The Green Forest tribune., 1912-03-01

Su ny counsel, While VaflOuS OIH6I pup lications appeared by representatives.
 "The findings of the commission confirm the view that the cost of handling and transporting second- class mail matter is greatly in excess of the postage paid, and that an in crease in the rate is not only justified by the facts, but is desirable.'
 Cost Inquired Into.
 The commission reports that the evidence submitted for it's considera- ton is sufficient to warrant fnulng of the approximate cost of handling 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 ears. railway distribution, rural delivery, and certain other items Of cost, but that it is without adequate data to determine the cost of the gen eral post-ofice service and also what portion of the cost of certain other aggregate services is properly assign able to second-class mail matter It 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-office cars, rail way distribution, rural delivery, ant certain miscellaneous charges, was ap- proXimately 6 cents a pound for paid at-the-pound-rate matter, and for free in-county and transient matter each approximately 5 cents a pound, and that upon this basis, as modified by subsequent reductions in the cost of railroad transportation, the cost of paid-at-the-pound-ra matter, for the services mentioned, Is now approxi- mately 51a cents a pound, while the cost of free-in-county and transient matter remains as formerly, namely, each at approximately cents 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 a proper basis may be secured for the consideration of any future proposals
 President Taft again concurs in the recommq 7ation of the Postmaster General for the adoption of parcel post system. suggesting the inaugura- tion of such service on rural routes and in the city delivery service first.
 Ownership of Telegraph opposeo.>
 Hitchcock's recommendation fCf government ownership of the tele- graph lines under the supervision of the postal service is not approved of 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 a part of the postal system and operated in conjunction with the mail system. This presents a question of government ownership of public utili- ties which are now being conducted by private enterprise under franchises from the government. l 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 I favor because I do not think it in accordance with the best public pol icy thus greatly to increase the body of public servants. Of course, If 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 I 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 l 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 legislation embodying certain recom- mendations of the department which need legislation to carry them out. It also calls attention to the fact that the revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1911, amounted to s237,S7 | S2360 and that the expenditures amounted to s237 ,66e, 7054S, making a surplus of $219, ,11S.12.
 The report shows that the postal savings system was begun experiment tally in January, 1911, and that it has now been extended so as to include 7,500 presidential post offices, which includes practically all of the post offices of that class Preparations are also being made to establish the sys. tenn at about 10000 fourth-class offices. The deposits in II months have reach ed a total of $11,000,000, distributed among 2,710 national and state banks ~~~s~~.->-. .>->->~~~---~,>->>>~~~r-~ --~~~~>~~ my sit out'n de Bible. Dis hyar chile