Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-04
CHANGES URGED
IN PARCEL POST
POSTMASTER GENERAL HITCH
COCK IN ANNUAL REPORT
OFFERS SUGGESTIONS
WOULD ADMIT BOOKS.
Head Of Postoffice Department Recon-
mends Raise Of Second Rate
and Reduction of Letter
Postage to. One Cent.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 3.-Post-
master General Hitchcock's annual re-
port suggests many means of 1mprov-
ing the parcel post system. 1t also sug-
/, gests an increase in rates on second
class mail which may pave the way to
pne.cent letter postage.
The parcel post section suggests the
reduction of some of the rates and an
increase in the limit on weight beyond
eleven pounds. 1t also recommends the
consolidation of the third and fourth
classes so books and papers may be
forwarded by parcel post.
The report urges civil pensions for
postal employees, and points out that
during the present administration the
expense of operating the postal serv-
ice has been cut down $45,000.000.
Suggests Lower Parcel Rates.
In regard to the parcel post, the re-
port says:
while the postage rates for the
new parcel post system range consid-
erably lower than corresponding ex'
press charges, it 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 that
places an eleven pound limit on the
, weight of parcels mailed should be re-
garded as merely tentative. After the
system Is thoroughly organized on
that basis the scope of the service IN
it's usefulness to the public should be
still further enlarged by increasing
the weight limit. If properly de-
yeloped under efficient manag 1ment,
the parcel post will prove to be most
important factor in reducing the cost
of living"
Provision for Printed Matter.
Perhaps the most important recon-
mendation contained in the report is
that the third and fourth classes or
mail be consolidated SO that books and
other printed matter may be Tor
warded 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
the parcel post rates are lower tnan
the third class rates. while In other
cases they are higher.
This condition" it is pointed out In
the report, 'is likely to result In much
confusion and should not exist. Pack
ages containing books or catalogues
do not differ in any essential particu-
lar from other parcels and they snouid
be handled by parcel post. Prior TO
the enactment of the parcel post law
the department urged that these TWO
classes of mail be consolidated, and
the recommendation Of such action is
now renewed"
Second Class Matter Rates.
The report directs attention to the
approval of the commission, headed
by Associate Justice Hughes or the
United States supreme court, OF the
postoffice departments recommends
ton that the postage rate on second
class mail be increased from one cent
to two cents pound. In the opinion
Of the postmaster general favorable
action by congress on the report OF
the commission would be step
toward the proper adjustment OF
postal charges.
"There is a widespread popular In
terest." the report says, Gin the plan
to lower the postage charge on let
tiers from two cents to one cent an
ounce. The proposed increase In the
second class rate would pave the way
for this change, making it possible to
reduce the first class rate without de-
parting from the present policy OF a
self-supporting postal service.
Avoid Deficit In 1911.\
In course of statement on the con-
dition of postal finances, Mr.. Hitch
cock says: J
I'm 1911, for the first time since
1888. postal receipts exceeded expend1-
lures, leaving surplus instead Of
deficit. A heavy loss Of revenue in
1912, due to the extraordinary amount
of ranked matter mailed IN the
political campaign, created a temper
ary deficit, but since the close Of the
fiscal year the income Of the depart
ment again has outstripped expenses.
During the fiscal year 1912 more
than 300 100000 pieces of mail, having
an aggregate weight of about $1,000
900 pounds, were carried free through
the mails under the franks Of con-
gressmen and Of various government
establishments. Had postage at the or
binary rates been paid on this matter
the revenues of the department would
have been increased by more than
SIC, 100000.