The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-12-12

advertising matter and what is termed
legitimate reading matter.
Under present conditions an in
crease in the postage on reading mat
ter is not recommended. Such an in
crease would place a special burden
on large number Of second-class pub
lications, including educational and
religious periodicals, that derive little
or no profit from advertising. 1t is the
circulation of this type of publications,
which aid so effectively in the educa-
tional and moral advancement of the
people, that the government can best
afford to encourage, For these publi-
cations, and also for any other legiti-
mate reading matter in periodical form
the department favors continuation
of the present low postage rate of one
cent pound, and recommends that the
only to magazine advertising matter.
I'm view of the vanishing postal de-
ficit it is believed that if the magazines
could be required to pay what it costs
the government to carry their adver-
tising pages the departments revenues
would soon grow large enough to war
rant one cent postage on first-class
mail
Newspapers are not included in the
plan for higher rate on advertising
matter because, being chiefly of local
distribution, they do not employ the
mails to any such extent as the widely
circulating magazines"
While the loss resulting from the
low postage rate on second-class mail
is the greatest in the postal service
the. loss on rural delivery service is
very considerable. The appropria-
tions annually granted to maintain the
rural delivery system, however, as
pointed out in the report, are expend-
ed in the interest of a vast population,
Mr.. Hitchcock urges the wisdom of
: further extension of this system even
at considerable loss to the govern
ment He points out, also, the busi-
mess wisdom of the consolidation dur
ing the last year of the star route and
rural delivery system, the consolida-
tion having been the means of effect
ling a large saving and of increasing
the efficiency of the service.
Mr.. Hitchcock reviews the work al
ready accomplished looking to the es-
tablishment of postal savings banks.
A trial of the new system will be made,
beginning January /, 1911, at one post
office in each state and territory of
1.-THE Union. The amount appropriated
by congress for this trial was 100000.
, All of the offices selected for the trial
are of the second class, wage earners,
being particularly benefited. 1t is ex-
, pected that the new postal savings
system will be extended to many other
Offices before the end of the current
!, fiscal year.
A renewal of the previous recon-
/ mendation for limited parcel post
: service on rural routes is made. Mr.
Hitchcock expresses the hope that
congress will authorize the delivery
on rural routes of parcels weighing as
high as eleven pounds. This scheme
can be put into operation with little
if any expense to the government.
A recommendation is made that con
lgressional authority be given the de
lpartment for the issuance of postal
! Inotes in amounts not exceeding ter
dollars ,at a lower fee than is charg
ed for money orders.
Mr.. Hitchcock believes that many
abuses of the franking system coulC
be prevented with marked economy
by supplying special official envelopes
and stamps for the free mail of thu
government In the present circum
stances, it is impossible to determine
the cost to the government of thu
franking privilege, but if it were hedg
r ed about by such a plan as Mr.. Hitch
cock suggests it would be possible t,
determine definitely the cost of carry
ing free mail for all executive depart
ments and the congress.
1t is indicated in the report that tn
crusade by the postoffice department
against the fraudulent use of the mail
has been pushed with great yigol
During the last few months the prir
4 cipal officers of "a corporations an
firms have been placed under arres
for swindling the public by thi
| method
! 1T is estimated" the report say
| that the eighty important cases r,
| Gently brought to a head represer
| swindling operations that have filche
from the American people in less tina
decade fully $1OO,00O,OOO'
l Mr. Hitchcock strongly urges thu
the entire postal service be taken OF