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Show Postmaster Gives Proposed New Postal Rate Increases Postmaster Robert Cornaby said today proposed new postal rate increases will place the nation's postal system on a sound financial basis and shift more of the costs from taxpayers tax-payers generally to those who use the mails the most. He explained that recent Postal Pos-tal Service proposals submitted Feb. 1 to the Postal Rate Commission Com-mission would yield additional revenues of $1.45 billion during fiscal 1972, starting July 1. The proposals call for increases in-creases in virtually all mail categories except parcel post. If the Rate Commission does not present to the Governors of the Postal Service a recommended recom-mended decision on rate changes chan-ges within 90 days, it is anticipated antici-pated that a temporary rate increase will be put into effect by the Postal Service, the Postmaster Post-master said. He pointed out that higher rates had been sought by the Post Office Department under both the current and previous administrations, but no action was taken. In addition to the long-standing Postal Service proposal for a 2-cent boost for letters from 6 to 8 cents, advertising mail (regular bulk rate third-class) would be increased to a minimum mini-mum of 5 cents per piece, plus additional increases for heavier weights. Substantial increases are also al-so proposed for magazines, newspapers and other cate- gories of second-class mail, Mr. Cornaby said. These rather steep increases will be phased in over five years to soften the impact on the mailers. Other highilhgts of the proposal: pro-posal: Airmail rates would go up a penny, from 10 to 11 cents, and airmail cards from 8 to 9 cents each. If temporary rates are placed plac-ed into effect, post cards will go from 5 to 6 cents, although the prosposal provides for a full increase to 7 cents each. Concerning "priority mail" packages weighing more than 12 ounces and receiving first-class first-class treatment higher rates are proposed only for parcels weighing less than 5 pounds. For a 5-pound priority mail package sent across the U.S., the rates would remain $4.08, under the proposal. However, for a 1-pound package, in increase in-crease of from 80 cents to $1 is proposed. Regular second-class publications publica-tions those mailed for delivery deliv-ery outside the publisher's county, excluding certain categories cate-gories will be raised 1.9 cents per piece plus higher advertising ad-vertising rates ranging from 9.1 to 20.9 cents per pound. Non-advertising Non-advertising will be at a new rate of 7.2 cents per pound. Controlled circulation publications publi-cations usually periodicals without subscription fees mailed mail-ed to specific audiences or markets mar-kets face an increast in only their minimum per piece rate to 5 cents from the existing 3.8 cents postage fee. The pound rate remains the same. In third class, the rates for single pieces often a circular or small parcel, would rise to 8 cents for the first 2 ounces and the fee for each additional ounce would be raised from 2 to 4 cents undeer the permanent-rate proposal. It should be emphasized that these new rates do not go into effect until announced by the Postal Service. |
