The Washington herald., 1912-04-01
POST-OFFICE CAN CELEBRATE
A FOURTH" ALL IT'S OWN
investigators Assert July g. LIS, Should Share
Honors with independence Day-Name
Is Suggested

strongly against any realization on the
part OF Franklin and other early post
masters of the future of the post-ofrice.
But OF the two great problems with
which the post-otfice Is now wrestling
those Of second-class postage and rail-
way mail pay-they were not wholly un-
acquainted with the former. SO long ago
as the beginning OF the eighteenth CEN
tury, indeed, postmasters were allowed
to send their own mail free and as
printing presses were introduced about
this time most OF the postmasters be-
came publishers. the most famous Illus
tration perhaps being Franklin himself.
This practice continued for many years
until the Crown saw it to withdraw the
privilege because OF the fact that II did
not relish the tone OF the matter dis
seminated. While the situation Is by no
means parallel to that of to-day Il Is
interesting to note that the seeds OF
the present second-class mall rate were
planted more than two hundred years
ago, and through the wider dissemina-
ton of knowledge made possible by the
then practice greatly assisted in the has
tening of American Independence.
Speed n Later Factor.
OF railway trains and their functions
as mail carriers, the early postmasters
had Of course no thought. Undoubtedly,
however. the greatest single factor in
the development of postal communica-
ton has been the railway not only be-
cause it has provided much more rapId
transportation. but also because through
the introduction of the railroad post
office car and other improvements II
makes possible the sorting of mail IN
transit and thereby greatly Fastening its
delivery. Unfortunately. however. the
carriers find the ever-increasing service
required OF them by the Post-orflce De-
partment a steadily growing burden be-
cause of the fact that while this service
has been steadily enlarged, the scale of
pay which they receive has been SO re-
duced that at present they claim, back
ing their assertions with figures that
they are losing millions annually in this
connection Indeed so vital has the mat
ter become that one OF the greatest rail-
road men in the country recently de-
clared in commenting on the recommend
ations of the Postmaster General In this
connection that they were illogical and
unwarranted because OF distorted figures
and that his proposal. IL applied ger
orally to all the business OF the roads,
would throw them at once into bank
ruptcy.
Amazing Number of Pieces.
plications convey an idea OF the rate at
which the post-office has grown and
ranlified, II Is in the number Of pieces
OF mail handled and the size OF the army
OF employees necessary TO this work that
the most striking illustration is furnished
OF what has taken place since Little
Independence Day.
There are no statistics available as TO
the number Of pieces OF mail handled IN
the course OF the twelve-month succeed
ing Little Independence Day. but the
total could hardly have been more than
1,000.Oo0 while in 1910 II fell Just snort of
5000. .0O0. 600 pieces, according to the es-
innate OF the post-office authorities. Thus
the volume of business transacted has
increased probably fifteen thousandfold
since I775. To handle this enormous bulk
the labor Of nearly 10000 persons is now
necessary, and from the fact that the
members OF this army are scattered
throughout the land and are brought into
close touch with practically all the peo-
pie. II is easy 20 understand why this
its main political branch ever since the
extension of the civil service require
ments to most OF its employees.
Altogether this growth since the es-
tablishment OF the first independent in
stitution on July 25. II75. constitutes
what IS probably one Of the most re-
markable records in the development OF
the country, and lends color to the claim
for recognition Of the importance Of Lit
tle' Independence Day.