Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-14
may exist respecting this phase of the

question, and in response to the numer
Gus inquiries. Postmaster General Hitch
cock stated that this class of periodical
publications would not be in any manner
affected by the proposed legislation, re
CARELESS of the weight of their issues, and
that even periodicals of the purely mag
azine type are affected only when they
mail more than 1900 pounds per issue.
The Postmaster General pointed out also
that the bill granted for the first time
the advertising privilege to the periodical
publications of benevolent or fraternal
societies or organizations. OF orders or
ganized under the lodge system, of all
incorporated institutions of learning, of
trade unions, and to all publications of
strictly professional literary. historical
and scientific societies, including state
boards of health.
1t was said at the department today
that further statement upon the sub
ject is being prepared which will prob
ably be ready this evening
In statement issued last night the
Postmaster General went back at the
publishers.
Profits to Publishers.
In the course of his statement Mr..
Hitchcock says:
In a whole-page newspaper ADVERTISE
ment signed by thirty-four of the princi-
pal magazines and periodical publications
OF the country, it is stated that the in
creased rates will drive a majority of the
popular magazines out of existence and
with them the enormous volume of profit
able first-class mail their advertising Gre
ates.'
The public should know that this
change Is made in the face of the fact
that part, If not all. of the signers OF
the statement realizino
profits from the vast amount or high
priced advertisements contained in the
columns of their periodicals, which the
government Is today carrying at the ex-
traordinary low rate of i cent per pound,
and at total cost of more than o cents
a pound.
During the fiscal year 1910 over 500
CDj,po pounds of seconG-class matter was
carried through the public mails at a
loss OF S62,O0OGo TO the government.
while the returns from third-class mat
ter We're practically self-sustaining, and
on that OF first and fourth class matter
there was large saving of revenue,
leaving the total postal deficit for the
year not quite $6.OOO,OOO.
While the other classes OF mail matter
pay the cost OF their carriage, and on
the first and fourth classes large rev.
enue is derived, the great burden of the
postal deficit lies at the door of second
class matter. 1t remains to be deter
w
ters of general correspondence the pub
fishers of books and pamphlets and the
senders Of small merchandise shall be
taxed to meet the deficit caused by the
extension Of the subsidy Fate to the pub
Fishers of the large magazines of the
country
Protests Registered.
Various protests were registered today
against the proposed increase Of rates on
second-class mail matter. Nj. II. Madden
of Chicago. representing the Typo
graphical Union. came to consult with
officers of the American Federation of
Labor. He declared that labor interests,
especially printers, pressmen and allied
workmen would be affected by the pro-
posed legislation.
w. C. HOLSTER, also of Chicago, head
of q committee of seven. representing the
Ben Franklin Club. an Organization of
publishers, said that more than 5000
employees would be affected by the in
crease.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the Amer
organization was heart and soul in the
effort to defeat the BILL
Representative Champ Clark sent a tel.
egram to magazine publisher today. in
which he said:
Am dead against the increase of pos
tai rates on advertising sections Of maya
zines 1t is unfair. unjust and unwise.
1t is a tax on information: a hindrance to
education. 1t will increase the already
too hi-h cost of living. The people will
o.loSe ii which they understand it,