Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-03-01


In commenting on their findings the
president says:
The report discloses a most ex-
haustive and critical inquiry into the
subject of second-class mail matter
after adequate notice to all the par
ties in interest. Extensive hearings
were held by the commission, at which
the Postmaster General and the Sec
ond and Third Assistant Postmasters
General appeared and submitted for
NAL statements presenting the various
contentious of the Post Office depart
ment, together with all the relevant
official data and evidence relating to
the cost of handling and transporting
second-class mail matter. Certain OF
the leading magazines were represent
ed by counsel, while various other pub
locations 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 finding
of the approximate cost OF handling |
and transporting the several classes
of second-class mail known as paid
undergraduates, 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-ofice 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 ONCE Department were com
piled, the cost OF handling and trans
porting second-class mail, in the Items
of transportation. post-ofi1ce cars, rail-
way distribution, rural delivery. and
certain miscellaneous charges, was ap-
proximately cents a pound for paid
at-the-pound-rate matter, and for free
in-county and transient matter each
approximately 8 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-rat matter, for the
services mentioned, Is now approx
mately 51s cents a pound. while the
cost of free-in-county and transient
matter remains as formerly namely.
of4Iu n
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
recommendation of the Postmaster
| General for the adoption Of a parcel
post system, suggesting the Inaugural
ton of such a 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 of
by the president. Regarding this he
says:
There is only one recommendation
in which 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. I believe that
the true principle is that private en-
terprise should be permitted to carry
on such public utilities under due regu.
Iation as TO rates by prorer authority
rather than that the government
should itself conduct them. This prin-
cipIe 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. II II
could be shown that telegraph service
could be furnished to the public at a
less price than 1t 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 II these properties were taken
over by the government tfev could be
managed arv more economically OF
I 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 Postm aster Gen
eral is full of statements Of changes
) in the organization and methods of the
postal service made since The 'ast an
nual report. and of tentative drafts O
, legislation embodying certain recon-
mendations of the department which
, need legislation to carry them out. I
/, also calls attention to the fact tina
: the revenues for the fiscal year ended
| June 80, 1911, amounted to s237 ,S79
Y $3.50 and that the expenditure
3 amounted to $237 $50, 705.4S. making
I surplus of 219,118.12.
3 The report shows that the posta
: savings system was begun experiment
3 tally in January, 1911. and that It ha
Q now been extended so as to inciud
I $500 presidential post offices, whicl
q includes practically all of the nos