The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-28

rates will permit, the government to
inapgurate a one-cent setter rate
within the next year. according to
postmaster General Albert. s, Burle-
son.
This emphatic statement made by
the postmaster general beforel 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 radi-
cal steps taken toward this end.
In addressing the postmasters,
General Burlesoh 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
deficiency.
But that does not mean extrava-
gance," said Mr.. Burleson. Where
is an official who will tell me that
employees useless to the service
should not be Topped off, l do not
want to be hard on postal employees.
I believe the government should re-
Iquire only a certain number of hours
work, and that under sanitary and
comfortable conditions, at a salary
not only adequate, but generous. It
is my purpose and your duty to see
that all employees perform an ade-
quate service for the money ex-
pended.
Every dollar intelligently saved
can be utilized for the improvement,
development and extension of serv-
ice, resulting in reduction in pos
tage for those served.
"Plans are being worked out for
the solution of railway mail service
problems. They are being solved in
way that will enable the United
States to pay the railroads adequate
compensation 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 one-half part of
what they should, we can 60 before
congress- and take the first step to-
ward penny postage!
"The fact that this year we have
surplus of between $4,000, 900 and
100000 demonstrates that at last
the. postal service is on a strong
business 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
during the past year or two by of
ficials of the National One-Cent let
ter Postage Association, which has
its headquarters at Cleveland, that
with economical operation of the de-
partment and a reasonable adjust
ment of postal rates one-cent letter
postage could be inaugurated with
out injury to the federal govern
ment, and letter users given the ben
eft of big reduction over current
rates.
Nearly sixty bills were presented
at the present session of Congress
calling for one-cent letter postage.
Scores of representatives and sena-
tors 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 attentin of Congress
hrugh 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 a profit to
the government of over SIS, 900 900
year over actual cost of distribu-
ton. At the same time large maya
zine interests are securing distribu-
ton of their product at one cent a
pound, which means a great loss to
the government, and to take up this
loss users of letter postage are pay
ing profit of 100 per cent.
1t is to correct this great injus-
tice that the postmaster general and
his hundreds of assistants through
out the country are now employed.
From all indications one-cent letter
postage promises to be one of the