Copyright 1999 The Tribune Co. Publishes The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune
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October 11, 1999, Monday, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NATION/WORLD, Pg. 16
LENGTH: 421 words
HEADLINE:
The Postal Service and its competitors;
BODY:
Since its inception 224 years ago, the U.S. Postal Service has faced
competition. First it was the Pony Express, then the telephone, then
private delivery services and then fax machines.
Today, with the
increasing use of the Internet - an information and service entity that is both
instant and paperless - it may be facing its biggest challenge yet.
Postmaster General William J. Henderson is not blind to this new
reality. Earlier this year he ordered spending cuts totaling more than $
800 million. Now he wants to expand the USPS into more nonmail ventures as
a means of keeping it competitive. Such ambitious changes don't sit well with
many members of Congress, and it is likely the public, most of which
expects little from the Postal Service except efficient delivery of the
mail, won't be thrilled, either.
Yes, the agency does have to change
with the times. Not only is the USPS facing continued competition from
private delivery services, it also must deal with the growing diversion of
letter mail to electronic communications. For example, international mail
revenue is expected to drop $ 68 million this year because of overseas
e-mail activity.
The agency does not have a good track record, however,
with nonpostal commercial service. Last year the General Accounting Office
criticized the Postal Service for losing $ 84.7 million on dubious
business ventures, among them the selling of long-distance phone cards, coffee
mugs, T-shirts and other items that don't have much to do with mail
delivery.
"If all they can do is deliver first-class mail, that paints a
very bleak future," Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., who introduced the
Postal Modernization Act of 1999, told USA Today. "Either the
cost of that first-class stamp is going to explode in years coming or
they'll automatically have to cut back on services ... perhaps dropping
delivery to five days or four days a week or less."
That may have to
happen. Doing away with six-day delivery has been discussed before, and even if
postage is raised again, the USPS is still a bargain for the country.
Furthermore, the cost of delivering a letter ought to be covered by the
price of a stamp.
From the beginning, the Postal Service has served
everyone, and done it with a universal rate. Proficient delivery of the
mail is all postal customers expect. By concentrating on what it does
best, the agency that has served Americans for so long could likely do
that - and only that - for some time to come.
NOTES: EDITORIALS
LOAD-DATE:
October 12, 1999 
