Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-04

key drinking, although 1t must be can-
fcssed at one time last summer ii seemed
as though an attempt was being made
in this city to drink up the visible sup
ply. The attempt failed, and the new year
starts in with a marked Improvement.
we note a decided reaction.
We have given in brief both sides OF
the local situation, and we VIII only adu
that q man who has been bedridden for
80 years cannot become u pedestrian in
nine months. 1t may be that the people
of Rutland are made up SO that they
cannot be trusted with liquor. and that
absolute prohibition is the best thing for
them; or 1t may be that wiser couuscls
will prevail and as the novelty of license
wears off Rutland will be able to take her
place in a dignihed manner with the vast
ma iority of municipalities Of this country
and of Europe as license community.
MAKE II SELF SUPPORTING.
Urrom the Northneld News)
Why is not the postofce department
made self supporting? Each annual re-
port shows "a big deficiency. The rom
ody could easily be applied If Congress
would take the matter UP in II deter
mined and practical way.
1t is admitted that the loss comes from
handling second class matter made UP Of
periodicals, at much less than cost. What
ever reasons may have existed in the
past for government aid in tho dssemina-
ton of news and literature such condi-
tons no longer exist. Every class of
printed matter which goes through the
mails ought to pay the government ratio
which would cover the cost OF it's trans
portation. If the News understands it
rightly, every class of mailable matter
except that designated as second class
does pay the cost of handling.
a good deal of discussion has arisen
from time to time over the classifca-
ton Of second class mail matter and be-
cause in most cases there mas Dcen
more theory than practical ideas the
thing has remained unchanged. while a
certain class OF publishers have gone
on reapinE a big profit from the losses
the government sustains in the transpor-
tation of it's publications.
Having offered these criticisms the News
outlines the simple remedy. which would
bring the postoi'ice department onto Il
self supporting basis. 1t would define
second class matter to include only period
| icals designated primarily for the dis
scmination of news. published as often as
once a week and sent to actual subscrib-
ers. 1t would abolish the present free
postage in the county whore the publ
cation is printed. Under this arrange
inent actual newspapers could undoubtcd-
ly be transported at the present price
of one cent per pound, without loss to
the government, because the greater por-
ton of every newspapers subscription
| list is within a small radius
On magazines, more than half the
weight of which are made up of advcr-
tising pages and transported all over
the United states weekly literary jour
nails. trade papers, sample copies of news
papers, books and all other printed mat
ter Of what ever kind or nature the rate
should he uniform and at a price which
would fully insure the cost of transpor
tatiSn, whether it he four, six or the
present rate for printed matter of eight
cents per pound.
Changes of classification and rates o.
postage on the lines suggested abov'
would Place the postofTce department
on a sclf-supporting basis and Warrant
needed improvements in the service. a:
well az insuring the more rapid extension
of the free rural delivery system.
GRANITE CITY ST. LOUIS EXHIBI
TON
('rom the Barre Times.)
CONGRATULATIONS to the Barre Granite
Manufacturing association on the progress
for the exhibition of Barre granite d
the St. Louis worlds fair.
LIQUOR RAIDS IN HARDWICK.
(From the Londerry Sifter)
Two non-license places in Hardwicl
were raided the other day and liquo
found in each. How long has it beef
that We were told that these thing
couldn't happen under license local
option law.
A BRACE OF JOURNALISTIC SENA
TORS.