mail. We feel
this cost should be paid them and an
increase of 6 per cent above 1T as a
fair compensation, with further con-
sideration for special, fast or excep-
tional service
'.The old plan Of computation does
not safely provide fair basis for in
creased business. and yet every year
there is great increase in the amount
of mail matter carried over former
years. The railroads enjoy many ad-
vantages at the hands of the govern
ment The very fact that they carry
the United States mails is protection
to them and their properly. This should
be given some consideration In esti-
mating their compensation for service
performed for the government
y,lon
roads themselves shall render at stated
intervals reports of the cost to them of
the mail service. and by this the rate to
be paid them for mail space can be eaSi-
ly computed. With space as the cri-
terion, increase In the growth Of the serv-
ice can be fairly and accurately provided
for. This plan ought to have a great
moral effect of immense advantage to
the railroads themselves, for it will put
an end to suspicion against them which
of hostile legislation against them in the
states.
Parcels Post Proposed.
I'VE have successfully inaugurated
postal savings system, and its operation
Is admirable. In the same way we can
inaugurate parcels post system. I have
given a great deal of thought to this
subject.
ITO attempt to take over the express
business Of the country at one bound
would be disastrous. 1t would clog the
malls and infiict irreparable injury upon
the business interests of the country,
which must above all things be guaran-
teed ct all times safe and certain
service of unwavering regularity.
But we can prepare to take over this
service. We can experiment with it, as
is proposed. upon the rural routes. con-
on those routes Gradually we can
equip and organize the service to meet
the demands and then extend it
in the light of experience to a wider
field. In the same way, we can begin
such a service in the free delivery cities.
operating 1t much as the local parcels
delivery system is now operated. Elk
perience will teach what is necessary and
the service can be extended.
Last year a recomm endatiOn was sent
to Congress providing for an appropria-
ton for experimental service Of this kind.
1t never got out Of the committees to
which it was referred. This year we
have asked for specific appropriations.
and Congress must give consideration to
the subject and say yes or mo- to our
request. Careful consideration by Con-
gress of the plan proposed we feel GER
tain will show it's advantages and result
titled to this service just as soon as the
postzl service can be equipped for it and
handle 1t without detriment to the mail
service proper.
Appropriations Desired.
IF we can secure the appropriations
asked we can organize the service for its
new task and properly equip it. The idea
has been worked out to finish in the
department. We have asked for $50. 900
to meet the preliminary expense of estab-
fishing it on rural routes; $4,000 to try
1t In free delivery cities, and $4,000 for
investigation and experiment with it on
railway and steamboat routes.
I'VE have saved nearly $4,000. 600 by
putting the postal service on business
basis. We are surely entitled to the small
fraction Of this great sum which we shall
ask for the benefit of the people at large.
THUS 1t will be seen that each measure
advocated by the department., against
many Of which there has been unreason-
able and at times bitter opposition, was
in the line of an advancement for the
general good. They are all essential fea-
lures in one design to give the 10000 0O