The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-26
POSTAL REFORMS.

bin to carry out the recommendations OF
the postmaster general in regard to Sec
ond class mail matter Mr.. Loud says that
one cent postage cannot be established
while the cost for handling second class
matter remains great, and that the
second class matter must pay more or
else undergo a reclassifcation that will
result In bringing in more revenue. There
has been a crusade In different parts Of
the country for one cent postage. but with
postal receipts falling below expenditures
1t is not very easy to prove that it is feas-
ibie without In some way making UP the
deficiency. In order to compensate for
the loss OF revenue which would result
from the reduction IN letter postage, the
National Board of Trade proposes to ad-
vance the second class matter rate from
one to eight cents a pound. Second class
matter. as il well known, includes news
papers and periodicals published regularly
at least four times a year.
The cry for one cent postage has been a
popular one for a long time. and no doubt
the more cheaply one can have written
communications carried from place to
place by the government, the better IL will
be for the people. PROFESSIONALLY a one
cent rate will be established some day,
but the question arises whether in remoy-
ing a postal burden in one place an
ing a burden IN one place another and
equally heavy one is not inflicted upon an
other. The public pays the postage in both
kinds OF mail matter. Would the proposed
change really bring any actual appreciable
relief? 1t is question as TO whether the
difference of one cent on letter postage
would be felt to any great extent by the
private individual. To large business con-
Germs, no doubt the gain would amount
TO something, but the saving would be a
very small item in the expense account. To
the great mass OF people a reduction In
letter postage would mean very little
On the other hand, an advance OF rates
on second class matter from one to eight
cents a pound, as is proposed by the Ma
tional Board OF Trade, would bring about
a sort OF a revolution, and could not fail
to shut out from the mails a large number
of legitimate publications. In fact, Il Is not
unlikely that it would be found impossible to
use the mails for great many of these
publications. The cost of sending the Post
Intelllgencer to a regular subscriber for a
year at eight cents a pound would be in
the neighborhood of S5-half the subscrip-
ton price. With this additional expense,
1t could not be sent through the mails TN
less the price were increased. The same
can be said OF nearly all the legitimate
daily and weekly papers in the country.
II the price were Increased It would affect
all classes of people. for there are very few
persons who do not read newspapers.
They are the people who would have to
pay the additional charges. And IL. be-
cause of excessive rates, 1t was found that
newspapers could not use the malls and
their patronage was, from necessity, taken
from the department, the loss TO the gov
eminent would certainly be very large es-
pecially II the other postal receipts were
reduced by the establishment OF one cent
letter postage.
There are very few publishers OF news
papers and periodicals who are such
through motives of charity or phiianthro-
py. They are IN business TO make money.
AT the same time. II can be maintained
that the press TO certain extent performs
a public function. 1t has come to be not
luxury. but a necessity. It has gradually
developed into an essential factor of our
form OF government. The easy distribu-
ton OF information is now urgently de-
manded, and with our modern ways OF rv-
ing. IN a country so large as the United
States. the prohibition Of an interchange
OF information and ideas through excessive
mall rates would be regarded little short
OF public calamity. If the reduction OF
letter postage TO one cent means the In
crease OF rates on second class matter to
eight cents a pound, II Is doubtful IL Il
VIII be Indorsed by those who have figured
on what the results would be. The reduc-
ton In letter postage would be relief
hardly appreciable. but an increase OF the
postage on second class matter would at
once become aggravatingly noticeable to
every person who takes current publica-
tons. keeps informed on the events OF the
day and reads the daily newspaper as regu-
larly as he eats and sleeps.
II cannot be denied that one reason for
service is because OF the cost OF carrying
second class matter. But Il Is due to the
fact that large part OF the matter carried
IS not what was originally Intended TO be
included IN the second class. There is a
great mass or printed matter. such as nov
els. which under the name OF serial
publications are sent through ths mails
az newspaper aud magazine rates They
are really books. ana should pay book
rates. The great Increase OF second class
matter carriei-sna. according 70 Post
master Rssel. Il was from i42. 900 600 70 49,
90 900 pounds n six yeRrs-Is due 70 the
fact % 4 distribution OF matter which
really does not belong in the second class.
Mr. Blssel thought that Il this great mass
OF literature. published az serials n order
70 get cheap postage. wer. cut or. short
time only would be necessary 20 demon
strate that legitimate newspapers and
magazines would pay FOR their carriage.
This IS a feature OF the question that con-
gress can well srord 10 consider. VIII not
a reform IN the classification be preferable
- a Wholesale increase IN the rates on y
rs y n ex!sts1 Is X policy 70 make the
means Of distributing news 20 the public
more expensive than they now sres The
idea has prevailed that newspapers and
legitimate magazines have Become neces-
g.