The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-28

jews of the postmaster general that the whole business system of the postal service should be examined ana overhauled by set of expert ac- countants and statisticians to be se- cured from the ranks of those pro- fessions outside the. department.
 It Is believed this examination can best be made through the agency of Congress- The commission realizes that this is a task of great magni- tude. but it must not be forgotten that great interests are at stake. It in- wolves first of all. the expenditure ev- cry year of $175,Oo0.o0o Of the peo- ple's money.
 It will shortly involve even more than that, for at the rate at which the nostal service is growing 1t will not be many years before the annual ex- penditure is $250. 000.00 or even $300.-' 100000 The object of this inquiry is not temporary or provisional one. 1t is an attempt to get that gigantic enterprise known as the postal service organized once for all on a sound ad ministrative basis. It involves even more than that. It involves the way in which the burden of that tremen-- dous service is to be adjusted be- tween the various classes and ele- ments of the immense public which, makes use of it.
 The commission recommends "the scheme of progressive reduction of compensation for mail carried in excess of 5000 pounds day which is embod- led in the accompanying bill, The re- duction begins with a weight in excess of 5000 pot dds. It leaves untouched the present rate of $171, for the daily average weight of 5000 pounds. we think that the economies above men tioned are not possible and can be in- creasingly utilized. It Is estimated by the officials of the railway mail service that the total decrease thus in com- pensation will be for the fiscal year 1908 approximately $3.o00,0oo."
 The commission points out that there are four cardinal defects in the present system of charges for second class mat ter as follows:
 "The difference between the second class matter as follows higher rate, the third class rate, is too great, in other words, the second class rate Is rela- lively too low.
 wholly dissimilar services are per- formed tor the same rate. Substantial ly similar services are charged diKer- ent rates"
 Concerning the first defect the com mission says:
 "The mere fact that thS,next higher rate, that for printed matter, is 800 per cent greater than the periodical rate, creates an almost irresistible tempta- ton to give all printed matter the pe- riodical form. Immense quantities Of printed matter are put in periodical form for the bald purpose of accom-. plishing its distribution at the cent pound rate"
 As aNremedy for the disparity between the receipts and the cost in connection with the transportation of mall. the commission suggest that the practice m longer continues of charging on losing basis the same rate for wholly d.ssimilar services. In this connection 1t is suggested that the increment of postage for the increment of weight above the first four ounces should be one half cent for each additional four ounces
 The commission holds with regard to fiction matter that the classification which puts a complete novel in one class and a novel published serially in another class Is O false classification. With regard to newspapers the com mission maintains that the prime de- feet in the staute defining what con- stitutes a newspaper is that the pur- poRA described Is so broad as to in- cluda everything and exclude nothing with the exception of a few instRP- ces" it says. where the publication has been excluded because it's char acter was deemed not to be public no periodical has ever been classified by the application of tests of this kind Any attempt to apply them generally would simply end in a press censor ship"