Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-15
failed to make a profit on the con-

~---.~
tract.
We simply call attention to the above
to show that successful business men
have studied this matter far enough
to convince themselves that this work
can be done much more economically
under private management than under
government management.
The Saturday Evening Post says
the rural routes are responsible for
nearly all the so-called deficit and
states:
The magazines do not need or
want once a day or twice a day deliv-
cries on these rural routes
The Post evidently feels that once
week is often enough to meet it's de-
mands; it seems to be utterly indif
ferent as to the desires of the families
living on the routes.
George w. Wilder, who is handling
this matter for the magazines before
The department at Washington, has
made an exhaustive exhibit based On
the government reports. We clip some
OF the paragraphs from his report.
I'm the year ended June 3Oth, 1908,
the weight of second-class matter COM
pared to 1907 decreased $4,000, 900
pounds. The postal expenditures in
creased $1S,000,000 There is some
thing in it besides second-class matter
In this same report among the
items of cost charged to second class,
matter there is rural free delivery $13,-
S21, 100. That is, the loss caused by the
governments policy of rural free de-
livery is charged to second-cass mat
ter.
If the postoffice department charg-
ed at regular rates for the matter it
carries free there would be no so-called
deficit.
The postal department is being
paid by second-class matter at the
present rate all that it should ask for
the service it renders. 1t receives
from second-class matter all that on
fair terms it costs the department to
carry second-class matter.
IF through the departments meth
cd of management and more particu-
larly through its methods of book
keeping, the cost of handling second
class matter is made high, such cost
price. is not necessarily fair price to
publishers.
Then there are about six hundred
travelling commissions issued to post
Office inspectors, etc., that railways
must honor on all trains on all lines
on which mails are carried-very lit
tie made necessary by second-class
matter.
NO criticism of the government
transportation contract, in fact, or by
implication, is intended in these re-
marks. For special and extraordinary
services the railways are entitled to
special and extraordinary pay. But
none of these extraordinary services
are for the benefit Of second-class mat
ter or made necessary thereby, nor
would any Of them be discontinued
were second-class matter excluded,
and second-class matter should not be
charged with them or made to ac-
count for them either directly or in
directly.
In fact, second-class matter should
not be charged for transportation any
more than the rate at which it would
be carried by the railway in ordinary
business, and it should be given any
advantage the government may gain
because of quantity carried.
And now l beg to advance the prop
osition that if through the depart
ments method of management, and
more particularly through it's methods
of bookkeeping, the cost of handling
second-class matter is made high. such
cost price is not necessarily fair
price to periodical and newspaper pub
fishers.
81 recall the famous witticism of
Senator Evarts, delivered to friend
at his Vermont farm when he asked
him: (Which will you have. bottle of
mil Of ~ mr., tho,y
cost the same The senator realized
that though the bottle of milk by his
methods of management and book
keeping cost him as much as the
champagne, he could not get the cham
payne price for it. And repeat: the
price that the government figures as
the cost price is not necessarily fair
price to publishers.
The fair price to publishers is the
price that could be made to them by
private corporation having the oppor-
tunities of the government and the
monopoly in handling mail matter.
And the present rate of the express
companies for 500 miles from their
principal shipping points and the rate
of the railway companies for freight
Transportation for 600 or 1000 miles
should be very large element in de-
termining what fair price it. And
these compares do BUSINESS for pro-
fits.
"Just here it occurs to me that be-
fore the department is charged with
deficit it should be credited with the
work it does for nothing. | do not
mean that charges should be made for
this. do mean that the department
should be given credit for this work
and that no one should be compelled
to bear this expense. it being, truly a
government expense"
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