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would expedite the delivery of such mail at destination, represents an advance which will doubtless, in time, come to be regarded as of no less importance.

Incidentally, when that decision is made we shall be but following the lead of the British. I desire to call to your attention this brief, but highly significant abstract from the annual report to his shareholders of Sir Eric Geddes, Chairman of Imperial Airways, Ltd., delivered on November 10, 1936; namely,

"...last year I drew your attention to the official statements that were made on behalf of the Government to the effect that it had decided, as a matter of principle, that letter mails within the Empire should, so far as is practicable, be carried in future by air.

"I also informed you that the principal features of a long-term agreement had been agreed with the Government. This agreement has for its foundation, of course, the execution of the Government's policy to carry the whole of the letter mail within the Empire by ari, but the ipsissima verbs of the agreement have not yet been settled.

"The Government and the company are both, however, preceeding in their respective spheres with the work that has to be done to put the scheme into effect."

There are many considerations which suggest that Congress, while preparing to transport without surcharge at some early date all first-class mail by air, though that date will fall beyond the expiration of the fiscal year for which you are providing, should meanwhile amend the Postal Laws (1) to authorize and direct the reduction of the air mail postage rate from 6[[symbol-cents]] to 5[[symbol-cents]] per ounce; (2) to provide for special air mail service, such as the carrying of postcards by air for 3[[symbol-cents]] or 2[[symbol-cents]] postage; and (3) to provide for the necessary experimental carriage, over selected air mail routes and between a