Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412220092
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
C.M., Roanoke
A: Coke calls it the "fluted can," and its main purpose is a new and different package. "We think it looks neat," a Coke spokesman said.
Coke also hopes the ridges will add strength so the can will need less aluminum.
"We've discovered that when you bend aluminum, it adds to the ... strength," the spokesman said. This wouldn't be news to anyone who works with sheet metal, of course.
The fluted can is being test-marketed in Roanoke, Charlotte, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn. Consumers like it, and it will stay, the Coke spokesman said.
Coke's next step in testing will be to actually reduce the metal in the can.
Postal rate squeeze
Q: Who is on the independent Postal Rate Commission that approves new rates? Why, when it raised rates the last couple of times, did it not take the rate on up to 35 cents to cover what is known to be inflation coming at 3 percent a year, to keep from having an increase every three or four years?
L.W., Roanoke
A: Nine months of hearings and intense scrutiny produced the 32-cent rate for first-class letters, even though some people advocated a 35-cent rate.
Nobody really wanted to bite the bullet that hard. One factor: some high-volume postal customers are also high-dollar political contributors.
Also, there's an argument that allowing a large increase removes some incentives for improving efficiency.
Third, competition from private companies is a factor in the delivery business.
A spokesman said inflation, both historic and anticipated, weighed heavily in the decision. The commission allowed only a 10.3 percent increase - while inflation since the last boost, in February 1991, was 12.2 percent.
From the commission's viewpoint, there's no way to avoid a rate increase for inflation every few years.
There are five presidentially appointed commissioners:
Chairman Edward Gleiman, who was installed this year. He is a career administrator and was staff director for the Senate subcommittee on postal matters.
W.H. "Trey" LeBlanc, vice chairman, appointed by President Reagan in 1987. He was president of his family's lumber business in Louisiana, and also was a land developer.
George Haley, appointed in 1990 and reappointed this year. He was president of a Washington law firm specializing in transportation and corporate law.
H. Edward Quick Jr., appointed in 1991. His background is in academics and in the Senate as a staff member.
Wayne Schley, appointed by President Bush in 1992. In 22 years since coming to Washington under the wing of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, he has become an expert on postal issues.|
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by CNB