The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-18
Would Provide Substitutes

"To extend the provisions of exist
ing law SO as to provide substitutes
for railway postal clerks who are alb
sent with pay on account of sickness,
the expense of employing such sub
stitute to be borne by the government
instead of by the clerk
ITO authorize the issuance of postal
money orders payable at any money
order office.
ITO authorize the removal of the
Limitation on the amount of postal
savings deposits with the proviso that
interest shall not be paid on more than
$1,000. This will permit postal savings
depositors to deposit any amount"
The report indicates that the growth
of the parcel post business has been
phenomenal. 1.-THE experience gained in
the operation of the system under the
revised rates and weights has shown
that a further reduction of rates and
increase of weight limit is justified -
says the Postmaster General.
ut is believed that the parcel post
should be made eventually to serve the
people as fully and completely as pos
sible without interfering with the es-
ficient conduct of the postal service,
and that changes in the regulations
that will have the effect of increas-
ing the volume of parcel post mail
should be made gradually and only
after experience and investigation have
shown that they may be put into effect
without loss or detriment to the serv-
ice"
In connection with what is referred
to as the "prodigious growth" of the
parcel post service, particularly, NJ.
burleson discusses additional compen-
sation to the railroads for carving the
mails. He says that data is being Sc
cured by the department which will
enable him to lay before Congress at
later date his conclusions "as to
what Will be Just and adequate COM
pensation for all services which the
railroads have rendered or will he
called upon to render the government
Newspapers and Periodicals
1t is pointed out that the mailings Of
newspapers and periodicals as second
class matter at the 1-cent a pound rate
and free In the county of publication
for the first time in the history o:
the postal service exceeded a billion
pounds during the last fiscal year"
In connection with the transportation
of magazines and other bulky second
class matter by fast freight instead of
by the regular mail routes, the Post
master General expresses earnestly the
hope that Congress will remove the
prohibition against the extension of
this system of handling second class
matter and enable the department. 10
apply it where found practicable"
1t is the announced purpose of Mr..
BurleSOn not to encourage the exten
sion of free delivery of mails in viii
lagos, because of the inferiority of the
service and the impossiblity to So
cure economical administration OF r.
1t is his intention therefore, wherever
practicable to utilize the services o-
rural carriers for the delivery of mails
in small towns.
On that phase of the service the re-
port says
''As rural routes emanate from prac-
tically all of the places where this
village delivery service would be de-
sired, the carriers should be used to
make such deliveries as may be de-
sirable and feasible to the residents
of the villages. The compensation of
rural carriers. however, at this time
is based on the length of their routes
and to make them available for the
service indicated their salaries should
be based upon an eight-hour day. with
this change these carriers could be
used not only to supplement the gen
eral delivery service as indicated, but
in many instances in the delivery of
parcel post matter as well, thus OBJ
Waiting the necessity for additional
horse hire for the delivery of tho
larger packages. The compensation of
rural carriers should therefore be
changed from mileage to an eight
hour basis and these carriers should
be permitted to deliver mail regardless
of the distance from the postoffice or
the corporate limits of the city ci.
town"
In conclusion Postmaster General
Burleson points out that the postoffice
department is essentially a business