The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-10
MAGAZINE RATES
NOT TO Be RAISED
House Committee on Post
offices Decides to Post
pone Legislation.

There viii be no increase in second
class postal rates at this session OF
Congress
This has been definitely decided by the
House Committee on POstohices and
Postroads The appropriation bin for
the department has been practically
t-ounDIered and probably VIII be intro
duced IN the House IN about a week
or ten days II viii contain no Leg
latiol along the lines recommended by
Postmaster General Hitchcock. with ref
erenCe 10 the second class rates The
committee is unanimous in the belief
that the recommendations Of the de
partment would put large number OF
publications cut OF business, and the
members are not ready 10 admit that
the denCit en- be attributed entirely
to second class business
It became known today that the bust
ness methods Of the POstOniCe Depart
ment viii be thoroughly Investigated
before the House committee attempts
TO call upon the magazines for more
postage
There also viii be an investigation
OF the amount OF ranked mail which
is being carried While It is known in
a general way that the mail which
IS carried free IS extremely heavy there
Is no way 70 determine the exact
amount For this reason Il Is prObd bic
that the committee viii ask that a sps-
cial stamp be used on franked mail
for one year. II win then be IN a posi-
tiOn to estimate 10 a cent the cost OF
this class Of mail.
It Is understood that the present plan
OF Chairman Weeks and the members
of his committee IL TO put through the
annual appropriation bin without re-
gard TO the recommendations for new
] legislation suggested by Postmaster
General Hitchcock
When the supply bill IS out OF the
way the committee viii turn its atteu-
ton to the needs Of the department it
self. the annual deficit, and, IN fact
institute a most thorough investigation
Of the whole SUBJECT. Inc report MAD
several years ago by the PenroSe-DTcT-
street Postal Commission viii be given
serious attention That valuable dOCu-
meut contains an immense amount If
Information which VIII be useful IN
the proposed investigation. II points
out where large sums OF money can
be saved each year, and many Of the
recommendation are likely 10 De ADOPT
ed by the House Committee
The manner in which the railroads
are paid for carrying mails VIII De
thoroughly gene into by the iuveStigat-
4 inz comriittes. and while no member
Of the committee IS prepared 10 state
at this time that the railroads are be
ing paid excessively for the service rem
de-ed the Government al or the mem
berz want some definite Information on
that sut Jet before they prepare the
next appropriation bin
One Of the plans which IS being given
serious consideration by TIE committee
IS TO have q conference Of all the par
ties Interested At this conference.
which probably viii cztend over a long
period VIII ne experts from the Inter
state Commerce Commission TO give
their judgment on the rates charged By
tho railroads. experts from the IOstOf-
nee Department. and representative Of
the Periodical Publishers Association
II is confidently predicted by membe -
Of the House Committee that before its
investigation IS concluded. Il viii be
found necessary 10 enact a law which
viii result n some radical changes ia
the E'OStOfice department There is .
feeling that The department is a long
way from being on an economical basis
The determination Of the committee
to postpone until the next session OF
Congress legislation affecting the de
partmenI does not mean that the pub
fishers have Won their fight against in
CTeasinE the rate on second class mat
I ter Many Of the members feel that the
rate should not have been reduced from
/ > cents. but they are not prepared 10
inCUea Sc the present rate until they are
able TO determine each and every con
/ tTibutinE cause to the deficit.
Many scores of weekly papers Of va
riOUs kinds have come into existence
under the 7 cent rate and the com
mittee hesitsteS 10 draw up a bill which
/ viii put any Of them out Of business
TIE avoWed intention OF Chairman
" seks Is 10 go into the matter in q
bu sinesslikc manner and 10 endeavOr
to establish the Postoffice Department
on 2 business basis