Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-30
POSTAL WAGE AND POSTAGE
RATES

T.. RATES
~ conSressmen arc receiving re-
minders that there are several sides
to the question how to meet a raise
In the wages of postal employees.
Apparently few care to voice OPPOSE
ton to the wage increase. 1t Is
pointed out that during the increase
in wages and prices all over the
country the postal employees did not
receive their share Of consideration.
Furthermore, so far as our
experience goes, the postal employees
are deservedly popular. being
courteous, efficient and disposed to
. please the public. There will be few
among those served by the letter
carriers, those who are acquainted
with the duties OF the clerks In the
Offices and Of those running on the
trains who do not desire to have
them well paid. let alone properly
remunerated.
In places where the conditions
make for the highest costs of living
some difficulty has been encountered
u is said in the withdrawal OF en-
pIoyes from the service and inability
to- secure the right kind of per-
sons to take their places. 1t Is not
in evidence. however, that this con-
dition obtains all over the country.
The Postmaster General recon-
mends a salary adjustment which
would increase the payroll by forty
three millions. whereas the Paige bill
and the Edge -Kelly bill would add
an increase of one hundred and
nifty millions. The Postmaster
General claims that the forty-three
millions can be had through In
creases In the parcel-post rates and
slight increases in the second class
rates. Department officials and
leaders in Congress are agreed that
increased pay Is needed, but are in
clined to look TO the parcel post for
the increase.
1t 10 said the parcel post. rates
' OF which are ridiculouslS low. has
not proved tho great btnefit to the
farmers that was claimed for 1t In
the beginning. Yet some OF the
country people are protesting
against increasing n rate which now
Is Ave cents where 80 would be
charged by an express company.
Uncle Sam has been hauling lot Of
stun over the country for much less
than II has cost him.
The American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association has passed a
resolution condemning so much Of
tho Postmaster Generals recon-
mendation as pertains to an increase
In the postage on second class mat
ter. The publishers declare the
present rates are oppressive. Their
resolution Is as follows:
whereas the present postal rates
for the transportation OF the second
class mails are burdensome and OPP
pressive, and
aWhereas the 40 called zone postal
rates alone OF the eleven war
revenue measures Of 1917 have been
maintained by Congress on the war
basis. and all other war revenue
measures have been repealed or
modified, therefore be 1t
Resolved, That this convention
hereby endorses the program outlin-
cd in the report OF the Committee on
Second Glass Postage. and be 1t
Further resolved. That this con-
vention emphatically condemns the
recommendations Of the Postmaster
General dated April 4, 1924, suE-
Eesting that further burdens be i'm
posed upon the second class mails"
: Congressman Kelly IL out In an at
tack on the Postmaster General. de-
claring he distorts the issue. The
real issue, he declares. 10 whether
the employees in the postal service
are to have q square deal. He says:
This bill takes 1t for granted
that America as the richest country
in the world has the ability and the
funds TO drive sweat shop tactics out
of her great postal service. That
must be done regardless of the
source of revenues and the Kelly
Edge Bill provides for q fair COM
pensation for postal workers
throughout the entire service. II the
!. NECESSARY revenue to pay this just
through postal receipts 1t can and
will be paid from the general treas
ury. But Is that necessary? Can
. there be no just increases in present
rates to pay just costs OF the SER
vice3
"For forty years there has been no
increase in postage rates save on
second class matter, newspapers and
xlleriodlcals, which were increased In
LII. During q period when the
price Of every commodity and service
letter postage has remained station
airy and parcel post rates have been
sgTSatly decreased. -
IL letter postage were increased
Ito just the average increase OF oil
other commodities in the past ten
xoars there would be q surplus OF
l Sf60. 100000 q year after paying al
the present expenses OF the Depart
Let us look at parcel post. Here
10 q great service established jan
it's most ardent advocates from the
was receiving no support from the
present PoStmaater-Ge General.
But the Act OF Congress estab.
fishing the parcel post expressly
provided that It should be self sus-
tanning. Rates were fixed In the law
, ana the Postmaster General was
ordered to change them whenever
necess4ry to meet the cost OF opera.
tinn. Distinctive stamps were pro-
vaasd % that the exact revenues
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