Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-14
Our Political PoStOfifce

UuI rUIIlICdl fUSlUIItCe
John Wanamaker was Postmaster General;
Senator Boes Penrose is chairman of the great
Postoftice Committee of the United States Sem
ate; Thomas H. Carter, Senator from Montana,
has served many years on that committee.
No three men in the United States are better
versed in postoffice affairs and needs than these.
On February 8, 1911 the Senate PostoAice
Committee, under the leadership Of Senators
PenrOse and Carter reported favOrably to the
Senate for action the Postoffce Appropriation
BILL containing provision, put in without al
lowing public hearing or open consideration
but under political pressure from the White
House, that inceases the postage rate on maga-
zines and periodicals to such an extent that it
practically absorbs all the profits of the pub
fishing business of the country and makes the
further production of popular-priced maga
zines impossible. 1t imposes tax that is con-
fiscatory.
Notwithstanding within the year Senator
Roies Penrose said, referring to the Carter
Weeks BILL
''These are some of the big features of the
bill. The whole intent is to systematic and
to mOdernize the entire postal system. 1t is
idle to take up such questions as apportioning
the cost for carrying second-class mail matter
OF the proper compensation of railroads for
transporting the mails until we shall have es-
tablished business methods in postoffice affairs
by reorganization of the whole postal system.
The commission unanimously recommended
the passage of the projected bill Personally
have been very much interested in all the de-
tails and of course, am heartily in favor of the
changes to be made
Senator Carter said last March:
'But l must forego further pursuit of de-
tails The bill was cordially approved by Post
master General Meyer and his assistants, and
likewise has the approval of Postmaster Cen
cral Hitchcock. 1t failed of passage during
the last Congress owing to lack of time for its
proper consideration, but have re-introduced
the bill, which is now designated Senate 6287,
Second Session, Sixty-frst Congress. The Com
mittee on Postoffices and Postroads will favor
ably report the bill tothe Senate, and it should
be enacted into law before the close of this ses
sion. | believe not only that it will increase
efficiency, but that, after the expense of install
lation is absorbed, 1t WM result IN such econo-
mics IN the administration Of the department
and seruice as ecM ere long 1ripe out the de-
fcicncy. In operating under it the department
will be able with almost unerring certainty to
determine the actual cost of each service per-
formed, thereby reaching a sound basis for leg
islation such as is neither available nor obtain
able under the present system.
Il deeply SympatnlZe with tne earnest ueSlfe
of the department officials to get rid of the de-
ficiency they are fated to encounter each year.
but l submit that the first real movement
toward that end must begin with the substitu-
ton of modern, up-to-date business organiza
ton for the existing antiquated system, which
rests upon few sections of law enacted in
1885 supplemented by statutory fragments
added from time to time since that year
John Wanamaker said recently:
with Mr. Hitchcock's suggestion, however,
there will be no general agreement. The mag
azines are supported, not by the price paid for
the magazine by the readers, but by the adver-
tisers
"In sense, magazines are private concerns
but they have public function to perform
an educational function. To tax the adver
tsements is to tax the quality of the educa-
tonal matter contained in the pages, for the
advertisements enable the publishers to pay
high prices for literature and educational ar
tcles. The price paid for magazine does not
pay for the printing and the paper. If Mr.:
Hitchcocks suggestion should become part of
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