The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-18

railway postal clerks who arc absent
with pay on account of sickness. the
expense OF employing such substitute
To DO 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 tho
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 saw
inGs dcpositors To deposit any amount"
Growth of Parcel Post.
The report Indicates that the growth
OF the parcel post business has been
phenomenal. The experience gained
IN the operation of the system under
the revised rates and weights has
shown that a further reduction of rates
ana increase Of weight limit is justi-
ned" says the Postmastcr-Gcneral
1t 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 ct
iicicnt conduct OF the postal service
and that changes in the regulations
that Will have The effect OF increasing
tho volume of parcel post mail should
Toe made gradually and only after cX-
porience and investigation have shown
that they may be put into effect with
out loss or detriment to the service"
In connection with what is referred
TO as the "prodigious growth of the
parcel post service. particularly. Mr..
Rurleson discusses additional compen-
sation 10 the railroads for carrying. tho
mails. lie says that data is being So
cured by the department. which will
enable him to lay before Congress at
a later date his conclusions "as to what
VIII he just and adequate compensa
ton for all services which The rail-
roads have rendered or will he called
upon TO render the government"
1t is pointed out that the mailings
of newspapers and periodicals as sec
ond class matter at the l-Ccnt-a- pound
rate and free i'll the county OF publ
cation, FOR the first time in the his
tory of the postal service exceeded It
100000, 600 pounds during the last hs-
cal year.
In connection with the transporta-
ton OF magazines ana other bulky
second class matter by fast freight in
stead OF by the regular mail routes tho
Postmaster General expresses earnest
" the hope that Congress will remove
the prohibition against the extension
of this system of handling second
class matter and enablo the depart
mont 10 apply it whore found pritcti-
cable"
Delivery In Small Towns.
1t is the announced purpose OF Mr.
Hurleson not to encourage the cX-
tension OF free delivery OF mails in
villages, because OF tho infcr!ority of
the service and the imposs ibIity TO Sc
cure economical administration OF il.
It is his intention. therefore. wherever
practicable to utilize the services OF
rural carriers for tho delivery OF mails
in small towns
ON that phase OF the service. the re-
port says
"As rural routes emanate from prac-
ticaliy all OF tho places where this
village delivery service would be de-
sired, the carriers should be used to
make such deliveries ~ may be de-
s!rablc 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 salrios should
be based upon an eight-hour day. With
this change these carriers could be
used. not only to supplement tho gen
eral delivery service as Indicated, but
In many instances in the delivery OF
parcel post matter al VOL. thus oh
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 tho distance from the post office
or the corporate limits OF tho city or
town"
In conclusion Postmaster-Ge General
Burleson points out that tho Post-Of-
fee Department Is essentially busi-
ness institution. which touches every
homo In the land, A high standard OF
efficiency ia demanded OF all postal EN-.