The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-08-31
CENT POSTAGE COMING


ment with a proper readjustment of
rates will permit the government to
inagurate a one cent letter rate within
the next year, according to postmaster
General, Albert S. Burleson.
This emphatic statement made by the
postmaster general before the National
Association of Postmasters of the Unit
ed States at their July 1916 Convention,
indicates that this important reform is
much nearer realization than most
people believe and that next winter
will see radical steps taken toward this
end.
In addressing the Postmasters Gen
eral Burleson declared that they are Civ
ing the best postal service in the world
today, and that is what the American
farmer and business man are entitled
to, for they pay for it. He advised the
postmasters to spare no expense that
means greater efficiency.
"'But that does not mean eXtrava
gance,' said Mr.. Burleson. "Where is
an official who will tell me that en-
ployees useless to the service should not
be looped off!' l do not want to be
hard on postal employees. | believe the
government should require only a GER
tain number of hours work, and that
under sanitary and comfortable condi-
tions, at salary not only adequate, but
generous. 1t is my purpose and your
duty to see that all employees perform
an adequate service for the money ex-
pended.
EVERY dollar intelligently saved can
be utilized for the Improvement, de-
velOpment and extension Of service, re-
sulting in a reduction in postage for
those served.
"Plans are being worked out for the
solution of railway mail service prob
lens. They are being solved in a way
that will enable the United States to
pay the railroads adequate compensa
tion for service rendered, and pay only
for service received. With this result
if next year we, can make those using
the second class mail service pay a
one-haf part of what hey should, we
can go before congress and take the
first step toward penny postage
1.-THE fact that this year we have q
surplus of between $4,000,000 and So
100000 demonstrates that at last the
postal service is on a strong business
and self-supporting basis. If we car
keep down useless eXtravagance, we cal
soon inaugurate one cent postage il
this cOuntry.'
This frank statement from the post
master general substantiates declara
tions which have been made during thu
past year or two by officials of the Ma
tional One Cent LETTER Postage Asso
citation, which has its headquarters al
Cleveland, that with economical opera
tiOn of the department and a reasonable
adjustment of postal rates, one cent let
ter postage could be inangurated with
out injury to the federal government
and letter users given tile benefit of ;
big reduction over current rates.
Nearly sixty bills We're represented
at the present session of congress, cal
ling for one cent letter postage. Score
, of representatives and senators hay
been closely studying the matter am
have become united in a conviction tina
the time is ripe for one cent postage
reform sought for many years, bu
only recently brought to the attention
of congress through the persistent cam
paign on the part of the National On
Cent Letter Postage Association.
t At the present time letter users o
4 the United States net profit to tn
, government of over $75,O00000 yea
over actual cost of distribution. A
the same time large ma gazine interest
!. are securing distribution of their pre-
dust at one cent a pound which mean
a great loss to the government, and
make up this loss users Of letter postag
are paying profit Of 100 per cent.
= 1t is to correct this great injustic
that the postmaster general and h
hundreds of assistants throughout tn
= country are now employed. From a
indications one cent letter postage pro-
ises to be one of the most importai
/. issues at this winter session of col
. gress.