The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-02-17
NO INCREASElIN
POSTAGE RATES
Proposition Too Decidedly UnpopuIaI
Throughout Country.
SETTLERS HAVE I'LL MAY is
they are Also Granted Three Months
Leave Of Absence Because of a
the Early and Severe
Winters.
(By Cyrus. Foss stoddard.)

i = washington " u, Feb. 16.--lt is
now generally conceded that there
will be no increase by congress in
1.-THE postage RITES upon second-class
matter That the proposition is de,
cidedlys unpopular throughout the
country is demonstrated by the large
quantity of Iumerously signed peti,
tons already fled by members, and
also the protests daily received by
representatives and senator's in the
form of personal communications.
Almost universally the sentiment
appears to be in favor, rather of a
reduction in the manifestly exhorbi-
tant rates now being paid the rail-
roads for hauling the mails, which,
during the last fiscal year, amounted
to over forty-three million dollars.
This does not include the sum paid
for transportation by other methods,
The price paid per 100 pounds on
second-class matter, for an average
haul of 600 miles, is $3.50. The ex-
press companies viii haul the same
weight for $3.50, of which the rail
road gets 81 per cent, or $127. The
difference of 1898, assuming that
the express rate of $3.50 per 100 is
equitable, is in the nature of a
Christmas present allowed the rail-
roads by the government.
The great profit in the post Office
department, as l have stated before,
is from first class matter-amount-
ing to about $53,000,000 last year
and 1t is agreed that to raise the
postage on magazines and periodi-
Gals, thereby decreasing their circu-
lation, which would undoubtedly hap
pen would operate to reduce the
revenue from first-class matter a
large percentage Of which IS created
By the advertisements carried III
these publications.
II is understood that the House
committee on post Offices and post
roads will investigate the contract
features of the postal service In or
der to determine whether or not
excessive rates are being paid for
transporting the mails, and this
committee Is ready to consider any
information the public can give on
the subject. An exhaustive list of
questions has been sent to business
men, bankers, farmers and others
throughout the country, and the infor-
nation thus received will be collated
for use in arriving at definite con
clusion regarding contracts.
- - -
Under date of November rs, 1909,
the following executive order was is
sued:
Nor shall any such person re-
spond to any request for informa-
ton from either house of congress,
or any committee of either house of
congress, except through, o.. author
lied by, the head of his department"
BY which 1t would seem that the
departments are to be a closed book,
even to members of congress. 1t Isl
the violation of this principle that
has resulted in the dismissal of a
humble of employees from the post
Office department notably the railway
mail service.
''All persons who have heretofore
made homestead entries in North
Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho. Mime
sofa, Montana, Nebraska, Colorado,
and Wyoming, where the period in
which they were or are required by
law to make entry under declaratory
statement or establish residence ex.I
pired or expires after Decembr l., i
1909. are hereby granted until May
10, 1910, within which to make entry
o. establish residence upon the lands
SO entered by them" So reads a re-
cent law passed by congress. provi-I |
sion made necessary because of the
early and severe winters in the
states named. Homesteaders are
also allowed a three months leave
Of absence from their land. 1t being
that this period shall not
be deducted from the full time of
residence required by law
Increases in pensions, have been
granted Uriah Vandeveers Grinnell
Sis: John Carmichael, Riohlsnd. SIS:
Jacob Young. Ottumwa, $50; John
Morrison. Hedrick, 500; w A. Rob
erts, Eddyville. SIS; William Boyd I
Colfax, 500; and by special act OF
as a result of the bills in
troduced by Mr.. Kendall, substantial
increases have Just been awarded
ID. Beckmann. Oskaloosa; 7. J. Stat
ford. Agency, and Hiram Gosnell
New Sharon.
- i -
The frank slips under which docu
ments are sent out by the govern
mani boar the legend in one corner