The evening times., 1899-05-16
LIBRARY SCHEME TO
Send BOOKS BY mail
POstOfice Authorities Disap-
prove Of the Plan.
Enormous Abuse of the Second
Class Matter Privilege.
Millions Use.essIy Expended With
out Returns to the Pubiic-Some
Surprising Statistics.

There are good many cranks who
think the Postoffice Department ought to
carry freight from one end of the country,
bring it back, and deliver it to the homes
of citizens for 1 cent pound.
This statement was made by a high LOS
tai official today when reporter for The
Times asked for an expression of opinion
as to the feasibility and desirability of put
ting into execution proposition made by
". Scott, of Cambridge. Mass, that ros-
tai carrier system should be instituted for
public libraries by which books could be
sent to readers and returned as second
class matter.
Mr.. Scott who is Secretary OF the New
England Educational League. brought this
proposition forward at the convention of
the American Library Association in At
lanta. Ga.
Mr. Scott, in advocacy Of his proposition.
said
IF. with proper revisions. second class
postage rates rest on economic grounds, tie
use of the postal system at second rates
as library carrier system would be eco
nomic. Moreover. it is probable that such
carriage of books would be more profitable
than other matter. because the carriage for
libraries generally would be short. in cir
cles of small radius. ranging from r.ile
to twenty five or one hundred miles. When
it is considered that libraries are main
tafned by public taxation Of philanthropic
gifts to the public. and that great perrna-
nent investments and annual expenditures
are involved in their administration. the
lack of adjustment between library and
postal systems appears a waste OF pubic
wealth. The present defective arrange
ment stands in the way of the development
of a comprehensive library system. In
consequence. every feature Of library ad-
ministration is conducted at increased cost
and Yields inadequate returns. The people
who sustain the postal system under Fed
eral laws and libraries under State laws
thus bear needless burdens. which postal
service for libraries as cheap and effective
as is granted to private or corporate par
ties would lessen.
Cheap postage stands on high plane
| as an educational force. The postal laws
diffuse good reading at minimum rates.
promote the circulation of literary, scien-
tific, and other publications tending to
public enlightenment. The public libraries
are leading educational agency, and to
grant them minimum postal rates is in
line with the settled policy of the General
Government. Such a system will promote
| the circulation of books where no libraries
| now exist as well as at library centres.
| and will tend to develop library system
to reach every family and individual, as
does the postal system.
| Libraries are usually local. hut many
| believe the local idea will yield to larger
unit of administration and support. that
| comprehensive library districts will be
created by making cities or central librariss
serve greater area with proper sys-
Ia. -f,, f1S,.
methods Numerous libraries. founded by
philanthropists or associations, are not To-
| cal but admit to use of books persons at
| a distance In such cases present mail
rates are so large as to be generally pro-
hibitive and the educational value OF the
| library is diminished.
Nothing else could do so much to give
| libraries accessibility and freedom of move
ment and to hasten equal library privi-
| leges as the use Of the postal system for
carriage of books at cost. Ii would be the
| first step toward making every postoffice a
| library delivery station and every carrier
| a library helper. To obtain library book
would become as easy as to get magazine.
paper or letter from the mail.
The objection which the postal authOri-
| ties have TO the plan suggested by Mr.
! Scott is that the postal deficit is due in the
main to The abuse OF second-class rates.
strict the privilege rather than TO extend
It.
Postmaster General Smith in his last re-
port. in treating of the loss sustained by
the Government on the carrying of second
class mail matter, said
The injustice inflicted both upon the
postal revenues and the people by exist
ing laws regulating the carrying OF sec
ond-class mail matter has been represent
ed to Congress in reports from this de-
partment for ten years past with cumula-
tive force, but without effect in remedial
| legislation.
by acts of Congress passed in 1874
| 1879. 1885. and 1894. privileged Class has
| been created. entitled to the use of the
United States mail service either free of
charge or at a cost far below the price the
Government is compelled to pay the rail-
road companies for the transportation of
| the mails thus carried. The right thus
conferred is entirely distinct from the
right to flank official documents. which is
given to Members Of Congress and the