To the Editor:
There's a move afoot to deliver the Postal Service into private hands. Then, the argument goes, the public will reap the benefits of competition by mail-delivery companies. Pure rot.
Competition is not what is needed. What is needed is the uniform rate structure that enables people in Portland, Me., or Portland, Ore., or on our ships at sea, to mail a letter for 25 cents. That quarter is the lowest postage rate in the world.
What is needed is the dedicated work force that moves the mail to every street in every city in every state virtually every day. You may not see your letter carrier on Sunday, but mail is moving from post office to post office for next day delivery. Express mail is delivered every day.
What is needed is safe and speedy delivery at reasonable cost: the reason the Post Office was founded - in 1775. The Postal Service was created in explicit defiance of London to provide secure and speedy communication among the Sons of Liberty as they led the movement to independence in the 13 colonies. Even as the battle for Boston continued, Ben Franklin was named first Postmaster General for the united colonies on 26 July 1775, almost exactly a year before the Declaration of Independence. Franklin was chosen not just because he knew the job: London had fired him in January 1774 from essentially the same job, deputy postmaster general for America.
The Postal Service continues its historic role of unifying America -why would anyone want to tear it asunder today? PAUL M. CRAIG President, Branch 64, National Association of Letter Carriers Northampton, Mass., Nov. 12, 1989