The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-14

I AFTER reviewing the acuon taken W
increasing the weight limit the report
says:
''The latter change offered an op-
portunity to bring producer and con-
sumner into closer touch. The depart
ment then believed and still believes
that the parcel post in time win be-
come az important factor in improv-
ing and cheapening the food supply OF
the great cities"
Urges Taking Over Wires.
Declaring that steps should be taken
as soon as practicable to incorporate
in the postal service the telegraph and
telephone systems Of the country, Mr..
Burelson says:
1t is an interesting fact that. where
as policies of Government have been ad-
vocated and some adopted, the consti-
tutionalitv OF which have been seriously
questioned. the principle of Government
ownership and control of the telegraph
and telephone finds its greatest strength
in the Constitution. This opinion has
been shared by practically all postmas-
ters general of the United States. who
have held that the welfare and happi-
ness of the nation depend upon the full
est utilization of these agencies by
the people, which caan only be accom-
plished through Government ownership.
1T is. therefore, recommended that
early action be taken by Congress look
Ing TO the accomplishment OF this end.
Two-Cent Mail to Americas
Steady increase Of foreign parcel
post service, the report says. is suffi-
Gent evidence that this service is sup
plying a needed facility.
"A proposal has been submitted TO
each Of the thirty-three countries and
colonies of the Western Hemisphere,
with which We do not now have such
conventions, for the conclusion of postal
conventions providing that the United
states domestic letter rate shall apply
to letters from the United States for
each of said countries and colonies and
that the domestic letter rate of each of
said countries and colonies shall ap-
ply to letters therefrom destined for
tho United States. Early consideration
OF the proposals has been requested,
and it is hoped that by the end OF the
current fiscal year II will be possible
tc send a letter for 2 cents from the
United States to any country in the
Western Hemispere and have the reply
sent at the domestic rate Of the coun-
try in which the reply is mailed
Representations have been made to
the postal administrations of all the
countries of the Western Hemisphere
with which We have no such relations
suggesting the negotiation Of appropri-
postal money orders. The department
is now able TO report that substantial
progress has been made In that cirec-
ton, and II is believed that before the
end Of this fiscal year these conyen-
tons will have been approved by the
several countries affected and actually
put into operation
Rural Delivery Costly.
The Postmaster General directs at
tention 10 his belief that the rural free
delivery service is costing too much
and that salaries are too high in no
uncertain terms. He says:
New rural delivery service during
the past year has been extended to
considerably more than half a million
people. Nearly go rural routes. with
an aggregate length OF over 20.OCG miles,
were established.
The additional demands upon the
service imposed by the Transmission OF
farm products anG a larger bulk of
merchandise thro' 1 the mails have
been met. The rural carrier force has
also been of assistance both in village
delivery and in making parcel deliveries
at Offices OF the second class during
the holiday season.
The letting OF stsr-route contracts
on a basis Of slower schedules at pound
rates for the heavier and bulkier classes
OF mail has been the means OF assur-
ing 20 the department in the fourth
contract or Far West section alone q