The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-11-21
PARCEL POST To
net s3O,OOO,OOO
First Years Earnings viii Be
Twice Sum Estimated.
TOTAL INCOME $50, 100000

Contention That More Should Be
Paid Them For Carrying Matthew
Bill Will Settle lt-Readjustment of
Pay Every Four Years Hitherto.
1t has just become known in Wash.
ington that the profits to the govern
/ ment from the operation of the new
parcel post system during the calen-
dar year 1913 will be about $3O,O00,0O0.
The new system became effective on
Jan 1 last. 1t was estimated that the
profits for the first year would be
about $15,000,000, but the actual fig
ures now III possession of postal OFF,
cials convince them that the profit,
instead of being $15,000,00O, will be
$3O,000,OO0 for the first year
This will be interesting news to rail
Ing that their roads We're entitled to
extra remuneration for carrying the
mails on account of the operation of
the parcel post. 1t was learned also
from a reliable quarter that, even as
suming that the contention of the rail
roads was correct, there still would
have been a good margin of profit at
the end of the calendar year 1913 after
the payment of extra remuneration to
the roads.
Gross Revenue $So,ooo,00o.
If a parcel post adjustment were
made along the lines suggested by
! some of the railroads, probably not
more than $1OyOOO,OOO of this $3OO0O,-
600 would be due to the railroads as
extra pay. The total income from the
parcel post for 1913 will be around
$SO,OOO,OOO.
The whole question of railway mail
pay-that is, compensation to the rail-
roads for carrying the mails-is likely
to be readjusted next year. Immedi-
ately after the meeting of congress in
regular session in December a bill
will be introduced providing for this
readjustment. The measure is now be-
| ing drafted. 1t will seek to establish
an entirely new method of paying the
railroads for carrying the mails and
do away with the present archaic
method of computing the payment to
roads.
For some time members OF the
house postoffiee committee have been
considering the question of providing
new method of paying for mail
transportation. They have been con-
| suited in connection with the prepara-
, ton of the new bill, as have also the
officials of the postoffice department
most intimately identified with mail
transportation. The bill will be an
| administration measure.
Pay Readjusted QuadrennialIy.
Pay for carrying the mails is read
| justed only once every four years.
| For purposes Of the computation the
country is divided into four grand sub
divisions, in each of which the mail is
weighed once every four years. This
is accomplished in such a way that
the weighing is done in one district
this year, in the second district next
year, the third district the next year
and the fourth district the following
year.
The mail is weighed for thirty days,
and upon this basis a computation is
made for an entire year, showing the
average monthly amount Of mail car
ried When once made, this computa-
ton continues for a single road for
our years, and payment is made ac-
cordingly.
The bill now being prepared will
propose a new method Of fixing the ba-
sis of payment. 1t will propose rad
lcal change in the whole system of
railway mail pay and readjustment
that is expected to be fairer to both
the government and the railroads. The
new railway pay bill also will take
into consideration the paying of the
railroads for carrying the parcel post
matter and will seek to meet the COM
plants that have been filed by differ
ent roads, several Of which were will
ing to throw up their railway mail
contracts rather than carry the parcel
| post without additional pay,