The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-05
PLEA FOR FASHION PAPERS
4 HISTORi or THE 7INES.
SAYS LAWYER HENDRIk.
Country Would Lose Much II They We're
Driven ont by Higher Postal RATES.
lie Tells the Commission jane, l..
l'OwIes Speaks for n Parcels p,s


Some new arguments were addressed
yesterday to the commission which +.
sitting i'm the Federal Building to dpter.
mine the advisablity Of increasing tho
postage rate for second class mail matter
one Of them being that fashion periodicals
are histories of the times and thar tina
plates therein are literature. The man
who proposed this idea was Frank Hend.
rik, a lawyer, who with j. Il. q. Rinchtrt
represents Trend and lie Bon Ton Mr.
Hendrix said that he thought those
fashion publications were so necessary
to the people that IA great harm would
be done II they were driven on, Of bus.
ness by an increased rate Of postage
The fashion artists notions of wha, ia
the most beautiful" said MIR. Hendrix
almost instantly has been adopted a.
the true impression % the public sense
of beauty. In the files Of lie Bon Ton
future generations will see in the changing
fancies in the apparel Of women records
and "reminiscences Of what have been
found pretty or extravagant in the
fashions of their progenitors and what
have been in varied forms the material
costumes of their country
As the business of the country and Of
the post Office increased. Mr.. Hendrix
thought. the greater volume of mail
would make it proportionally cheaper TO
carry. and for that reason there was no
justification for making the postage rates
higher.
The advertisements in magazines are
just as much part of them as the printed
matter" continued the lawyer. Useful
ideas are thus advanced and the trade of
the nation is developed. There is a great
demand to-day for good literature and
without the advertisements it could not
be met would not include in this
classification merely catalogues, for there
is no legitimate demand for them
W. s. Shallenberger, who was the wit
ness on Thursday, was cross-examined
by Second Assistant Postmaster General
Stewart Mr.. Stewart said that he did
not believe that the arguments which the
witness had based on mail sent abroad
were Just. because the conditions oh
tanning there could not be applied to
dome site mail.
Il believe" said Mr.. Shallenberger.
that the railroads can be forced by tho
Interstate Commerce Commission to
grant the same rates to the Government
that they do to the express companies,
and in that event parcels post could he
inaugurated. As the laws are at present
the administration of the post Office is
most efficient. but with better terms from
the railroads believe that a new classi-
fication Of mails would be necessary"
The vigorous adherent of a parcels
post. James l.. Cowles secretary of the
Postal Progress League. was again on the
stand and his testimony took the form Of
II
Government wants to increase its rev.
enues, doesn't it?" asked Mr.. Cowles.
"Of course it does. Then why shouldn't
ii conduct its business on the right prin-
ciples? The reason that the express
companies are getting so much business
Is that they insure the merchandnc that
they carry. II the post Office would do
the same the merchants of this country
would gladly patronage it. Do you think
that they will agree 10 run such great
risk when II is unnecessary: The enor-
nous increase Of business which would
come from an insurance OF this sort would
more than make up for any losses which
might he sustained
The present classification Of the mails.
said Mr.. Cowles, lis ridiculous. II forces
me TO pay twice as much for sending
through the mails blank book az for n
as merchandise and the latter IA printed
matter Yet both these books are car
ried in the same mail bag I tell you
gentlemen. that the only solution of this
problem is a single class for all kinds OF
mail at fat rate"
BERNARD Nolan of the Mechanical Trades
Union told the commission of the detri-
mental effect that an increase in the rate
on second class matter would have on tha
printers He said that half Of them IN
this city would he put out Of employment
because many of the magazines would
be forced to suspend.
DO you think" asked Justice Hughes,
that ali increase in postage from 10
2 cents a pound would have any detr-
mental effect upon such magazines as
McCiurc's and MunscTs9"
1T would ruin this great industry
replied Nolan. The interests of labor
are identical with those of the publishers,
and this question has n very vital bearing
upon us
The hearing was adjourned at o'clock