Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1916-08-31

LETTER POSTAGE ONE
CENT WITHIN A YEAR
DEPT. SEEKS SOLUTION-MAG-
AZINES CARRIED AT A LOSS,
LETTERS PAY 100 PER CENT

Efficiency in the post office depart
ment with proper readjustment of
rates will permit the government to
inaugurate a one cent letter rate
within the next year, according to
postmaster General Albert S. Burle-
son.
This emphatic statement made by
the postmaster general before the
National Association of Postmasters
of the United 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
giving 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 eff
cheney.
"But that does not mean extrava-
gance" said Mr.. Burleson. "Where is
.aan official who will tell me that en-
ployees useless to the service should
not be Topped off l do not want to
be hard on postal employees. l be-
lieve the government should require
only a certain number of hours work,
and that under sanitary and comfort
able conditions, at salary not only
adequate, but generous. It is my
purpose and your duty to see that all
employees perform an adequate SER
vice for the money expended.
Every dollar intelligently saved
can be utilized for the Improvement,
development and extension of service,
resulting in a reduction in postage
for those served.
"Plans are being worked ou5 for the
solution of railway mail service prob
lens. They are being solved in 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-half part Of what they
should, we can go before congress
and take the first step toward penny
postage!
"The fact that this year we have
surplus Of between $4,0OO,O00 and
$5,O00,O00 demonstrates that at last
the postal service is on strong bus
mess and self-supporting basis. If
we can keep down useless extrava-
gance, we can soon inaugurate one
cent postage in this country
This frank statement from the
postmaster general substantiates dec
larations which have been made dur
ing the past year or two by officials
of the National One Cent Letter Post
age Association, which has its head
quarters at Cleveland, that with econ
omical operation of the department
and a reasonable adjustment of pos
tai rates, one cent letter postage
could be inaugurated without injury to
the federal government, and letter
users given the benefit of a big re-
duction over current rates.
Nearly sixty bills were presented at
the present session of congress, call
ing for. one cent letter postage Scores
of representatives and senator's have
been closely studying the matter and
have become united in a conviction
that the time is ripe for one cent
postage, a reform sought for many
years, but only recently brought to
the attention of congress through the
persistent campaign on the part of
the National One Cent Letter Postage
Association.
At the present time letter users of
the United States net profit to the
government Of over S75,O0O,000 a
year over actual cost Of distribution.
At the same time large magazine in
terests are securing distribution Of
their product at one cent a pound,
which means a great loss to the gov
ernment, and to make up this loss
users of letter postage are paying &.
profit of 100 percent.
It is to correct this great injustice
that the postmaster general and his
hundreds Of assistants throughout the
country are now employed. From all
indications one cent letter postage
promises to be one Of the most i'm
portant issues at this winters ses-
sion of congress.