The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-10

The report of the postmaster general Is
not usually A favorits literary production.
and II Is not particularly attractive TO the
general reader even this year. But be-
meath its haystack OF statistics Is con-
cealed a bright suggestion which should
draw the interest of everybody. as the
needle is drawn 10 the magnet.
one-eent postage Is the tempting bait
held out. IL can be had, Mr.. Wilson says.
and without delay. The cheapest postage
in the world can be brought to the door
Of tho poorest. and all that is needed Is
tho concentration OF popular effort upon
congress 10 offset tho influence OF limited
but active interests. which care less for
the one-ceat letter postage than con-
siuuance OF the privileges accorded TO sec
ond-ciass matter.
The distinction should he clearly made
between business and private communtca-
tons. In which everybody benefits by n
low rate OF postage. and that class OF mall
matter which chiefly serves to promote
the interests OF those using the postoffies
Tor It's dissemination. No burden should
be placed upon commerce by an unneces-
sarliy high rate OF postage. but there IS
no reason why a letter should be taxed
o. per cent above its cost OF delivery in
order 10 AFFORD a higher rate of proat 10
the publishers OF ysllow-coverss and
trashy novels. or that accommodating
congressman should aid IN the scattering
81 pamphlets an.i po!emicsl literature.
There Is a deficiency In the revenue Of
she postoifice for the year OF ss,Is7.oSs, a
very poor encouragement to turn over 70
he government the management q rail-
roads and telegrRphs and other means OF
inger-communication. The deficiency
arises entirely from an abuse OF laws
framed with a benehecns purpose. II IS
created by the spoeioas application Of the
rate Intended FER genuine newspapers ard
magazines 20 merely advertising schemes
and 70 cheap novels whlch are issued n
suonthly numbers IN order 70 come within
The phrasooiogy OF the .aw. II IS rot a
part Of the business q tse government 70
sak> into consideration the chances o.
profit or ioss - fo,,ow the application 81
SIS laws. perhaps. hat they always form
a part OF tae consideration So ne framing
81 laws. u may, therefore. - urged In
advocacy q restoration OF rates 20 ttsis
eTlglas, r0rposs. that here - a great dtf-
terence between a eotfatrY weekly news
paper with subscription prise ef 81 CT
SO year disseminating ths cvrren,
/ news. ans books ~ Seton selling a. =
I and 30 cents volume.
The ranking privilege has ben nStcr4.
I snsly abused. ard 60 more ssErsn; in-
I stance need - cited tssn tat cf tAs
printing in the coag~esslosN Recars @.
YleaYv Georges beck, Progress and Pov.
! srty." ag3 mating Il by teas e thousand,
| Under ras frank % members 81 coagres.
/ 70 sasao; AL taFoe 80 sss pa,iscai parties
/ havz becu guilty; hut Il Is sn as'ase which
/ sas Seasn grs3uSlly ard aeea1ns recog-
n'ssa as serf q uaWriSsen privilege.
/ re pcs;oeicr. 800. HAs he>a esss as ar
! express os9es fer tas delivery - rnsr-
/ ehsneises iosss'y-tfraTn laws ara lzx ~
| ssrprvs&tsea % them eoantvfax - dsfea;
tAs true rsraose snd % impair ;ae ssH-
/ etsney % a postal Hsrytce
TIE afeesas congress need aes wais -
r~nae8y sAasa evt1s ans as al eo,.tleal
parties have esen aIke arrellct. a. rasy
sssits Tspeatans'y gn e-eet5nr a resoruA