The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-02-11
Cut Letter Rate and Lower Par
Gel Post Charges, Suggests
Postmaster General.
BUSINESS METHODS TO WIN
Annual Report Draws Attention
to Franking Graft and
Its Misuse.
ASSOCIATED Press Mail Special to
The Advertiser.)

ASSOCIATED Press Mail Special to
The Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON, February Post
master General Hitchcock s annual re-
port, made public today, tentatively |
suggests reduction of some parcel post |
rates and increasing the limit of |
weight beyond eleven pounds; recon- |
mends civil pensions for postal em-
ployes; an increase in rates on second |
class mail which may pave the way for |
one cent letter postage; the consolida |
tion of the third and fourth classes
SO books and papers may be forwarded |
by parcel post; and points out that
during his administration, expense of
operating the postal service has been
cut down $45,0Oo,OCO.
In course of statement on the con.
dition of postal finances, Mr.. Hitch
cock says in his report:
elm 1911, for the first time since
1888, postal receipts exceeded postal
expenditures, leaving n surplus instead
of a deficit. A heavy loss of revenue
in 1912 due to the extraordinary amount
of franked matter mailed in the politi
cal campaign, created n temporary de-
felt, but since the close of the fiscal
year the income of the department
again has outstripped expenses.
"The year preceding the present ad-
ministration was marked by the largest
postal deficit on record, amounting to
$17 100000. During the next two years
the deficit was greatly reduced and la
ter eliminated. When compared with
the financial showing of four years ago
the reports of income and expense for
subsequent years indicated an aggre-
gate saving of about $45,00o,000.
"The transformation of deficit in
to surplus has been accomplished not
| by curtailing the service, but by devel-
oping it along profitable lines. While
postal facilities have been greatly en-
larged, extensions have not been made
in haphazard manner, but only when
shown on investigation to be justified
by conditions
Parcel Post.
The report contains no references to
subjects which have developed since
December l, and, consequently, the
postmaster general 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 parcel post rates be
reduced, but that the weight of pack-
, ages be increased to a point above the
maximum weight of eleven pounds. On
this subject the report says:
"While the postage rates for the new
parcel post system range considerably
lower than corresponding express
charges, it is believed that experience
will show them to be higher in some
instances than is necessary in order to
maintain the service at cost. Like.
wise, the restriction that places an H.
pound limit on the weight of parcels
mailed should be regarded as merely
, tentative. After the system is thor.
4 Oughly organized on that basis the
. scope of the service in its usefulness to
9 the public should be still further en-.
4 larged by increasing the weight limit
If properly developed under efficient
r management, the parcel post will prove
+ to be a most important factor in reduc-
0 ing the cost of living"
/, Book Post.
Perhaps the most important recon-
mendation contained in the report is
that the third and fourth classes OF
: mail be consolidated so that books and
other printed matter may be forwarded
by parcel post. At present the postage
charges for these two classes of mai
2 bear no fixed ratio to each other. Fol
certain weights and zones the parcel
: post rates are lower than the third
class rates, while in other cases they
!. are higher.
"This condition." it is pointed out
:. in the report, sis likely to result in
t much confusion and should not exist
Q Packages containing books or cata
logues do not differ in any essential
r particular from other parcels and they
0 should 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"
The report directs attention TO the
. approval Of the commission, headed by
Associate Justice Hughes, Of tho Unit
ed States Supreme Court, Of the post
. Office department y recommendation
! that the postage rate on second clasi
/ mail be Increased from one cent 10 two
cents pound, In the opinion Of the
1 postmaster general favorable action BY
/ congress on tho report Of the commits
D sion would be step towards the proper
, adjustment Of postal charges.
. Cheaper Letter Rate.
"Thero II a widespread popular Ia
tereft' the report says, Sin the plal
10 lower the postage charge on letter.
from two cents 10 one cent hn ounce
Z Tho proposed Increase Ia the second
class rate would pave the way for thil
! change making ID possible "a reduce
the irni class rate without departing
from The pFeseni policy ~ d fefanp
porting postal service
Congressional ofaft
During tho fsepl ytaf lple mon tbai
hnl nnu 400 pleenH NJ mail haYinR IA
aggregate weight NJ nloui N pro .0H
pplndfl were fafflfa ffee Through an
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1nd ~ fHuNuH HnffinmHnt establish
mfnif nHd pnHiaga ~ iin afAluaT.
fstff lffh paid "a ilif mRiirf Tbs fsg