The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-07
UNITED STATES MAILS.

Strong Recommendation For Revising
Laws Regarding Second Glass Matter.
The report of the postmaster general pre-
sents a comprehensive statement of the
operations of the postofice department for
the last fiscal year
The receipts of the department during
the year amounted to SIC, 080;479.O Oh and the
expenditures to S8f, 324 415.15
The transactions of the postal service
indicate with barometric certainty the
fluctuations in the business of the country
Inasmuch, therefore as business compli-
cations continue to exist throughout the
last year to an unforeseen extent, it is not
surprising that the deficiency of revenue
to meet the expenditures of the postofice
department, which was estimated in adj
vance at about $8,000,000, should be ex-
ceeded by nearly 81, 250,0 600 dollars.
The Deficiency Unnecessary.
The postmaster general states that this
deficiency is unnecessary and might be OBJ
waited at once if the law regulating rates
upon mail matter of the second class was
modified. The rate received for the trans
mission of this second class matter is l
cent per pound, while the cost Of trans
mission to the government is eight times
that amount. In the general terms of the
law this rate covers newspapers and peri
odicals. The extensions of the meaning
of these terms from time to time have adj
mitted to the privileges intended for legiti-
mate newspapers and periodicals a
Surprising Range of Publications
and created abuses, the cost of which
amount in the aggregate to the deficiency
of the postof1ice department. Pretended
newspapers are started by business houses
for the mere purpose of advertising goods,
complying with the law in formalitY and
disseminating the publications as soon as
the period Of advertising is over. Sample
copies" Of pretended newspapers are is
sued in great numbers for like purpose
only. The result is a great loss to
the government, besides its humiliating
use as an agency to aid in carrying out the
scheme of a business house to advertise
its goods by means of trick upon both
its rival houses and the regular and legiti-
mate newspapers,
Paper Covered Literature,
consisting mainly of trashy novels, to the
extent of many thousand tons, is sent
through the mails at one cent per pound,
while the publishers of standard works
are required to pay eight times that
amount in sending their publications
Another abuse consists in the free car
riage through the mails of hundreds of
tons of seed and grain uselessly distribu-
ted through the department of agricul-
ture. The postmaster general predicts
that if the law be so amended as
to eradicate these abuses, not only will
the postoffice departments show no defc-
iency, but he believes that in the near
FIGURE all legitimate newspapers and
periodical magazines might be properly
transmitted through the mails to their
subscribers free of cost. invite your
prompt consideration Of this subject, and
fully indorse the views Of the postmaster
general
The total number Of postoffices in the
United States on the 30th day of June,
1894, was 69,SO5, an increase Of ], 043 over
the preceding year. OF these J, 1926 were
presidential, an increase in that class of 6S
over the preceding year.
Six hundred and ten cities and towns
are provided with free delivery Ninety
three other cities and towns entitled to
this service under the law have not been
accorded it on account of insufficient
funds