The Detroit times., 1912-02-22
TAFT OPPOSED TO
FEDERAL OWNERSHIP
Continued from Page One.

tinuance of free country circulation
for small country newspapers also is
recommended.
The commission expresses the be
lief that the railroads are charging
the government exorbitant rates FOR
CARRYING the mails and urges FED
eral investigation.
President Taft's message reads:
To the Senate and House OF Represen-
In transmitting the annual report oil
the postmaster general for the nscal
year ended June 80, 1911, IL gives ms
pleasure 10 call attention TO the tac'
that the revenues for the fiscal year
ended June so. 1917. amounted TO $237.-
STg S23.6O and that the expenditures
amounted to s237. 660.I05,4S, making q
surplus OF $219.11S.12. For the year
ended June 80. 1909. the postal service
4T9.77047. In the interval, this very
large deficit has been changed into a
surplus. and that without the curtain
ment of postal facilities Indeed In
the same time there have been estab-
lished 3.7i4 new postoffces, delivery
by carrier provided in 1S6 additional
cities and new rural routes estab-
lishsd ISIS in number and aggregat-
ing 60.679 miles in extent. The force
OF postal employees has been increased
by more than 5000. and a liberal policy
In the matter OF salaries has been fol-
lowed so that the amount expended
for salaries is now sii.O00,0OO more
than two years ago The average
salary has been increased from $s6y
to $g61 for rural carriers, 1919 TO
sl0S2 for postoffice clerks. SIO2l 10
$l.GSi for city letter carriers, and
s1,16S to $l.lS3 for railway postal
clerks.
The report shows that the postal
savings system was begun experiment
tally in January, 1911. and that II has
now been extended so as TO include
1900 presidential postoffices, which In
cludes practically all of the postofhces
OF that class. Preparations are also
being made to establish the system
at about 10000 fourth-class Offices
The deposits in ii months have reached
n total of ST.. 100000. distributed among
2,7l0 national and state banks.
The postmaster general recommends
as / have done in previous messages,
the adoption or a parcel post, and the
be ginning OF this in the organization
of such service on rural routes and IN
the city delivery service first
The placing of assistant postmaster
in the classified service has secured
greater efficiency. 1t Is hoped that
the same thing may be done with al
the postmasters.
The report OF the postmaster general
Is full OF statements OF the important
Improvements in the organization and
since the last annual report, and OF
tentative drafts OF legislation embody-
ing certain recommendations Of the
department. which need legislation to
carry them out.
There is only one recommendation
in which | can not agree-that 10 one
which recommends that the telegraph
lines in the United states should be
made "A part of the postal system and
operated in conjunction with the ma
gWa - nf
government ownership of public utill-
ties which are now being conducted
by private enterprise under franchises
from the government. 4 believe that
the true principle is that private en-
terprise should be permitted 10 carry
on such public utilities under due req
ulation as TO rates by proper author
ity rather than that the government
should itself conduct them. This prin-
ciple / favor because j do not THINK
IL in accordance with the best public
policy thus greatly to increase the
body OF public servants. OF course, IL
IL could be shown that telegraph SER
vice could be furnished to the public
than II - now furnished
to the public by telegraph companies,
and with equal efficiency, the argu-
ment might be a strong one In favor
of the adoption OF the proposition. But
am not satisfied from any evidence
that II these properties were taken
over BY the government they could be
managed any more economically or
any more efficiently or that this would
enable the government 10 furnish SER
vice at any smaller rate than the pub
lie are now required TO pay by private
More than this Il seems 10 me that
{ e-eefesterrattcr1 of the question ought
to lie postponed until after the postal
savings banks. come into complete and
smooth operation and after s. parcels
post has been established not only
upon tire rural routes and the city de-
iivcries but also throughout the de-
partment. Ii viii take some time to
perfect these additions to the actiyi-
ties OF the postoffice department aud
we may Well await their complete and
successful operation before We take
on a new burden In this very extended
cannot speak with too great en-
phasis of the Improvement I'm the post
office department under the present
management. The cutting down Of
cost. the shortening OF methods and
by the statistics OF the annual report
One OF the most important matters
refC rred 10 by the postmaster general Is
the proposed liking OF new rates OF
postage for second class mail matter
In connection with this subject have
the honor TO transmit herewith the re-
port or the commission on second -class
mail matter appointed pursuant TO a
gress, approved March 4, 1911.
The commission consists OF Hon.
Charles H. Hughes. associate Justice of
the supreme court OF the United Statcs:
President \. Lawrence Lowell. OF Har-
ward university: and Mr.. Harry A.
Wheeler. president OF the Association
of Commerce OF the city OF Chicago.
whose character, ability and expert
encC command for their findings and
recomne ndations the respect and con
fldenee of the congress and the -eoun-
try
s-e--EaaeAt-~s4ta-+--
tive ard critical Inquiry into the sub
tect % Ssgond-claSs mail matter after
adequate notice 20 all the parties In
interest. Extensive hearings were held
by the commission. az which the post
muster general and the second and
third assistant postmastCrs- general APP
pcared and submitted formal state
ments presenting the yarioLs c6nten-
tiOns OF the DOstOffce dcps rtment !,
together with all the relevant official
data and evidence relating 20 the cost
or handling and transporting second
class mail matter. Certain of the