The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-23

ON "A PAYING BASIS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-kecom-
monding an increase In the rates on
second class matter. President Tart
today sent to Congress y special mes
sage on the postoffice department.
transmitting with 1t the annual re-
port Of Postmaster General Hitchcock
and tho report OF the commission on
second class mail matter. which was
appointed by joint resolution Of Con-
sress on March 4. 1911. The COM
mission was composed of Associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court Charles
e. Hughes, President a, Lawrence
Lowell. OF Harvard University. and
Harry 4. Wheeler, president Of the
Association Of Commerce, Chicago.
Tho President endorsed the recon-
mendations OF the commission, ad-
vocattng an increase from the rate
OF cent pound TO cents a pound
on copies mailed by publishers to sub
seribers. to news agents and as sam
pie copies, and by news agents to
their subscribers or to other news
agents. Tho rate OF one cent for
each four ounces for copies mailed
BY other than publishers and. news
agents. tho President recommended
De unchanged, III aGCofuduCc with eAS
committees report. "
Second Class Too Cheap.
The message declared that the in
vesttgation conducted by the COM
mission showed the cost of rans-
porting second class matter is more
than i've cents q pound. and thae
the second cla4s service vas - hA
greatest burden OF the department
and had to be paid for by the profits
Melted by the other classes OF mall.
This II not right. the President said.
The other claGseS are thus discriTni-
mated against
However. 1t would be unfair to
pubiiSherH In his opinion, who had
built up their business on the basis
OF a one cent per pound rate. to make
cordfngly he recommended the smaller
increase. as was carried In the re-
port of the commission.
After giving the figures OF the post
Office department finances for the
year ending June 80, 1911. the Presi-
dent commented: II cannot speak
with too great emphasis OF the I'm.
provement In the department under
the present management. The cutting
down OF cost, the shortening Of
methods and the increase In EN-
cheney are shown by the statistics
OF the annual report"
Revenues Produce Surplus.
Tho revenues for the fiscal year
amounted to 3z3z.s79.S33.S0. bringing
about a surplus over expenditures Of
3zl9, ll8.1z. Thus, In. two years. re-
ports the President. there has been
wiped out q deflcit OF more than $17.-
OO0, 900.
During the same interval efficiency
has increased. according to the Presi-
deutB statement. There have been
established 3.744 new postoflces, de-
livery by carrier provided in lsS ad-
ditfonal cities and new rural routes
established. isis In number and ag-
gregAting 60.679 miies 10 extent. The
force Of postal employees has Teen In
creased by more than I, 900, and the
amount expended for salaries Is now
t3l4.0e0,0o0 more than two years ago.
The average salary has been increas-
ed from $3.50 to 3as7 for rural car
riers. and other salaries In proper
don.
Tho report shows that the postal
savings system was begun experiment.
tally In January. 1911, and that 1t has
now been extended 20 az 10 include
1880 presidential postOflices, which
includes practically all Of tho post.
offices Of that class. Preparations are
also being made to establish the xys-
tenn ct about 10000 fourth class Of
aces. Tho deposits In eleven months
have reached total Of 1000. 0OO
distributed among 7.7l0 national ana
State banks.
The President renews HE recon-.
mendation for the establishment OF a
parcels post, TO be begun flrst on rural
routes and In the city delivery service.