New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-12
Government Ownership and Manage
meni of the POstOillce.

mcut OF the ftSlOlntts
The postofice is generally cited as
the best illustration OF government
management. 1t needs. therefore, spe-
cial attention. It should be borne IN
mind that the post originated with the
need of kings and rulers to send mes
sages regularly to distant provinces
and that only afterward. as a matter
of convenience, did the post serve pri-
vate individuals by either giving them
transportation or by carrying messages
or parcels
The second reason for government
management was the need for secrecy,
first of government messages, then OF
private business, IT being thought that
the government might possibly be best
trusted in this regard.
Yet complaint is frequently made
that postmen deliver important letters
to irresponsible ianitors and elevator
boys i'm apartment houses in cities, and
that many cases Of loss and betrayal OF
confidence thus result. Is the post
office more TO he trusted in this re-
gard than the private telegraph or telc-
phone companies?
The development Of the uniform rate
of postage on letters for all distances
is late not until 1910 in England and
in the SOS in this country but TINS
mere simnlifcation of rates has had
much 10 do with the success Of the
postal service and with its extension.
IL is probably this uniform rate that
has thrown into the foreground the
social and educational service of the
most i'm sending into the remOtest dis
tricts ut a nominal charge far below
cost i'm those localitiesl newspapers.
magazines. books and other means or
training. Here again we properly put
emphasis on the social and educa-
tional value of this work in remote dis
tricts. where letters and papers are
carried at loss. Yet the Western
Union Telegraph Company reports that
it follows the same policy, and that
large percentage of its smaller offices
are continued at loss.
Postal Savings Banks.
For some decades in foreign coun-
tries (since 1861 in England. and of
late under the Taft administration in
our own country, the postotfice has
been used TO serve the needs especially
Of the thrifty poor in remote districts
through postal savings banks, postal
money orders and other devices that
are rather means of protecting the
poor against fraud and loss than of pro-
noting business. In Great Britain this
includes also. since 1865, life insurance
and annuities. IT, the United States
and most other countries the postofilce
has not yet gone so far in this dlrec-
ton.
Parcel Post.
The direct promotion of business
through general parcel post seems
10 introduce new principle and at
once raises the question whether or
not il is wise for the state to perform
this business function. If so. it should
probably be justified on the ground
that IL does actually effect saving Of
industrial energy TO the people; and
that is question that seems by no
means to have been settled. A brief
investigation made some time ago By
the Alexander Hamilton Institute. OF
New York. with the aid of some hun
dreds Of shippers as TO the relative
efficiency in many directions Of hand
ling packages by freight, BY express
and b. the parcel post. covering an
average business Of $4,000 parcels "A
day. indicated that although. in the
opinion OF these shippers, the parcel
post had the advantage of the express
companies in cheapness, in all other