The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-03
MISLEADING STATEMENTS.

among Inc mlSloadlng statements
that are being made by some of hose
who oppose the plan to increase the
postage rate on advertising matter
carried by the large magazines of the
United States, none is more absurd
than the contention that Canada
while charging a postal rate of only
one-fourth cent pound on second
class matter actually makes a profit
from this branch OF its postal business,
this inference being drawn from the
fact that in 1910 the mail system OF
that country showed a surplus of
s145,000. The utter impossibility OF
this is clearly shown by Postmaster
General Hitchcock in letter to Hon
Boies Penrose, chairman of the SEN
ate committee IN poslofices and post
roads. General Hitchcock wastes no
words in disposirg of the claim He
says. simply and conclusivelv:
AS matter Of fact, the entire
revenue receiy ed from second-class
mail in Canada during the fiscal year
1910 was only about 1928, 600 How
the Canadian postal administration
was able 10 make a profit of s745,C00
out of revenues aggregating $4,000
is not explained The weigh. of Can
ada's second-class mail in 1910 was
only about per cent Of the weight OF
such mail in the United States. Not
withstanding the fact that our postal
service is vastly more extensive, as
well as more frequent in operation,
than the postal service of Canada, it
is believed that II the actual cost of
handling and transporting second
class mail in the latter country were
accurately determined II would I'M
questionably show losses proportion
ately as great as those entaiIed By this
class of mail matter in the United
States
1t is also asserted by the opponents
Of the proposed increase that the
measure confers unusual and extra
ordinary powers upon the postmaster
general, with which they couple the
gratuitous suggestion that 1t will le
arbitrarily used On what grounds
this assumption is based the posunas-
ter general confesses he is at loss
TO know. as not the least additional
power. either express or implied, is
conferred by the amendment. with
the single exception of applying a
specific postage tate TO definitely
ascertained portion of periodical pub
locations He says in this connection:
The act of March 8. 1879, under
which general newspapers and per
iodicals are admitted to the second
class mail privilege, and the act Of
July 1G, 1894. under which society,
fraternal educational, and trades
union publications are likewise adj
mitted, respectively prescribe the
statutory requisites which such pub
LEGATIONS must possess in order to be
entitled TO second-class postage rates.
and the proposed statute neither adds
to nor subtracts from the lawful cnar.
acteristics fixed by these respective
acts, nor in anywise changes the par.
g ticuiar classes OF publications for
: which the rate is provided
e The additional postal functions
V which the administration of the pro
: posed measure would impose are few
and simple, consisting merely OF de.
= termination by the local postmaster
K upon certificate of the publisher OF
}. Inc respective weights of the reading
matter and advertisements in the
issues OF a publication and the collee.
ton of the accruing postage. Should
any dispute as to the amount Of INST
: age due on publication arise no
: tween postmaster and publisher, an An
] peal would lie to the post Office de
9 partment, and the postmaster general
or his designated assistant, would dc
termine the matter at issue. anf
should the publisher still feel aggriev
ed, or that his full rights had not bee,
accorded him, he would have com
plete and adequate remedy in n resor