Show 1 i Al V iff ti 1 h O A new business precept has been forged It Is to the effect that if one is losing money on onan onan an operation one should not raise prices for fear that some some- somebody body can take the business away from you Ce This Is the p position the Ule US Post rost Office is t t m the taking on proposed leg leg leg- legi 1 i Ai to r f P J raise parcel if 0 post rates tr and Fad J at the same time permit spa tt larger and heavier aek ack ace ages II olie carried by parcel post c W Harder between first class post offices Cs The postal people feel if they could raise parcel post rates on onan onan an average of about S 8 cents per parcel and also handle bigger packages than presently al- al allowed allowed lowed between first class post offices which roughly means any community of at least 10 10 population they could gen gene crate erate enough revenues from the added business to cut into the deficit The nations nation's inde inde- independent pendent business proprietors voting through the National Federation of Independent Bus Bus- Business iness oppose this move bya majority of 59 per cent But the interesting part of the entire situation Is the fact that the post pest office contemplates carrying catalogs at a loss The testimony shows that even with wILh the proposed Increases the loss losson losson on handling handline catalogs wm will be as aD estimated which will willbe willbe be partially offset by the in in- in increase crease In parcel post rates CC Now of course the catalogs of the big mail order houses is advertising so what the post i ic c of at Doln swine office otice proposed to do is sub sub sub- subsidize their ad advertising tt When questioned why not raise the rates rales on catalogs so that they can be handled with with- without out a loss the postal people say they are afraid if they did so that the business of distributing them would go gb to private en- en enterprises en who WIIO might be able to todo todo do the job at a profit for less than the post office coats Thus the postal service does not want to lose the business even If it itis itis is business handled at a loss r This Is somewhat of a switch on 1 p n old at aw I lest on every sale but the volume makes up the difference t tIn In addition the postal people fear that higher rates en In cata cata- catalogs logs would put a damper on mall mail order business and cut into parcel post business 5 Thus once again there is m ill ill- illustrated the difference between government and business think ing While it is laudable lor or any government agency to seek solutions to the problem of op op- op operating crating at a loss there Is a tar far greater consideration tion For after Arter an all the needs need of at the local communities are vital It Itis ItIs is the business community on the nations nation's Main J Streets that largely support the schools the police pollee and fire departments and the other essentials 5 Thus seeking ways to in in- in increase crease the inroads on Main Street by distant mall mail order houses while perhaps benefi- benefi cial to post office revenues is not being fair to local business or local communities This Is something that every community should consider |