New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-04
ABUSE IN POSTAL SYSTEM.
IMPROPER APPLICATION OF SECOND
CLASS RATES.
LARGE LOSS TO THE GOVERNMENT SHOWN
IN MR.. SMITHS REPoRT-NEEDs OF
THE NETWORK OFFICE.

IN MR.. SMITHS REPORT-NEEDS OF
THE NETWORK OFFICE.
Washington. Dec. s.-The annual report OF Post
master General Charles Emory Smith was made
public tonight Its chief feature is plan for
CONGRESSES action to stop the abuse OF second class
mail privileges which he says results In an annual
waste OF upward OF s20.O0oOoo. The hnanciai ex-
hibt for the fiscal year shows total expenditures
Of sO s3 sl and total receipts OF ss5o2l3s the de-
fciency being s24227i7 less than last year. The
Postmaster General says;
rectifcation OF the enormous wrongs which have
grown up in the perverson and abuse OF .ne here
many improvements and advances waiting de-
velopment and application; opportunities ior spec
the scope OF the mail service and bringing II closer
home to the people; possibilities OF red1cec po s
age; but above and beneath and beyond all OF tnese
measures of progress which experience ana ntetn-
gence are working out is the redemption o. f tns
fungus growths and the fagrant evils that have
drags on the Department and weighs down the
service. trammels its power and means OF eneGts s
wanton waste OF 500 900 or upward year. The
rate instead OF a deficit there would be clear sur
restrict the privileges Of legitimate publications
TO modify the design OF the law but only TO orlns
back its application to its original and just scope
LOSSES TO THE GOVERNMENT.
ter naed s es5 5u GSs Of n
pound rate is not properly second class wh m ,ne
the third class rate This gives the ENORMOUS
Quantity Of sS pounds from which WI 1sy the De to
which 1t is fairly entitled The Department &C &C
tgay derived revenue OF 0 cents and on
this basis the Department would have received l0r
ine.n ad Of actually
the postal revenues would have been increased by
the handsome sum Of 24,24SS4'.
Mr. Smith concludes that over one-fourth OF the
entire volume and weight OF the mails pays as
second class matter when II should pay third class,
and that this furnishes only one ffty-hfth part OF
the postal revenue and It's carrying, reckoning at
eight cents a pound costs sl4.l0S2s. while revenue
from 1t was sl763,5l6 thus causing a loss to the
Government of over sl2,OU,oU.
"If there is TO be a favored class" Mr.. Smith
saws "let It embrace all the people. With this
class paying properly. even penny postage, with
reasonable limitations could be applied to letters
without entang deficit larger than that or the
last few years. and possibly with none at all"
The Postmaster General separates the abuses OF
the pound rate into three classes. In the nrst ne
pIaces paper covered books issued under pretence
Of being serial publications. but which are In no
wise periodicals These publications, he says, have
few or no actual subscribers and the books AFTER
being TRANSPORTED In bulk to some central locality
ar. remailed many times the Government losing
seven cents pound each shipment
The advertising "house organ" and that class OF
paper which styles itself trade Journal but which
exists merely as an advertising scheme, are next
taken m This latter paper. says Mr.. Smith. does
not seek circulation on It's merits or through SUD-
scrptons, but is mostly given away on pieuse
to advertisers that many copies snail De uis-
tributed. The house organ is OF the same ype'
but limited TO being the advertising circular OF
ctahIi ms
conform in any lust sense to the requirements OF
the law but offer only a nominal and technical
conformity
QUESTION OF SAMPLE COPIES.
Discussing the question OF sample copies. the
Postmaster General says
The third abuse grows out, Of the privilege OF
sample copies In It's original and obvious intent
this privilege harmonizes with the policy under
centIonaI rate OF postage. The sample copy Of
regularly admitted paper or periodical counting tor
induce a new subscription by exhibiting its merits
in a new quarter. But as matter Of fact IN
the Individual exhibit but the potential cloak OF
a thousand times multiplied distribution without
regard TO subscriptions and solely as the plea and
pledge for advertising This IS not the object which
Inc law had in view It is not directed In any sense
pose Is as an agency OF advertising. and Why tGy
should the Government furnish the means OF ms
sample copy privilege is the Iife Of the n house Sc
es The I, GG' EfSs 5s
to It's 9ga Of 5ess great and papabe
abuses ought to be the sufficient argument for
their prompt reform It s not sought to
Indeed their publishers have direct and manifest
interest in the extirpation of these wrongs which
swee egd condemnation and warfare, involving
alike those that are Justly and those that are un
for Joining actively in the reform that its achieve
ment would 60 far to eXtnsgsh 6hs
and to restore the business to Its regular and
natural channels.
POSTAL WORK IN THE ISLANDS.
Regarding the new possessions the Postmaster
General says
The presence OF United States troops in the new
island possessions and Cuba, in constant com
ma T ae sDm o hep needs and the
practical obteration Of the old local postal sys-
@tI r reconsruction Of the whole service for
the requirements OF the native population
Regarding rural free delivery the Postmaster
General expresses the opinion that the system has
already passed the experimental stage. and sums
up the advantages to be derived from Its estao-
lishment as follows:
Increased postal receipts. making many OF the
raw Deliveries almost Immediately self-supportins.
In Great Britain where an extension OF rural Tree
,nne 1907 The number OF additional letters mailed
because Of additional facilities afforded IL estimated
enhancement OF the value of farm lands reached
nv his service and better prices obtained for farm
products through more direct communication with
he markets and prompter Information OF their
fmnroved means of travel. some hundreds OF
miles Of country roads especially n the Western
States having been graded specifically in order to
Obtain rural free delivery ,
Higher educational influences broader circula-
~ ~ tho means OF public intelligence, and closer
d,Wv contact with the great world of activity ex
tepdod r. the homes OF heretofore Isolated rural
communities.