Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-07
SECOND-CLASS ABUSES.
Still Another Postmaster General
Pleads For Help.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 5.-The an
nual report of Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith contains 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 for the fiscal year
shows total expenditures of SOL ,632 ISL
and total receipts of $95, 1884, the
deficiency being $2,422,747 less than
last year. The postmaster general
says:
The most urgent need of the postal
service is the rectification of the enor-
nous wrongs which have grown up in
the Ierversion and abuse of the pri vi
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
progress, which experience and intelli-
gence are working out, is the redemp-
ton of the special concession which
congress granted for distinct and
iustifiabe public object from the fun
gus 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 az
cry direction. involves a sheer wanton
waste Of S20,000,000 or upward year.
The postal deficit for the current year
is $6,610 776. But for this wrongful ap-
plication of the second-class rate, in
stead of a deficit there would be a clear
surplus of many millions. 1t is not
now proposed to restrict the privileges
of legitimate publications or to modify
the design of the law, but only to
bring back its application to its origi-
nal 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 seeoad-class with the intent
of the law and ought justly to be paid
for at third-class rate This gives the
enormous quantity of 1851 ,6l3
pounds from which the department de-
rives only fraction of the revenue to
which it is fairly entitled The de-
partment actually derives a revenue of
14.75 cents a pound for the third-class
matter mailed last year and on mis-
basis the department would have re-
ceived for this wrongly classed second
rate matter $26,01l 1853, instead of ST.
763, sic, which is actually received, and
the postal revenues would have been
increased by the handsome sum of
$24,24S, 347."
Mr.. Smith concludes that over one
fourth of the entire volume and weight
of the mails pays as second-class mat
ter when it should pay third class and
that this furnishes one fifty-fifth part
of the postal revenue and it's carrying,
reckoning s cents a pound, cost S14,-
10S,129, Will, .evenue from it was ST.
1853, sic, thus causing loss to the gov
eminent of over $12,000,000,
IF there is to be favored class
Mr. Smith says, 'let it embrace all the
people With this class paying prop
erly even penny postage, with reason
able limits, could be applied to letters
without entailing a deficit larger than
that of the last few years and possibly
with none at all"