Some of the Defects in Our Postal System.--(1) For thirty
years prior to 1911 there has been an annual deficit of several
million dollars. This was caused largely through the transportation
of second-class matter, so-called periodical publications. But in
1911 there was a postal surplus of nearly $220,000, which was due
largely to more business-like methods in management. That this is
an unjust drain upon the public funds is clear, when we consider
that, in a recent year, the government expended $17,277,783 more
than it received for carrying second-class mail. (2) Another
serious defect has existed in the payment of exorbitant rates to
railroad companies for carrying the mails. (3) Some Congressmen
abuse the privilege granted them of sending government publications
free. (4) The postal system has offered one of the best fields for
the manipulation of the spoilsman. Postmasters have been usually
appointed on the recommendation of representatives, and, too
frequently, the one essential to securing an office is that the
applicant must be influential in politics.

Parcels Post.--On January 1, 1913, a far-reaching innovation
was put into operation by the Post-office Department. The
parcels-post system was used for the first time. Bills providing
for such a system had been introduced into Congress, but failed to
pass owing largely to the opposition of express companies and other
common carriers.

III. COPYRIGHTS AND PATENTS.

Copyrights and Patents.--Section 8, Clause 8. _To promote the
progress of science and useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to
authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings
and discoveries._

The development of American literature has been greatly aided through
the operation of laws based on this clause. Copyrights are secured from
the Librarian of Congress. Any person obtaining a copyright has the sole
right to print, copy, or sell the book, chart, engraving, music, etc.,
for a period of twenty-eight years. A copyright may be renewed for
fourteen years longer. It may be sold or transferred providing a record
of the transfer be made in the office of the Librarian of Congress
within sixty days.

Patents.--Americans have been rightly named the great inventors of
the world. Not a little of our marvelous industrial progress has been
due to this inventive ab