The independent., 1907-01-31

LIt lidlloii, lDG SldLC3t Iodhbi1ot 1ihiS'
and other political divisions spent the
enormous sum Of 81 ,773,959,369 and col
lected in revenue $1,778,352,930. This is
about twice the money either our oil
king or our lumber king Is reputed to
be worth. The relations Of the amounts
spent by the different political divis-
ions are instructive. The nation spent
$617, ,530,1 little more than a third
OF the total All Of the states together
collected and spent less than one-third
as much as the national government,
their total, including territories being
$185,764 POP. The expenditures by all
the county governments was q few
thousand dollars more than by the
state governments Municipal expenses
were the item next to the national ex-
pense in volume, cities Of over 5000
people having expended over half a
billion dollars more than all the states
and counties together. About two
thirds Of the revenues Of the states
counties and cities were derived from
general property tax.
These figures are commended cspe-
cially to the average person who takes
no interest In public affairs. He may
not be aware that In his lack Of in
terest he Is permitting sixteen per cent
Of his income on the average to be
spent for him without his consent or
advice. OF course he pays no such
amount for his tax receipt. for about
tWo-thirds Of his tax Is paid indirectly.
Two states have witnessed this win
Ter the vitality and efficacy Of the
pass. The Montana senate threw an
antl-pass bill out without ceremony.
Anfe fs t.. .4f.tl .r.I ID,
bad there. Better that the railroads
should participate with the copper ba-
rons in running the state than that
any legislator should pay TO ride those
stony distances. In New Hampshire
where the republican platform prom
ised an anti-pass law, thanks to the
work Of Winston Churchill, 127 rcpub-
lican members voted against the pass
aud 103 voted fo-lit Only thirty-seyen
democrats voted against the pass,
while seyenty-two vo;cd for 1t; a diff
ference great enough to defeat the bill.
Although this was to be the year Of
the passing Of the pass no state legis-
iature has yet had strength enough to
detach itself from that ancient se-
ducer. A few more giant explosions of
public opinion or this question will
yet be needed.
Under present postal regulations the
lowest rate Of postage on any class Of
mail excepting the free carrying of
weekly newspapers to subscribers
within the county of publication, is one
cent a pound. This rate is charged for
the distribution of all periodical publi-
cations coming under the head of Sec
ond class mail which is defined by the
law of 1879 as follows: "Mailable mat
ter Of the second class shall embrace
all newspapers and other periodical
publications which are issued at stated
intervals, and as frequently as four
times year"
The next lowest rate Is that OH the
same matter mailed by others than the
publisher, Of one cent for each four
ounces. Miscellaneous printed matter
is charged twice as much, while all
other matter, including merchandise,
pays cent an ounce. 1t was to ascer-
tain what part the low rate to news
papers played in the annual postal de-
ficit that joint committee OF congress
was provided last year. This committee
was made up Of Senator'S Penrose,
| Clay and Carter, and of Representa-
| tives Oyerstreet, Gardner and Moon. A
hearing was held at which great
| range OF Opl1llOl Wdo tApIeSstug iIpfll
that of Mr. Madden fourth assistant
postmaster general, who wanted to
| quadruple the rate paid by all news
papers. to the numerous persons and
organizations that recommended par
cells post and reasonable pay to the
railroads for carrying mail as means
of making the postoffice self sustain
ing.
In its report the committee steers a
middle course. Ii recommends measures
aimed TO deprive of the second class
rates periodicals run primarily as ad-
vertising mediums. or rs mediums for
| the dissemination Of fiction published
/ periodically to escape the expense In
cident 10 printing and disseminating
books. In other words, 1t aims to 70.
strict the privilege of the cent pound
rate 10 periodicals engaged mainly In
disseminating news and discussion ol
current matters This was the orlgina
intention Of the lawmakera IL Il
thought that such restriction Will pul
second class mail on "A paying basis