The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-11-19
POSTAL PEPORT
MADE PUBLIC
Madden Recommends Various All.
teraliOns in Rates on
Publications.
WILL AFFECT NEWSPAPERS
Too Early to Consider Reduction
ON Rate Of Letter Postage
Existing Abusesin Sys-
tenn Pointed Out.

WIN ohht1u Dhts
WASHINGTON, Nov. ls.-Edward C.
Madden, third assistant postmaster
general. in his annual report. just made
public. recommends the establishment
Of the following postal rates:
A new rate at 4 cents a pound on
all publications not admitted to the
second-ciass mail except daily, trl-
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 70 the number OF pieces,
the same as is now the case under the
pound rate); the consolidation of the
third and fourth class Of mail matter,
and that the postage thereon be at the
rate of cent for each two ounces or
fraction thereof. to be prepaid by
stamps AFFIXED.
Congress also is asked to authorize
the postmaster general to accept under
suitable regulations mailings Of large
quantities Of Identical pieces of print
ed matter and small aticles OF mer-
chandIse without the necessity of af-
fixing postage stamps to the individual
pieces.
The recommendation for the cents
a pound rate Is an outgrowth of the
investigation into the abuses Of the
second-class mail privileges. Mr.. Mad
den says that many of the cheaper
class OF periodicals would be given
away If the law would permit. The
practice, 1t is said. is to maintain the
fiction of subscription price and to
give back its equivalent in premiums.
The solution Of the whole problem, he
says, is that a new postage rate be
created and applied to all publications
now admitted to the second-class ex-
cept daily, tri-weekly, semi-weekly and
weekly newspapers (from the sense the
word newspaper" is generally under
stoodl.
Mr.. Madden says. mo one will ques-
ton the public benefit of genuine news
papers, and for these an absolutely free
rate might be granted If the privilege
could be properly confined. But l am
constrained to say that itisunjustifiable
to longer tax the people for any part
OF the cost of distribution in the mails
of anv other class of periodical publi-
cations"
Concerning the public impression that
I cent postage is probable in the near
future, Mr.. Madden says that it is
altogether too soon to consider a re-
duction Of the letter rate of postage on
the mere basis that the reforms in
second-class mail matter will save
enough to the government to compen-
safe 1t for the loss of revenue through
te reduction of the letter rate.
Had the proposed cents per pound
rate and this anticipated rate of l cent
per one-half ounce for letters existed
during the last fiscal year" Mr.. Mad
den says, 1.-The result based upon an
estimate. would have been an aggre-
gate estimated deficiency of S1s,0O0,OOO. |
Thus, even under an increase IN the |
rate of postage on periodicals as rec
ommended. it will not be practicable to |
establish | cent letter rate before the |
postal service is thoroughly adjusted. |
not only to the reforms in the second |
Glass mail matter, but also to the enor-
nous expenditures necessary to COM
nletely and satisfactorily establish the
-ural free delivery system. The postal
system is lrgely monopollzed by pub
ishers with more than two-thlrds of
he total weight of all matter from
which revenue is derived for which
hey paid about one-twenty-fourth OF
he total postage revenue"
MIR. Madden recommends that congress
De requested to pass law allowing
'eply envelope and reply postal card
,ervice, under a plan for collection OF
,ostge at the place of delivery rather
han at the place of mailing.
Mr.. Madden says that nearly 4OOO'OOO
vas expended during the year on ac-
cunt of experimental rural free deliv-
ry and that had 1t not been for this
arge expenditure the postal service for
ne fiscal year 1902 would have been
elf sustaining and would have had
more than 100000 to its credit.
The report points out a number Of
till existing abuses, among the most
agrant of which is stated to be the