The Washington times., 1911-05-27
: ONE CENT POSTAGE
ADVOCATES MAKE
PLEA PRESIDENT
Tell of Big Movement for
Lower Rate on First
Class Mail.
REVENUE INCREASE
IN PHILIPPINES
Governor General Forbes Sends
Favorable Report to the
White House.

President Taft was told by a delega-
ton of business men from Cleveland
Ohio, and other cities this morning that
A countrywide movement was being or
ganized to demand of Congress one cent
postage on first class mail matter. Later
In the day the visitors will call on Post
master General Hitchcock and Mr.. JUS
tice Hughes, chairman of the Postal
Rate Commission.
In the party were Charles William
Burrows and George 7. Mcintosh, pres
ident and secretary, respectively. of the
National One Cent Letter Postage As
ISOLATION, and Thomas A. Fernley, sec
retary Of the National Association of
Wrought Pipe and Fittings Jobbers, OF
Philadelphia.
This association takes the ground
that IT is unjust for the business inter-
ests of the country to be compelled to
pay a S60.000,0OO profit annually on first
class letter postage. The total revenue
from this class Of mail matter is $lS2, =
600 600, they point out, of which nearly
half is net income.
1t is argued that it costs a trifie less
than l cent to carry letter. Ihe Gov
ernment charges ? cents, and this eN-
ira charge is the basis for tho o5ieC-
ton Of the business interests. They
say that in 1S43 the postage on letter
mail was 25 cents to the half ounce.
This charge has been gradually re-
-duced, and in 1882 il was placed at the
present rate Since that time no re-
duction has been made.
The fight will sooner or later be car
ried TO Congress.
Philippine Finances.
The President has received a letter
from Governor General Forbes. of the
Philippines, given out at the White
House today. 1t reads: Material con-
ditions here are looking up all the tome;
the revenues this year have increased
two millions over last, and last year
5000 900 over the year before, which
makes an increase of 81, 100000 in two
years over and above the revenues
which We had before the passage of the
Payne bill.
I'VE are doing about five million pesos
a year public work out Of current reve-
nues, and l have been able to release
the whole Of the appropriations each
year, and, owing to the increased reve-
nue., have not had to cover back any
thing into the treasury"
An effort was made today by Repre-
sentative Butler Ames Of Massa chusettE
TO interest the President in a movement
to have the postal force of Lowell
Mass, increased. He pointed out tina
the population of this city was increas
ing rapidly, and that the present force
was manifcstly inadequate to take carr
of the business passing through the Of
fee.
A telegram was sent by the Presiden
today to James Rae. president Of th'
Iowa City High School, whose team
won the interscholastic and intercolle
giate rif1e-shooting championship this
year. This team made a score Of 95
out Of a possible 1000. breaking all in
door records of this class.
To Keep White House Cool.
Col. Spencer Cosby. Superintendent Of
Public buildings and Grounds. is work
ing on a plan for refrgeratinG plant
which shall extend to the Executive
Mansion as well as to the Executive
OFFICES This improvement is necessary
on account Of -he practice CT Congress:
in sitting about half of each summer
At present there is plant under the
desk of the President which keeps tht
Temperature down about 20 degrees
lower than the temperature outside.