Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1958-02-14
The Editorial Viewpoint
A SENATOR VIEWS THE POST OFFICE MESS"

Senator On D. Johnson himself chairman of the Senate
Post Office Committee sent letter the other day which
ing the post office mess To great many people would
that the post office is just another bureau that dran oft
hardearned dollars through poor management obsolete
methods and downright inertia.
The post offices position at present of inefceney
brought about by pressure population and politics. We agree
with Senator johnson and think that will too once his
Consider The fact that the post office spends 81 mil
lion more every day than it receives This figure is sfsgssns
office provides its services from yearly appropriation by
CONGRESS end fhs every penny OF its receipts eedsd to the
ceed the appropriation hear the familiar of Post Office
Deficit.
Even so the postoce deficit" a phantom thing because
The post office variety of services for other
mental agencies. gives free service TO the Interior Depart
Justice Department Treasury Department Internal Reve
Service Civil Service and the Federal Housing Admnstra
zion. few. The post office also gives free mailing
service for the blind. 1t receives and transmits charge
funds for such volunteer charities Heart Cancer Polio etc
The post office carries IL MILLION POUNDS of free mail each
There registered mail for government agencies
free mail for the PsnAmercsn Union and The Pan-Amecan
carried free we'll those of religious aterns and scientific
groups In 1855, HALF BILLION pieces of such mail
Then there is Rural Free Delivery, RID cannot by any
stretch Of +he imagination be considered anything but public
deficits Every day 1900 rural mail carriers 35 million
rural people and travel 500 900 mIes EVERY DAY think
of it'll And of these deliveries made by horseback boat
and plane Delivery service by plane alone exceed
by s2o5 million dollars 1855 Add TO this the costs of third
pay posasters salaries these 25o5a offices had
of $50 million in 1855 against postmaers and clerks
salaries of 81 3 million!
Now what Senator johnson offers the way of solution
is not merely facts end figures but concrete reform
based upon adequate postal rates by of basic postal
policy modernizaon program for the department handling
and Transmission of mails and Increasing employee efficiency
through the of better methods coupled with adequate
wages.
Senator johnson would define which should be borne
by mail and which by government When mails
letter he should pay its way the post office does gov
eminent, service, il should be reimbursed for
Mr. johnson that Uniform ground rules should be
established but that the fcass rate must be raised to
Further he explains that the secondcIas rate (which
has already been raised 30l should be increased further
Similarly third and fourth class rates should be further in
creased he says.
modern postal system by the of efficient buildings
advanced mechanical devices and eamined asie also
recommended.
Lastly Mr. johnson would give postal employees sufficient
wage Justify higher living costs and to in
feresr in postal service employment
Mr. Johnson believe. he's offered the most practical
plan possible revive end pee+uate perhaps the lone govern
ent agency which is closest to the people, Maybe yet
will hear the familiar but long forgot slogan mot
rain heat gloom of night stays these
from the swift completion Of their appointed rounds