The Washington herald., 1913-08-04


TEN, the postal savings system. and
third-class mail rates. three of the most
important branches of the postal service,
made since the Inauguration of the pres
ent administration, We're announced in a
statement last night by the Postmaster
General.
The most important change made was
in the parcel post rates. They are lowered
greatly. and the weight limit after Au-
gust Is, when the new order becomes ef-
fective, will be twenty instead OF eleven
pounds.
The rate of postage for local delivery
will be reduced from cents for the first
pound and ! cent for each additional
pound to cents for the first pound and
! cent for each additional two pounds or
fraction thereof. The rate for the first
zone will be reduced from cents for
the first pound and cents for each ad-
ditiOnal pound to cents for the first
pound and cent for each additional
pound. and the rate for the second zone
will be reduced from cents for the first
pound and I cents for each additional
pound to cents for the first pound and
l cent for each additional pound.
The fee for insurance of parcel post
previously at ~ cents II all
cases. has been changed to cents for
parcels not exceeding declared value
OF SIS, the fee of 10 cents being continued
for parcels over SIS and not exceeding
so in value. In connection with the
handling of parcel post mail, the collect
on-delivery service was inaugurated on
July ].
Working Methods. Changed.
In addition TO these changes, many
other changes in the working methods
of this bureau have been made, result |
ing in economies, as well eXpediting |
the transaction of public business. These |
reforms will materially contribute toward |
bringing about for the first time in many |
years real and substantial surplus for |
the postal service at the close of the !
present fiscal year.
The policy OF Postmaster General Bur- |
Lesson has been to assemble under one |
managemnt all matters pertaining to the |
fiscal operations of the postal service.
The Third Assistant Postmaster General, |
4. NJ. Dockery, is at the head of the |
bureau having jurisdiction over these
matters. This bureau is composed of siy
divisions. with about 500 clerks. These
are the Division of Finance, having su-
pervision Of the collection and distribu-
ton of postal receipts amounting tC
more than s265, ,OO0.10 annually; the d.
vision of Postal Savings, having superv;-
sion of postal savings business, the de
rosits rapidly growing, and amounting al
the present time to approximately $3j.-
tt0,O0c: the Division of Classification, hav-
ing supervision of the classification of |
mail of all classes, the collection of pos
tage thereon. amounting to more than
NO ,oO0,0O, and the administration of the
laws pertaining to the franking privilege |,
and those recurring newspapers and
periodical publications to render Semi
annual statements of ownership, circu
lation. &c; the Division of Money Or
Gers. having supervision of the postal
money order system, which issued and
Paid during the last year money order. 1
= mounting to approximately 10000 cOJ:
the Division of Stamps, having supervi-
sion of the issuance 10 postma sters of
postage stamps. postal cards. and j
envelopes for sale to the pub-
lie, amounting during the past year to
more than SIS, ,0oO. coo; and the Division
Of Registered Mails, having supervision
Of the registry system and the payment
OF indcmnities for lost registered ard in.
sureu parcel post mail. such payments
amounting during the last year to more
than S57.00l
Postmaster General Burleson yester- q
day expressed himself as we'll pleased
win tne manner in which the bureau of
<hsSisldut General
IS being conducted, all of the divisions
being up to date. He pointed out that
under the direction of the Third Assist a
ant Postmaster General there has been a
L reorganization of the postal savings
orce, and elimination Of duplication of
work and unnecessary supervision. The i
Instructions to posrsnasters and to posi-
al savings depositary banks have been 1
revised along lines that will facilitate i
md simplify the postal savings business I
II postoffices and in the department
Among the important changes are =
hose permitting deposits and withdraw 7
us by mail. 1t is now easy for persons i
living in remote sections to have the Il
'enefit of the service. Akin to these I
hanges is that permitting postmasters g
o redeem postal savings cards in cash, =
instead of going through the roundabout =
rocess of opening an account and then 4
closing it. As further i'm L
efforts now are being made l.
o secure the necessary legislation to re- N
move the restrictions placed on the "
mount of money which may be de- =
osited, with a proper limitation. of n
curse, on the amount upon which inter- o
st is to be paid. n
The extension of postal savings facili- Z
les to new offices was practically dis Z 81
ontinued twelve months ago. but during :,
uly arrangements were made for the s,
Immediate extension of the service to 1t
a Presidential offices, which heretofore 81
ave been denied postal savings facili- y
les. Upon the completion of these ar r.
lngements. all Presidential offices will r,
ave the service. investigations are up- NJ