Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-22
TAFT FOR RAISE
IN MAIL RATES
In Message to Congress, Presi-
dent Concurs in Recommen-
dation of Commission.
INCREASE CENT A POUND
Periodicals and Newspapers Are Az
fected-Continue Free in
County.

Washington, Feb 22.-President Tart
has sent to both houses OF congress a
special message, accompanied by the
annual report OF the postmaster gen
eral for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1911, ana the report OF the federal COM
mission on second class mail matter.
The presidents message is as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
In transmitting the annual report Of
the postmaster general for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1911, It gives me
pleasure TO call attention to the fast
that the revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1911, amounted to s237,-
$S79, S23.60 and that the expenditures
amounted to $237. $50, 7O4.4s, making
surplus of s219,11S12. For the year
ended June 80. 1909, the postal service
was In arrears to the extent of S17.-
47e.770.47. In the interval this very
large deficit has been changed into
surplus. and that without the curtail-
ment of postal facilities. Indeed, in the
same time there have been established
3,744 new postofIices, delivery by car
rier provided in 1876 additional cities
and new rural routes established, 2,516
in number and aggregating Go.679 miles
in extent.
The force OF postal employees has
been increased by more than 5000. and
a liberal policy in the matter of sala-
ries has been followed, so that the
amount expended for salaries is now
S140O0.000 more than two years ago.
The average salary has been increased
from $500 to 1861 for rural carriers.
1910 to $1.0s2 for postoftice clerks,
$1.021 TO $1,0S4 for city letter carriers
and 81, les to S1.1S3 for railway postal
clerks.
The Postal Savings System.
The report shows that the postal saw
ings system was begun experimentally
In January, 1911. and that 1t has now
been extended so as to include 1900
presidential postoffices, which includes
practically all OF the postoffices of that
class. Preparations are also being
made to establish the system at about
10000 fourth class Offices. The de
posts in eleven months have reached a
total OF $11.OO0.O00. distributed among
2,71o national and state banks.
The postmaster general recommends.
MS ! have done In previous messag es,
the adoption OF parcel post. and the
beginning OF this in the - ganization
OF such service on rural routes and in
the city delivery service first. The
placing OF assistant postmasters in the
classified service has secured greater
efficiency. 1t is hoped that the same
thing may be done with all the post
masters.
The report OF the postmaster general
is full Of statements OF the important
improvements in the organization and
methods OF the postal service made
since the last annual report and OF ten
tative drafts OF legislation embodying
certain recommendation OF the depart
ment which need legislation to carry
them out.
Opposes Government Control Of Teis.
graph Lines.
There Is only one recommendation In
whict cannot agree-that is. 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 mai
system. This presents u question OF
government ownership OF public utili
ties which are now being conducted bJ
private enterprise under franchises
from the government l believe that
the true principle is that private enter
prise should be permitted to carry OIL
such public utilities under due regula
tion as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government shoulC
itself conduct them. This principle
favor because l do not think It In &C
cordance with the best public policy
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 a les.
price than IL is now furnished TO tn,
public by telegraph companies ant
with equal efficiency the argumen
might be a strong one in favor OF tn,
adoption Of the proposition.
But l am not satisfied from any evi
fence that IL, these properties wer,