Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-04
THE PUBLIC ABUSE
OF the Second Class Postal Rates is
the Subject Of a Strong Expression
from the Postmaster General.

WASHINGTON, December 3.-The
annual report of Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith was made public
tonight Its chief feature is a plea
for congressional action to stop the
abuse of second class mail privileges
which, he says, results in an annual
waste of upwards of $4,000 900. The
financial exhibit OF the fiscal year
shows total expenditures of s101, 631, 161
and total receipts of ss5,021 1884, the
deficiency being s2.422,747 less than last
year.
The Postmaster General says:
THE most urgent need of the postal
service is the rectifioation of the enor-
nous wrongs which have grown up in
the pewersion and abuse of the priyi-
lege accorded by law to second class
matter. There are many improve
ments and advances waiting develop
ment and applications. Opportunities
for speedier transmission and delivery;
fields for broadening the scope of the
mail service and bringing it closer
home to the people; possibilities of re-
duced postage; but above and beneath
and beyond all of these measures Of
postage, which experience and intelli-
gence are working out, is the redemp-
ton of the special concession which
Congress granted for a distinct and
justivable public object from the fungus
growths and the fragrant evils that have
fastened upon it.
For this costly abuse, which drags
on the department and weighs down
the service, trammels its power and
means of effective advancement in
every direction, involves a sheer wan
ton waste of 10000, 600 or upward a
year. The postal deficit for the current
year is S6,610,7 But for this wrong
full application of the second class rate.
instead Of deficit there should be a
clear surplus of many millions. II is
not now proposed to restrict the priyi-
leges of legitimate publications or to
modify the design OF the law, but only
to bring back it's application to its or
iginal and just scope.
1t is believed that fully one-half OF
all the matter mailed as second class,
and paid for at the pound rate, is not
properly second class within the intent
Of the law, and ought justly to be paid
for at the third class rate. This gives
the enormous quantity OF 1881 ,6l3
pounds from which the department de-
rives only a fraction Of the revenue TO
which it is fairly entitled. The depart
ment actually derives revenue Of 1A75
cents a pound for the third class mat
ter mailed last year. and on this basis
the department would have received
for this wrongly classed second rate
matter s2s.Ol1, s5s. instead Of s17s3. SIG.
which 1t actually received. and the pos
tai revenues would have been increased
BY the handsome sum OF sZ4.243. 547.'
Mr.. Smith concludes that over one
fourth Of the entire volume and weight
Of the mails pays as second class mat
ter when IL should pay third class, and
that this furnishes only one ffty-ffth
part Of the postal revenue and its car
rying, reckoning az eight cents a
pound. costs s14.10s.129. while revenue
from it was .1.7ss.51s. thus causing a
loss to the government Of over twelve
million dollars.
IF there is to be a favored class"
Mr. Smith says. let it embrace ali the
people. With this class paying prop
erly even penny postage, with reason
able limitations, could be applied to
letters without entailing a deficit
larger than that Of the last few years.
and possibly with none at all"
Regarding our new possessions, the
Postmaster General says:
The presence Of United States
troops in the new island possessions
and Cuba in constant communication
with home. constrained the establish
ment Of mail facilities for their needs
and the practical obIiteration Of the old
local postal system with the extin-
guishment Of Spanish authority com
PEELED a reconstruction Of the whole
service for the requirements Of the
native population