Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-12
POSTMASTER CEN.
HOPES To GET ONE
CENT POSTAGE SOON

GtN PU5lA6E 5UUN
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. ~
Efficiency in the postoffice department
with a proper readjustment of rates
will permit the government to inaug-
urate 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, conven-
ton indicates that this important re-
form is much nearer realization than
most people believe and that next
winter will see radical steps taken to-
ward this end.
In addressing the postmasters, Cen
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 adj
vised the postmasters to spare no ex-
pense that means greater efficiency.
But that does not mean extrava-
gOnce," said Mr.. Burleson. Where
IS an official who will tell me that en-
ployees useless to the service should
not be Topped off? I do not want to
be hard on postal employees. I be-
lieve the government should require
only certain number of hours work,
and that under sanitary and comforta-
BILE conditions, at salary not only
adequate, but generous. 1t is my pur-
pose and your duty to see that all en-
ployees perform an adequate service
for the money expended
Every dollar intelligently saved can
be utilized for the Improvement, de-
velopment and extension of service, re-
srlting 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 way
that will enable the United States to
pay the railroads adequate compensa-
ton 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
ore-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 a
surplus of between $4,0OO,O00 and So
100000 demonstrates that at last the
postal service is on a strong business
and y-supporting basis. If we can
keep down ueIess extravaganza. we
can soon inaugurate one cent postage
il this country"
This frank statement from the post
master general substantiates declara-
tons which have been made during the
past year or two by officials of the
National One Cent Letter Postage asso-
citation, which has its headquarters at
Cleveland that with economical opera
ton of the department and a reason
able adjustment of postal rates, one
cent, letter postage could be inaugu-
rated without injury to the gederal
government, and letter users given the
benefit of big reduction over current
rates.
Nearly sixty bills were presented at
the present session of congress. calling
| for One-oent latter nocfaoa Ccorac ~
representatives and senator's have been
closely studying the matter and have
become united in conviction that the
time is ripe for one-cent postage, re-
form sought for many years, but only
recently brought to the attention of
congress through the persistent cam
I Align on the part of the National One
Cent Letter Postage association.