1000,
are appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate.

Classes of Mail.--Mail matter belongs to one of four classes.
In general, the classes and rates are as follows: First
class--letters, two cents an ounce; second class--newspapers and
periodicals, one cent a pound; third class--books, one cent for two
ounces; and fourth class--merchandise, limited to four-pound
packages, one cent an ounce.

Free Delivery.--Among the notable advances in the mail service was
the provision for the free distribution of mail in the cities of 10,000
inhabitants, or where the annual postal receipts are $10,000 and above.

Rural Free Delivery.--No innovation in postal methods has been more
successful than the free delivery of mails in the country districts. The
development of the system, since its establishment in 1897, has been
remarkable.[31]

[Footnote 31: According to the report of the superintendent for the year
ending June 30, 1910, 41,079 routes had been established. The rural
population receiving daily mail service amounted to more than
18,000,000. Two thousand one hundred and twenty-four new rural routes
were authorized in 1911, aggregating 51,230 miles in length. President
Taft urged a further extension of the system.]

Among the good effects resulting from its extensive introduction may be
mentioned the following: (1) Correspondence in the communities affected
has increased. (2) The circulation of the daily newspaper and of
periodical literature has been greatly enlarged, and interest has grown
in public affairs. (3) Good roads have been multiplied, for they are
made one of the conditions for the introduction of the service. (4)
Because the country districts are brought into daily communication with
the centres of population, the tendency to quit the farm for the town
has been lessened and thus rural free delivery is helping, in some
degree, to solve one of the problems of our social and industrial life.

Postal Savings-Banks.--At various times bills have been before
Congress providing for the establishment of postal savings-banks in
connection with post-offices. It is proposed that they shall
receive small amounts on deposit, paying a low rate of interest,
and that the funds secured be invested in government bonds. A law
was passed in 1910 which provided for the establishment of postal
savings-banks. The plan has proved a success.