The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-21
TOCuT DOWN NATL
R0||P R|yA|TIQNS
Government Now Pays Fifty
Millions Year to the Com
mon Carriers.
WILL REDUCE IT TEN MILLION
Instead Of a Deficit the Authori-
ties Plan to Secure
Surplus.
WILL REDUCE IT TEN MILLION
trrcm Our Regular correspondent.)


WARRINGTON, y. c., January %
Recommending sweeping changes in the
rules governing second-cass matter. pro-
viding new scale of pay for Tnilronds
hauling. the United States mail. and re-
qnirhs the rcweighing during the cur
rent year of all mali matter handled BY
the railroads, the joint Senate and House
Postal Commission. appointed at the last
session OF Congress, has formulated Is
report.
IT has been drafted and unanimously
adopted By the commission. II will be
presented. to Congress- next "Wednesday
and the recommendations set forth there
In will, 1t is believed. be adopted. though
hard fight on some provisions o. the
report are anticipated.
Tho Postal Commission which consists
OF Senators Penrosc, Garter and Clay, and
Representatives Ovcrstreet, Moon and
Gardner. was authorized by Congress to
sit during vacation. 1t was empowered
to revise second-class mall matter and
10 make inquiry rs to whether n reduc-
ton could be made in railway mail pay
The commission was In session for three
hours yesterday, and the unanimous
report was then adopted During tho re-
cess the commission held meetings In
Washington New Fork and elsewhere,
ana much testimony Touching upon the
subjects under consideration was heard
Tho evidence has beer printed and may
De submitted with the report
Executive Session.
The session yesterday was executive
In the strictest sense. 1t has been learned
however. that dealing with second-class
matter. the commission decided not to
charge the postal rate on weekly news
papers; the rates on. magazines ard
periodicals. will be increased one-auarter
per cent: all advdrtsing matter. regard
less OF its form-lf II is purely for adj
vertisinR-will be denied tile privilege OF
the mails as second-cIass matter It must
80 as first-class mail. paying the same
rate as applies to letters
sweeping reduction will be recon.
mended for railway mail pay. The gov
eminent now PAYS the railroads n little
more than $4,000, 900 Annually for carry
Ing the malls.
reduction equal tor:9, ESQ., 900 will fol-
low as result OF the Recommendations.
This Will be the first reduction that has
been made since 1873. Several efforts in
favor OF reduction have been nlade at
previous sessions. bur they have been
successfully combated b. the railroads.
The saving to the government VIII be
made by the Observance OF the follow
Ing schedule;
A reduction OF 5 per cent on all roads
carrying from 5000 70 10000 tons an
nually. -
A reduction of 10 per cent. on ssan
roads carrying from, 10000 to 10000 tons.
A reduction OF 20 per cent. on all
roads carrying over 5000 tons annually.
These reductions viii, 1t is esti-
mated, net 50, 10000 annually
Will Have Surplus.
1t is estimated that the Increase In
postage on second-class matter alone
Will net the government $4,000, 600 or
$4,000, 900 annually. and the two items
together. Will aggregate nearly Sill
600 900 annually. Instead of deficit
in the Postofilce, Department of many
millions annually. the commit ssions
recommendation Will give the depart.
ment u surplus hereafter, which VIII
be devoted TO the Improvement OF the
rural free delivery.
In order to put into effect the new
scale for railway mail contracts. the
commission recommends the reweigh-
inc OF the mall after Congress adj
journs, the work to be. dono by experts.
II viii be done at time unknown
to the railroads to prevent padding.
member of the commission stated
last night that hea felt isure the recon-
mendations OF the commission VIII DO
adopted by Congress at this session.
The changes relative to the railway
mall contracts VIII be inserted In the
postoftice appropriation bill, and TINS
will lie followed by Il bill enaplfns ,'e
department. to proceed at once WIN
the reweighing ofTthe mails.