The Washington times., 1906-05-30
BAILEY EXPOSES
ABUSES OF MAILS
Too Much Printed Matter Is
Carried at Loss.
HEAVY COST TO TAXPAYERS
Texans Structures Warmly Supported
by Senator Penrose of
Pennsylvania.
HEAVY COST TO TAXPAYERS

The growing abuses" of the second
class mail matter were viciously ex-
posed in the Senate yesterday afternoon
by Senators Bailey and Penrose when
the postoftice and post roads appro-
priation bill was under consideration.
Mr.. Bailey characterized this abuse as
AN injustice on taxpayers. which is
already great enough, and one which
ought not TO be made greater"
This discussion came about when
Senator Stone offered an amendment
admitting school publications TO the
second class. Mr.. Bailey did not op-
pose If, but in speaking Of the grow
ing abuses, said:
IT am in hearty sympathy with the
effort of the Senator from Missouri TO
remove the discrimination against the
magazine published at the university Of
his State, and also with the effort 70
admit to the privilege Of the mail all
college magazines. I cannot conceive
Of any publication which the Govern
ment could so well afford to carry at
loss as these magazines, published at
our various institutions Of learning.
Abolishing All Limitations.
But il seems to me We are now
about to practically abolish all limita-
lions upon S6COnu-GldSS DldlA EldtAtA-
believe the Police Gazette is now en-
titled 10 the privileges Of the mail and
to the cheap rate Of postage. Just ex-
actly how any officer of the PostOfice
Department or any Senator or Repre-
sentative could ever evolve ii from his
consciousness that the public good
could be served by having the Govern
1pent carry a publication like that at a
loss is beyond my comprehension.
The Senator from Wisconsin says the
mails carry some worse publications.
and so they do, because the Police Ca
zette I believe, confines itself 10 pub
fishing what is true, although bad. while
some magazines OF semi-respectaole
standing not only publish what Is bad,
but go outside Of the truth 10 ma some
thing to publish.
Costs Taxpayers Many Millions.
But what I rose to protest against is
this: The Government is.today carrying
second class mail matter al a loss of
over $2oOO0.oO0 annually The Senator
from Georgia CMr Clay. who is a
member Of the committee and who Is
always accurate, suggests TO me that
the loss is s27,eoO. 600. I put it 10 the
Senate whether il is better TO let the
people who publish the magazines or
those who read them pay this 81 100000
or Law il as a burden of taxation upon
the people u no 90 not lave llAt l4lllC 10
read them, and compel them 10 contrib
ute 70 carry cheap and sometimes un-
wholesome literature TO those who are
well able TO pay a small increase in
price which would cover the cost OF
TRANSPORTATION.
"As for my part. I believe the Gov
ernment ought no more TO carry a
magazine al q loss than II ought 10 per
form any other service at a loss
Mr.. President I protest against bur
dening the taxpayers Of this country In
order 10 give cheap transportation 10
the publications that are issued for
profit The college magazine for which
the Senator from Missouri speaks is not
issued for profit, But when the Gov
ernment is asked to carry the various
publications, every one Of them publish
ed for the sake Of profit, al a loss, il is
an injustice to the taxpayers Of the
country-an injustice which is already
great enough and one which ought not
10 be made greater.
Mr.. Penrose Supports Bailey.
Senator Penrose. who had charge Of
the bill on the floor sided with Mr..
Bailey on the subject He went further
and declared that while the bill appro-
priated S192. 100000 for this year, IT would
not be long before the 10000. 900 mark
was reached in postal expenditures. In
support of Bailey's argument he said:
THE remarks Of the Senator from
Texas are absolutely correct and
striking as is his statement. he hardly
goes to the full limit Cf facts The
abuses under the second-rate mail privi-
lege are becoming so colossal as to
startie the imagination and even 10
test our creduity. Sixty per cent OF
all the mail matter carried by the Post
Office Department consists of this sec
ond class mail matter.
Soap and Auto Ads Free.
The people of the United States are
practically being called upon to pay near
" $30.00O.000 a year in order that adver-
tisements of automobiles and soaps and
patent medicines and farming imple-
nnents and all the various and multitude
nous items which people in various sec
tions of the country are interested I'm
may be advertised free OF the charge OF
transmission. solely for the benefit OF
those engaged in trafficking in such mer-
chandiSe"