The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1921-05-05
METERED MAIL
NEXT NOVELTY
New Electric Device Will Permit
Business Concerns to Can
Gel Their Own Output.
VALUABLE TO LARGE MAILERS
VIII Saws Several Hours In the Han
ding Of Mall and VIII Protect
Firms From Loss Of 0tamps
Through Theta

| WashIngton.--"Metere mail" IL to
be the next novelty in the rapidly de-
veloplng postal system Of the country,
remarks the Washington Herald. II
has received the Endorsement Of con-
gress and the postofiice department and
Is scheduled to make Its appearances
within the next two months.
Metered mail will be sealed, stamped
and Cancelled by the individual owner
| OF q meter. The mail then will be
taken to the postoffice and placed I'm
medlately upon an outgoing train with
| out necessity of remaining in the post
Office unNl handled In routine fashion.
Metered mail is provided for In =
rider on an agricultural bill passed at
the last session Of congress. This
rider grants TO first class mall matter
the registered permit privileges now
enjoyed by second class mall. Instead
Of being required to stamp each letter
firm now will have the privilege Of
obtaining q mailing permit, thus eI.
pedItlng Its mall.
Under the postofiice plan. which soon
will be In effect, firms will be able to
lease postal meters that have been
authorized for use by the postal
authorities. The local postofilce
authorities will register the meter and
will Issue a permit number to the
firm.
Meter Operated by Electricity.
The meter will be a rather heavy
metallic box, about the size Of lunch |
box. 1t will have two small doors
which viii be locked by the postal
authorities and securely sealed A |
firm will take the meter to the post
office and buy desired amount OF
postage. The postal authorities Will |
adjust the meter so that It will stamp |
and cancel just so many letters and
no more. The number Of letters for
which advance postage has been paid
Will be automatically registered on the
lower OF the two doors and the postal
will keep record of the
amount OF postage sold to each meter
owner, so that an absolute check may
De kept.
The firm will keep the meter at Its
,filces except when II Is necessary to
)uy more postage. The meter VIII he
operated by small electric motor. The
etters Will be fed into the meter II
md Cancelled at the rate of $50 min
lite. AS the letters are handled the
meter VIII automatically record the
lumber OF Cancelled letters on the up
Der door. The user will adjust the
mechanism OF the meter so that the
line stamped on the letters will be
me hour In advance Of the time of de-
livery OF the letters at the postofiice.
Help Large Mallers.
The meter. II is expected will prove
" great value to large maIlers. In ad-
Hilton to saving time and labor the
meter will enable large firms to e1-
,edte their mail by at least several
lours. The meters win protect Arms
rom loss OF stamps through thefts or
arelessness and will also give a mark
4 distinction to the firms mail. all Of
which will bear a private permit num-
er mark OF big business. The
neterlns OF the mail also will tighten .
he work of postoffices and will lessen ,
he number Of postage stamps needed, !
hereby making II possible to reduce
overnment forces and expenses con- 3
iderably. IL
Metered mall will not bear regular
ostage stamps, but merely a permit
lumber.