Bisbee daily review., 1911-10-25
His Idea Is 10 Increase the Ef- iiclency of the Department
 and Reduce Cost
A MORE MODERN WAY
 OF DEALING WITH ROADS
Proposal iO Abandon the Old Periodical Weighing Test, Trial to Be Made of
 Parcels Post
lBy Victor EIliott.J

saAlSHtG NiN the present State or et fciency of the Eost office cepart msnt Postmaster General Hitchcock contem plates making three inportanl changes in the postal service. Thes' are a readiustment or the rates oi postage. especially these goyernin second class mail matter. the exten tension Of the parcel post system noi only on rural routes. but in the cities that have free mail delivery as well as on railways for transports Oi mails end a rea6jgstment Of this com pensation.
 Much criticism has Neen heaped upon the post office department ba- cause of the second class mai This has been caused largely by transformation. according to the postal officials This question has caused The department so much trouble that it is being given considerable consideration by pos tai experts and their recommenda. tions for the remedy Of this weak spot in the postal system are being looked forward 10 with much interest No effort Is being made by the depart. ments to increase the rates of second class postage as have been charged. declare the officials. There is no de sire on the part or the postmaster gen eTai to run the department at profit What the officials Of the department are striving to do is 10 furnish the best possible service at cost
 Commission Report
 On December l, according to the terms Of the law. the presidents spec. fan 70 submit it's report on this question. What il recommendation is will not be known, but it may recommend the pol icy advocated by the postmaster gen. erai.
 The experience in the dispatch of magazines by last freight, instead ol the more expensive way in which they were formally sent has taught the or iicials of the postoGice department that the estimated cost or former years for transportation of second class matter must be reduced
 The main object of the proposed re. form of the rates Of the second class mail Is 10 so adjust the rates that the public Is not forced to pay a tax on the transportation of the enor- nous bulk Of newspapers and period icals that are annually sent through the mails. IL is not the purpose of the postal officials, they say, to discrimin- ate unfairly against newspapers or magazines for their educational value is fully appreciated. but they form such d large portion Of the mail and the cost is so much greater than for transportation of mail of other classes that something had 10 be done.
 Anticipated System
 investigation by the depsytment has shown that the present method of computing pay 10 railroads for car rying the mails is unscientific and uu- reliable. lt is impossible with trial weighings 10 correctly determine what compensation should be made for car rying the mails. The mails might be padded during the weighing period. and that would work an injustice upon the departmnet, for it would be forced to pay a sum much larger than the real average would call for For many years there has been more or less comment reilecting upon the depart ments dealing with the railroads in the matter Of mail transportation. AT. ter a study of the problem. postal of- hcials have come to tke conclusion that the only fair and scientific way 10 determine the correct compensa- ton Of the roads for the transporta tion Of the mail is to pay for car space actually used for that purpose.
 The department has not attempted Co arbitrarily set a price upon The space. The railroads have been re. quested 10 furnish data showing cost Of such space 10 them. This informa. rion has been studied and checked. The department feels that this cost and an increase Of 6 per cent above il should be paid the roads for the transportation Of the mail 4 special compensation should be paid for the special fast mail trains.
 The old plan of computing compen- sation Of the railroads does not pro vide for a fair basis for increased busi- ness, and yet every year there is ar increase in the amount Of mail mat ter that is carried. The railroads enjoy many advantages at the hands of the government. The fact that they carry the United States mails is a protection to their property. It is no more than fair. declare the postal Of fcials. that this should be given some consideration in estimating the com. pensation.
 Parcels Post
 Now that Postmaster General Hitch. cock has seen the successful inaugura- ton Of his pet plan Of postal saving system. he is preparing to urge con. eressiOnal action on another Of his plans. and that is a parcels post sys- tenn.
 The department resliSes that t would be folly to attempt 10 take over at one tune the enormous business of the express companies. II would clog the mails and infict irrepaTable injury apon The business Of the coun- try. The idea Of the department is 10