River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-29
Cost Inquired Into.


Cost Inquired Into.
1.-THE commission reports that the
evidence submitted for its considera-
ton is sufficient to warrant finding
of the approximate cost OF harding
and transporting the several classes
of second-class mail known as paid
at-the-pound-rate, free-in-county, and
transient matter, in so far as relates
to the services Of transportation, post
office cars, railway distribution, rural
delivery. and certain other items or
cost, but that 1t is without adequate
data to determine the cost of the gen.
eral post-office service and also what
portion of the cost of certain other
aggregate services is properly assign
able to second-class mail matter. 1t
finds that in the fiscal year 1908, the
period for which the statistics for the
Post Office Department were COM
piled, the cost Of handling and trans
porting second-class mail, in the items
of transportation, post-off1ce cars, rail-
way distribution, rural delivery, and
certain miscellaneous charges, was ap-
proximately cents pound for paid
at-the-pound-rate matter, and for free
in-county and transient matter each
approximately cents a pound, and
that upon this basis, as modified by
subsequent reductions in the cost or
railroad transportation, the cost OF
aid-at-the-pound-rate matter, for the
services mentioned, is now approx
mately 51a cents a pound, while the
cost of free-in-county and transient
matter remains as formerly, namely,
each at approximately cents q
pound.
The commission suggests that the
department maintain an adequate
cost system, so that the effect of the
new rates may be closely observed
and proper basis may be secured
for the consideration Of any future
proposals"
President Taft again concurs in the
recommendation of the Postmaster
General for the adoption of parcel
post system, suggesting the Inaugural
ton of such service on rural routes
and in the city delivery service first.
Ownership Of Telegraph Opposed.
Hitchcock's recommendation for
government ownership of the tele-
graph lines under the supervision Of
the postal service Is not approved or
by the president. Regarding this he
says:
There Is only one recommendation
in which I can not agree-that is one
which recommends that the telegraph
lines in the United States should be
made part of the postal system and
operated in conjunction with the mail
system. This presents a question or
government ownership of public ut1li-
ties which are now being conducted by
private enterprise under franchises
from the government I believe that
the true principle is that private en-
terprise should be permitted to carry
on such public utilities under due regu-
lation as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government
should itself conduct them. This prin-
ciple favor because I do not think 1T
in accordance with the best public pol
lev thus greatly to increase the body
of public servants. Of course, II 1t
could be shown that telegraph service
could be furnished to the public at
less price than it is 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 If 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 to furnish serv-
ice at any smaller rate than the pub
lie are now required to pay by private
companies"
The report Of the Postmaster Gen
| eral is full Of statements of changes
in the organization and methods of the
postal service made since the last an
nual report, and Of tentative drafts OF