Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21

discusses at length the much-debated ques-
ton of rates on second-class matter or
newspapers.
Conclusions of Commission.
Congress at it's last session appointed a
commission of six members-three from the
Senate and three from the House-to con-
slider the whole subject of second-class mall
matter.
The commission held meetings in New
York in October of this year and again in
this city in November Representing the
department. Mr.. Madden appeared and pre-
sented' the case against existing statutes.
The aim of the presentation was to show
that the present laws are out of date; that
they do not meet modern publishing condi-
tons and needs, and that their enforcement
now, antiquated as they are, to the letter
and spirit of their intent would probably
rule out of that class from 60 to 20 per cent
of all newspapers and periodicals if we were
to place strict Interpretation upon the
questions of what constitutes newspaper
and the parts of a newspaper; what con-
stitutes periodical or one devoted to lit
erature, ETC.; what constitutes a legitimate
list of subscribers, and, If we applied rig
idly the prohibition against publications
which are designed primarily for advertis-
ing purposes, or for free circulation or for
circulation at nominal rates, which, not
outstanding they otherwise comply with
the conditions, are specially prohibited
Mr. Madden, land apply real and effect
i've remedy. it was proposed that the rate
upon second-clasS matter should be In
creased to what would be equal to 4 cents
a pound and remove all the present re-
strictions, or that if any less than a Accent
rate were to be continued, as there would
then necessarily be restrictions, the tests
of qualification should be made to depend
as much as possible upon the tangible phys
ical thing to be transported and delivered,
removing to the utmost the distinctions and
collateral questions required to be decided
under the present laws. In short it is the
desire to secure an up-to-date, workable
lava law which can be enforced; a law the
terms and limitations of which will be plain
to publishers, to postmasters and the de-
partment; a law that will remove to the
utmost degree the question of executive
discretion in admitting rejecting matter
from this class
Mr.. Madden's Recommendations.
The following definite recommendations
are made:
That the rate of postage upon letters
not exceeding one ounce deposited in any
post office for local delivery by its carriers
or otherwise shall be uniform at / cent
each; provided that when any letter mailed
at this rate requires to be forwarded to an
other post Office for delivery the deficiency
at the rate of 2 cents an ounce or fraction
thereof, less the amount prepaid, shall be
collected as now provided by law for other
short-paid letters.
THAT the seven different rates of postage
for the second class and the one rate for
the third class be abandoned, and in their
place there be adopted uniform rate for
all printed matter Of a quarter of a cent an
ounce, or 1 cent for each four ounces or
fraction thereof to one address, which Is
cents on an even pound, and that there be
a provision for the payment of postage on
no nd lorin lie IN,
present and another for their expeditions
handling in the mails.
IF less rate than that proposed be con-
tinued or established for second-class mat
ter then the present rate on third IS
matter should continue, because it will then
be necessary to place restrictions upon the
second class. In that event the tests of
classification or qualification for the latter
class should be simplifed and made to de-
pend a much possible upon the nature
of the tangible physical thing to be trans
ported and delivered, eliminating to the ut
most all ideal distinctions and collateral
questions, such as now characterize and
burden the laws in relation to matter Of this
class.
I'm the event my recommendation for the
merging of the second and third classes be
not adopted-that the third and fourth
classes of mail matter be merged con-
solidated at the rate now applicable to the
third class; or that the rate for urth-class
matter merchandise be fixed at 1 cent for
packages not in excess of sixteen ounces
Zone pound, and l cent for each ounce or
fraction thereof on all in excess of sixteen
ounces in the same package; or that the
rate for fourth-class matter (merchandise)
be fixed a ! cent for each ounce or frac-
ton thereof, not exceeding six ounces, on
each package to one address, and l cent on
each two ounces or fraction thereof on all
in excess of six ounces in the same package.
This proposition would make the rate of
postage IL cents on an even pound and 8
cents on each additional even pound In the
same package. The department would get
the benefit of the fractions. The great ma
jority of packages of merchandise sent in
the mails being small the effect upon the
revenues would not be appreciable
ANY one of these three propositions
would do away, either wholly or in some
degree, with the present anomalous situa-
ton which makes 1t possible to send a
pound of merchandise to Germany for II
cents, while 10 cents must be paid to send
the same package to Alexandra, Va, less
than twenty miles distant. If the latter of
these three recommendations be adopted,
there should be covered into the third class
many of the small articles which are more
or less of the character of printed matter,
but under existing law held to be of the
fourth class
That existing law be modified so as to
permit, under suitable regulations the use
of ordinary postage stamps as well as spe-
cial delivery stamps, the latter not always
being at hand or easily obtainable, for the
purpose of securing special delivery of any
letter or package. 1t does not seem to be
necessary to limit the service, as it is now,
to a particular kind of stamp. 1t will be
simple matter to arrange to accept ordinary
stamps of the same value. The effect Of
such a change would be to broaden and
extend the uses and convenience to the
public of the special delivery service, and