Four of the last five Postmasters General delivered a strong endorsement of legislation in Congress that would overhaul the U.S. Postal Service at the just-concluded National Postal Forum in San Antonio, TX.
The four–Marvin T. Runyon, Albert V. Casey, Paul N. Carlin and Benjamin F. Bailar–also agreed that the postal service’s legal monopoly on the delivery of addressed first class letters and Standard A (formerly third class) mail advertisements will eventually be repealed. The discussion was led by PMG William J. Henderson.
During that discussion, the four revealed their support for the Postal Modernization Act of 1999 (HR-22) being considered by the House Government Reform Committee, but emphasized it must be flexible enough to anticipate the technological changes sure to develop in the next 10 to 20 years.
The measure would allow the USPS to set some of its rates, spin off some products and services into non-competitive and competitive sections operated by a private law corporation, and increase Postal Rate Commission’s authority over the USPS.
On April 29, the House postal subcommittee approved the measure for eventual consideration by the Government Reform Committee, which could vote on the measure in early summer. They also agreed the postal service’s legal monopoly on addressed first class letters and Standard A (formerly third class) advertising mail will eventually end.
Commenting on the future of the postal service’s addressed letter and advertising mail monopoly, Runyon, PMG between 1992 and 1998, said it “is just going to disappear and it’s happening sooner than I thought it would,” while Casey, who served in 1986, added that “it’s already occurring.”
Although the four agreed that the USPS is more than ready to tackle the competitive challenges postal reform legislation would bring, Carlin, PMG in 1985, questioned the USPS’ ability to “survive without the freedom to compete” with private business.
Bailar, PMG from 1975 to 1978, predicted the USPS “will benefit immensely” from that competition, while Runyon stressed that it “can stand up to competition [and] beat” it.
Anthony M. Frank, who served as PMG from 1987 to 1992, was not at the forum because he is recuperating from a serious skiing accident.
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