The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-11-24
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT
OF THE u. S. POSTAL SERVICE

posi- service is IuG luCIGdS6 Ill JHC
average weight of parcels. The count
of April lis, 1915, showed an average
weight of 1 pound Z ounces. The
counts of October 1-15, 1915, and of
April lis, 1916, both returned an
average weight of l pound II ounces.
The parcel post act and the changes
of rates and regulations as to weight
limits subsequently made by Post
master General Burleson greatly re-
duced the rates upon the heavier par
cells and opened the mails to parcels
weighing 20 pounds throughout the
country and to parcels weighing so
pounds within the first two zones or
within $50 miles of the point of each
sipment's origin.
Shortly after assuming office on
March 4, 1913, it became apparent to
me that radical changes must be made
if this service was to meet the de-
mands of the farmers, business men
and the general public. The eX-
pansion of the parcel post into a pub
lie utility of vast proportions is di-
rectly due to successive liberalizations
of the parcel post regulations, as
follows:
(D Reducing postage for distance
up to the sixth zone.
(2) Increasing the weight limit from
II to so pounds in the first and second
zones and from II to 20 pounds be-
yOnd the second zone.
CD Admitting books to the parcel
post.
ca Increasing the size limit from
72 inches to SO inches combined
length and girth measurement.
(5) Reducing the cost of insurance
from 10 cents to cents on parcels
valued at $5 or less and introducing a
graduated scale of low insurance fees
for greater values up to 800.
CO. Authorizing the issuance of re-
ceipts for parcels shipped, which
serve as evidence of mailing.
CD Providing indemnity for partial
damage as we'll as loss of parcels.
At many postoffices government
owned automobiles are used, day and
night deliveries introduced, and re-
frigerators installed in order to safe
guard perishable parcels. Damage to
nc in Cit hoe 10
less than one-tenth of 1 per cent
These broadening activities of the
parcel post in reaching out to the
farm for its products for the city
table and in providing a cheaper and
more efficient kage-transportation
service for the general public has
naturally met with much determined
opposition from the business or per-
sons that grew and prospered under
the restrictions of a private express
monopoly.
At the outset of this administration
it was found that millions of rural
residents had been denied delivery of
mail by carrier because inefficient
and eXtravagant administration of the
rural mail service, together with the
granting of special privileges of SER
vice to favored individuals and COM
munities, had so depleted the appro-
priations that extensions could not be
made to those who were entitled to
the service. This condition has been
remedied in a drastic but thoroughly
impartial and scientific manner. The
discrimination against 3,280,000 -
actual count-rural citizens of the
United States has been removed by
the extension to them of the free de-
livery of their mail by carrier, a
service unjustly denied them in the
past. This has been done by the
thorough reformation of the rural ser
vice in the department and in the
field, and the adoption of standardized
and efficient methods, and by elm.
mating Implications of service and
service for which no justification was
found to exist.
Since March 4, 1913, over 5000 new
rural routes have been established.
More than 10000 old routes have been
extended so that they reach greater
number of people. Since March, 1913,
the department has received about
5000 additional petitions. These petit
tions have received prompt considera-
ton, and final action has in no case
been deferred longer than six months.
Less than 200 are now awaiting re-
view. In the handling of these cases
the present postal administration has
proceeded in accordance with its
earnest desire to meet the needs of
the public and to render prompt and
effective service.
1t has been the policy of the Wilson
administration to weed out privilege
in every relation of the government
to the public The postoffice depart
ment has cut out the pork" in the
rural delivery service and has used
the money thus made available to