Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-25
POSTAL SERVICE UNLIKE BUSI'
NESS

1.-THE Postal System-How Bust
ness-like Can 1t Be?" NJ. D. Follans-
bee, a business man, member Of a
well-known Chicago firm, makes
answer to that in the February issue
Of Nations Business.
His answer is comprehensive; back
of 1t is the practical consideration a
successful business man has to give
20 his problems. 1t sho''I1 help us to
comprehend the situa ton. He does
not and should not be expected to
tell just how we may best run our
postal service In an unbusiness-like
way, how best may be served, by an
unbusiness- like service. the great
business interests of the country de-
pending in considerable degree upon
1t.
We wish we had space for all he
has to say, but here is a sample,
quoted from the introduction:
"Why can't the Government be
operated on business principles?
las a business man with a fair
knowledge and understanding Of gov
eminent, am inclined to answer:
because it ought not to be-
81 sometimes ask myself when
hear speeches about more business
in Government if we are quite clear
what we want. We want better
methods in government. but do we
really want the Government run like
an individual business?
"a veteran and keen Drained gov
eminent worker once said to me:
Government can't be like business.
It oughtn't to be. II want to 90 to
New York in a hurry, can stop on
the way to the station, buy a tooth
brush, a clean shirt and collar and
be Off. 1 can hire an aeroplane, IL I
have the money.
But Government can't 60 to New
York that way. Government must
proceed in a fixed orderly method.
It's spending your money, and it must
account to you. 1t must buy its
shirts and transportation in an order
ly manner.
att can't cut corners. It can't be
efficient at the cost of fixed rules that
YOU business folk decry as read tape.
land you would be the first to cry
out If 1t did,"
Verify that government worker said
something. though he. too. didn't tell
us how to get service. that is I'M
business like, best suited to the needs
of business, and that is what we
want. But first, foremost, and all the
time, we want service. II 1t costs
more than 1t would cost under busi-
ness methods, let's not grumble pro-
vided We get the service, though we
will be well advised to consider the
method, under which the cost Is more.
not with a view to supplying the
business methods, we do not want ex-
cept in theory. but for the sake Of as
surfing ourselves that the best pos
sible is being done under the methods
we sanction.
And while we are about 1t let's
stick a pin here on SERVICE.
That under present postal regulations
is not as good as under the regula-
tons abandoned. 49,.
The people of this country are not
getting the service. which they enjoy
ed under a uniform rate Of postage on
second class mail. Business Is not
being served as well-and the postal
system is not being remunerated as
it should be.
The coming arrangement aggra-
Yates the menacing tendency toward
Capitalization. It draws the life
blood from the extremities toward an
already congested center. II we want
the best service in mail matters we
will abandon the coming system
Mr.. Follansbee does indicate ways
by which a postmaster general may
relieve and improve upon certain or
the methods. but he leaves no doubt
In the readers mind that even were
Judge Gary Of the U. S. Steel Corpor-
alton set to the task he would be I'M
able to administer the postal system
according to business-like methods.
As the head of a great business Mr..
Gary dosen't have to consider votes
when he assigns employees to their
places, hxes the duties they are to
perform or the pay they shall receive.
He wouldn't send his freight by one
rail line when a parallel line would
render better service at less rate.
He would think he could ship publ
cations from point to point as cheap
ly as the private individual but If he
found himself tied UP with Govern
ment red tape he would find HIM
self helpless.
. He probably would assume that he
could deliver wo-pound magazine
to one address more cheaply than
Dc could two pounds Of four page
leaflets to $50 addresses. He could,
- . business man. but as head of the
postal service he now would be COM
PEELED to lose the profitable and at
rand to the Improbable.
/. ~ Q business man he would nat