The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-03
ANNUAL REPORT Of
POs1OFF|CE WORK MADE
CONTINUED ire.h page l.)

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II sllri.s mas heen o~eva.up;ishcd not
~ >uliA.i.ns the scvN.te. out NY ae'
Nei"pinS atoms p.oi.lauie llneS,
w hue postal lau4l.l.rs nave been
slta,l! enlarged. ~eM.vas.nus nave not
been taaue IN Il a,',tA-.tiu Ainner
t"t en4s when SHOW. on inNcStiSallon
to nc Justified by Sunu.liunS."
Inc establishing a. postal savings
hanNS al p~reS.uent... puSto.atcs MAS
~co...pteted caiiy IN t,i> ltSNaI ye;af. emu
ca June ~. l.i3-th. year coNereu ny
been extended to 4.Vu4 fourth class
poStotllces. as we'll as To $40 branch
olilNes and STATIONS III The larger cues.
Their ale now l.,A4. poStal savings
canhs al when patrons ma open ac-
counts. The nulnucr of depOS4turs is
approximately SOO.uuu n the de-
posts aggregate aOou. $4,000. 0UU. not
%includ!ng Si.ol4.14U Withdrawn ana
invested IN postal savings bonds.
On the basis OF tn. present monthly
net increase Of deposits 1t ID estimated
that he gross income of the Postal
savings system for the fiscal year end
inE June 80. 1919. Will noun to
500. 900 and the interest payable to
depositors to 100000. The income OF
the system for the fiscal year will
meet thc interest payments and the to-
eoa SApoAASeS W Soe Scu&1dI OL1Ces ouS
Will be approximately ~$275.UOO less
than enough to cover the entire ex-
pense of h service. However. the
postmaster generals report says. ut
Is expected that when the deposits
have increased to $50.000.0 900. which
at the present rate they will do soon,
the system will be seli-sustaining."
Preliminary Parcel Post Work.
The report contains no references to
SNNh,nOtc ushl0h hn,n SNVoINV0l n{~r.
December l, and. consequently. the
postmaster generals consideration of
the parcel post has to do only with
the preliminary work of establishing
the new system, which went into effect
on January l. Tentatively. however.
he recommends not only that the par
eel post rates he reduced. but that the
weight Of packages be increased to a
point above the maximum weight OF
eleven pounds. On this subject the re-
port says:
While the postage rates for the
new parcel post system range consid-
erably lower than corresponding ex-
press charges. 1t is believed that ex-
perience will show them to be higher
In some instances than is necessary in
order to maintain the service at cost.
Likewise. the restriction hat places
an ll-pound limit on the weight Of
po1SeiS AiidAASu S1touiu ne Te6aEueO as
merely tentative. After the system is
thoroughly organized on hat basis the
scope of the service in Its usefulness to
the public should be still further en-
larged by increasing the weight limit.
II properly developed under efficient
the parcel post viii
prove to be a most important factor in
reducing the cost of living"
Third and Fourth Classes.
Perhaps the most important rec
contained in the report
is that the third and fourth classes of
be consolidated so that books and
other printed matter may be forward.
ed by parcel post. At present the
postage charges for these two classes
OF mail bear no fixed ratio to each
other. For certain weights and zones
Inc parcel post rates are lower than
the third class rates. while in other
cases they r higher.
the report. lis likely to result in much
confusion and should not exist. Pack-
ages containing books or catalogues do
difter In any essential particular
from other parcels and they should be
handled by parcel post: Prior to the
enactment Of the parcel post law the
urged that these two
classes Of mail be consolidated, and
VAC Oh SuCn action IL
now renewed"
Would be Proper Step.
The report directs attention to the
by Associate Justice Hughes Of the
United States supreme court of the
p~ostot1ce departments recommends
lion that the postage rate on second-
class mail be increased from 1 cent to.
2 cents a pound. In the opinion Of
postmaster general favorable ac-
tlon by congress on the report Of the
would be q step towards
the proper adjustment of postage
charges.
There Is a widespread popular in
the report says, 'in the plan
lower the postage charge on LETT
from 2 cents to l cent an ounce.
The proposed increase in the second.
class rate would pave the way for this
change. making it possible TO reduce
the trst-class rate without departing
from the present policy of a self sup
porting postal service.
During the fiscal year 1912 more
than 3O0.O0O.OO0 pieces Of mail. hav-
lng an aggregate weight Of about ST.
100000 pounds, were carried free
the mails under the franks of
congressmen and of various govern
esta blishments. Had postage at
ordinary rates been paid on this
the revenues of the Depart
ment would have been increased by
more than 100000. 600. Postmaster
General Hitchcock declares that 1T IL
unfair to give the postof.
fee department no credit In the gov-
fiscal accounts for the ex-
pense OF performing this service. The
therefore renews its rec
ommendation that the practice Of
be disc ontinued and that lex.
islative authority be granted for the
use on official mail Of special stamps
to be furnished by the p%ostof1ce de.
partment on the requisition Of those
10 them"
In connection with establishment II
the parcel post. Mr.. Hitchcock rec
that legislation be enacted
looking to the readjustment Ut tho
to railroads for the trans
p%ortation Of mail. He points out that
many OF the roads will be entitled to
increased compensation on account Of
the increased volume of mail. He re.
news his recommendation that pay.
ments to railroads carrying the mails
shall be a on a car space basis and
the cost to the roads Of the mail trans.
portation.
The report recommends that civil
pensions based on length Of service
should be granted by the government
to postal employees when they become
superannuated. 1t Is likely that thu
expense Of such a system would be
mora than offoat hui Oalns e. &0.s