South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-28
WOULD EXTEND
TRUCK DELIVERY
MAIL SERVICE
Fourth Assistant PoStmaSter'S
Report Recommends Ex-
tension of Facilities.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

az Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen. |
James I. Blakslee has his way the
motor truck mail delivery service. /
which was going fine" in OhiN and
some other states before congress
cut orr the funds for it's development,
vii. be extended rapidly throughout
the country. Mr.. Blakslee has I'm
mind proposed motor truck routes
in nearly every state which he is
satisfied not only would prove a
great convenience 70 the people but
also would be highly successful in
producing revenue for the govern
ment.
Report Is Favorable.
When congress gave the postofhce
department $500 900 10 be used in
experimenting IN the operation OF
motor truck vehicle routes and
country motor express routes II in
ttructed the department 70 report
on the outcome Of the experiments.
That report has just been submitted
by Mr.. Blakslec and is TO the effect
that the experiments have convinced
the department that congress should
make provision for the expansion Of
this new branch OF postal service.
The fourth assistant postmaster gen
eral, who is watching the expert
ments closely. says that the opera
tion of the two classes Of routes has
demonstrated that the value Of the
service Is not confined altogether 10
postal revenues, nut that the service
IS OF especial benefit 10 the postal
patrons in that fOodstuffs transport
I'd over the routes are delivered 10
the postal patrons at a cost consid-
erably below the prevailing mini
mum market prices at which the
patron would have purchased the
same article had the service not been
available.
Conclusions summarized.
The conclusions arrived at by the
! postoffice department may be sum-
nSriZed as follows:
That through the ma1limum use
81 the facilities Of conveyahves pro-
vided by the postal service, the food
producer would not have 10 sus-
pend production 10 engage I'm con-
Eeyance and thus labor or man pow
sr would be conserved for food pro
auction. Where numerous employees
~ food producers are now engaged
ina The transportation and distribu-
lion of foOdstuffs in small quantities.
one employe OF the postal service.
with adequate equipment. could pro-
eide the conveyance now supplied
by them, and thus labor or man
power could be conserved for food
production.
THAT the gouger and the profteer
may be jailed; "A fair price may be
BET that consumers should pay;
some conspiracy in restraint OF
%~ade or some com bination that
speculases in storage. or future de-
mand exceeding supply, may be To-
rated. individuals who create a de-
hcienCy or dump a surplus of food
stuns by agreement periodically 20
influence prices, or who, manipulate
prices TO keep supply just short Of
demand. may be exposed, but, in the
6nal analysis. after all these defects
have been discovered and delin-
puents. as is already being accom-
plished by the proper governmental
agencies. an of which have a bene-
6cial effect the facilities OF the pos
.1l service Will have 10 be used 10
encourage the food producer 90 pro-
iuce more food, or a larger number
Of producers TO engage in the pro
ducdOn thereof
Increase supply.
That the supply OF food must be
Increased or there will be no real
reduction in the cost of living or q
definite steD put 20 legitimate higher
prices. not only for food but for all
commodities and merchandise. as
we'll"
In conclusion Mr. BlaSslee says:
THAT inasmuch as the present
organization of the postal service
has been extended 20 the door OF
practically all food producers and
= available as an instrumentality OF
distribution 20 the door OF all con
sumers. IL is evident that the con-
Feyance OF food in the postal service
could be made a vital factor i'm the
introduction of efficiency in the
movement OF food from producer to
consumer and. 20 that end. / recon-
mend that this service be given
every possible moral and financial
encouragement and that every en-
fsavor be made 20 increase the use
~ and enlarge the equipment now
available In the postal service for