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Show Stamp vending machines being urged Politicians are often airing their opinions on one thing or another, some for the good of the general public and others for more or less selfish reasons. rea-sons. But this week, we read of an opinion by Rep. Roland V. Libonati of Illinois, with which we heartily agree. He says that the United States is the only nation in the world that allows its stamps to be sold at a premium. He goes on to say that in place of a vending machine where an individual can purchase pur-chase three five-cent stamps for 20 cents, a mark-up of one third, we should have a place where we can get a 5 cent stamp for 5 cents, after post office hours; also an 8 cent airmail stamp for eight cents and not ten cents which is a 25 percent mark-up. The eastern representative goes on to say that in England for instance, one can buy stamps from dispensers outside out-side post offices at any time of day or night at face value. The congressman wants to go one better than that by placing nonprofit vending machines ma-chines by every one of the nation's na-tion's 323,771 corner mail boxes box-es and indoor mail chute receivers re-ceivers and small boxes so that postage is available 24 hours a day. The Post Office Department has not been resting on its deficit, de-ficit, however. As early as 1962 it commissioned the Trin-er Trin-er Scale and Manufacturing Co. to depelop a weatherproof, foolproof and thef tproof stamp vending machine. Eight of the first models are now in operation outside the new post office at the New York World's Fair to test public pub-lic reaction. Last year the post office sold 14.7 bililon sheet stamps of all denominations (exclu- sive of commemoratives) for $714 million. Rep. Libonati estimates es-timates that if vending machines ma-chines were installed at every mail box they would handle 42 per cent of all first-class and air mail stamps. He also predicts it would lead to a 10 per cent increase in such sales, or a potential market of $380 million. Private vending machine companies, of which there are less than 10, would continue to dispense stamps for a pre-mimum pre-mimum at indoor nongovernment nongovern-ment locations for those willing will-ing to pay for the convenience. |
