The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-18
FREE DELIVERY EXTENSION.
THIRD ASSISTANT MADDEN IS
OPPOSED To IT.
He Diners with First Assistant Wynne a.
to Its Effect on the Revenues Says II
Is Too Soon to Consider Cent Letter
P0staEe-SecOnd.Cls Mail Abuses.

Is Too Soon to Consider 4 Cent Letter
PostaEe-SecOnd.Clss Mail Abuses.
WASHINGTON, Nov. I7-Third Assistant
Post mester-General Madden in his annual
report to the Post master-General opposes
the view regarding the value Of the rural
free delivery system and its effects upon
the postal revenues expressed by First
Assistant General Wynne, who
has jurisdiction over the service and whose
annual report urgently recommended that
its advantages he extended to the entire
country as rapidly as possible. Mr.. Mad
den saws that the total deficiency in the
post Office revenues last year was only
g. 1887 GAO. and points out that the total
amount expended for the year on account
of experimental rural free delivery was
So 993, 7O7. exceeding the amount of the
aggregate loss from all sources during
the year by 81 .OS? ,537. He adds.
Had it not been for the large cxpendit ure
on account of rural free delivery, the postal
service for the fiscal year would have been
self-sustainng and would have had more
than 81 600 900 to it's credit"
A considerable portion Of the report ia
devoted to discussion of the subject of
second-class mail. Mr.. Madden says the
abuses III tins CLASS Oh matter nave grown
to be positively enormous. Many of the
abuses have been corrected. he says, the
effect of which is already apparent in the
revenues but II will take time to determine
the permanent effect OF the abuses COM
planned of the most fragrant are books
masoucradng as periodical publications,
the return of unsold copies to news agents.
the excessive circulation of sample copies,
| bulk so called subscriptions by persons
| Interested in the circulation Of publica-
-
| considerations than the publication itself
| a. an inducement to subscription. or
| these the news agents return OF unsold
! copies has been wholly corrected and much
bas been accomplished on the others.
| Mr.. Maiden says that a careful study
| that he one cent pound rate for publishers.
| except in the case of new spapers ia no
longer a necessity. and that the solution Of
| the whole problem lies in the fixing Of new
| postage rate for all publications now adj
| rni,ted to the second class. except bona
| fide newspapers. For all others he recon-
| nendl n postage rate of not less than four
| cents a pound. The report says also that
an absolutely free rate might be- granted TO
| genuine newspapers II the privilege could
be properly confined.
| The report says that IL is altogether too
| soon TO consider a reduction OF the letter
rate Of postage on the mere basis that such
a reduction will save enough to the Govern
|
through the reduction OF the rate. IL the
new postage rates for periodicals recon-
mended by Mr. Madden had been in opera
ton during the past wear in connection
with the anticipated one cent letter rate,
| the deficit in the postal revenues. instead Of
being trife over two millions. would
have been nearly $40 ,OoO. 900. Hence even
| under an increase in the periodical postage
rate, Mr.. Madden says. IL will not he prac-
ticahle 10 establish n one-cent letter rate
before the postal service is thoroughly
adjusted, not only to reforms relating 20
second class mail matter, but also to the
enormous expenditures necessary 10 COM
pletelv and satisfactorily establish the rural
| free delivery system.
| The report recommends that Congress
be requested 70 authorize the consolidation
Of the third and fourth classes Of mail
matter with a uniform rate Of one cent
for each two ounces or fraction, a. the differ
entiating beteween the two classea II al
present annoying to the postal officials
and irritating to tho public. and because
| Of the well-established fact that when
| there has been n reduction in the postage
| rate there has been corresponding in
| crease in the amount Of matter mailed.
Mr. Madden renews his recommendation
| Of last wear that Congress he asked 70 pass
| n law allowing a reply envelope and reply
postal card service under plan for the
collection Of postage NJ the place Of de-
livery rather than at the place Of mailing.