New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
NEW POSTAGE RATES URGED.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THIRD ASSIST
ANT POSTMASTER GENERAL

Washington. Nov. Edwin c. Madden. Third
Assistant Postmaster General in his annual report
made public to-day. recommends the establishment
Of the following new postage rates:
new rate at four cents a pound for all publica-
lions admitted 70 the second class mall except
daily tri-weekly. semi-weekly and weekly news
papers, in the generally understood sense of the
word newspaper" This rate is TO be paid on the
bulk weight without regard to the number Of
pieces. the same as is now the case under the
pound rate.
The consolidation of the third and fourth classes
Of mail matter. and that the postage thereon be
at the rate OF for each two ounces or frac
ton thereof 70 be prepaid by stamps affixed. is
also recommended.
Congress is asked 10 authorize the Postmaster
General TO accept, under suitable regulations mail
ings of large quantities of Identical pieces OF printed
matter and small articles Of mercha ndise without
the necessity Of afising stamps the individual
pieces.
The recommendation for the rate OF cents
pound is an outgrowth Of the investigation into
the abuses Of the second-clsss mail privileges Mr.
Madden says that many OF the cheaper class OF
periodicals would be given away If the law would
permit The practice. il is said is to maintain
the fiction Of subscription price and give back
its equivalent in a premium The solution Of the
whole problem. he says, is that a new postage rate
be created and applied 10 all publications now ad-
mitted to the second class except daily tr-weekly
semi-weekly and weekly newspapers. in the sense
In which the word newspaper is generally under
stood. Mr.. Madden says:
No one will question the public benefit of genuine
might be granted IL the privilege could be properly
connneo- But constrained is
unJustlnab bic 70 longer tax the people for any part
OF the cost Of distribution in the mails CT any other
class Of periodical publications.
Concerning the public impression that one cent
postage is probable in the near future Mr. Madden
says it is altogether too soon to consider a reduc-
that the reforms in second class mail matter viii
save enough TO the government TO compensate II
Tor the loss Of revenue through the reduction OF
the letter rate Had the proposed four cents per
one haIr ounce for letters existed during the last
nscal year, Mr.. Madden says. the result based
upon an estimate would have been aggregate
estimated deficiency of Sl9O00,010 Thus even
under an Increase in the Of postage on narj-
odlcalS recomn ended. will not be practita HE
10 establish one cent letter rate before the postaI
service is thoroughly adjusted only TO the re-
forms IN second class mail matter but also 10 the
enormous expenditures necessary to compIetsv ana
satisfactorily establish the rural free
TEN: The postal system IS largely monopolized nv
weight OF all mail matter from which revenue IS
derived, Tor which they pay only about one twenty
fourth OF the total postage revenue"
Mr.. MADDEN recommends that Congress he re-
and reply postal card service, under pian for III
coectlon OF postage al the place OF delivery
than al the place OF mailing. N'
Mr.. Madden says nearly 100000 was expended
delivery. and that, had IL not been for mis- ,arSe
expenditure, the postal service for the fiscal 80
1902 would have been self-sustaining and wouId
have had more than 100000 to its credit
The report points out number of still existing
abuses. among the most fragrant OF which are sai3
TO be the abuse Of sample copy privileges and tha
offering OF premiums to subscribers. 80
m .<YTTr On