Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-14
POSTAGE ABUSES DISCUSSED
Classification Expert Throws, Much
Light on Vexatious Question.
DE GRAw FOR PARCELS POST
siEer of Lincoln Urges Delegates to
Fight for sunday oIosing--Penn-
syIvanian Urges Extension
of Civil Service.

Some light on the vexatious question OF
the magazines and second class postage
rates was thrown by the paper of William
c. Woods rea5 before the National Associ-
alton of First Glass Postmasters Wednes-
day morning. AS head of the classification
division under Third Assistant Postmaster
General Britt, Mr.. Woods is in a position
to understand exactly the position taken
by the department, which has been criu-
cised by the large publishing houses and
was made subject Of a special investiga-
ton by a congressional committee earlier
this year
Newspapers and periodicals are just as
necessary now as they ever were" said
Mr.. Woods but when we insist that
times have changed we mean that the pub
fishing business as an industry is no longer
in its infancy. 1t has grown TO be one of
the biggest in the country and does not
need artificial fostering. The magazines
and newspapers that have the advantages
OF the second class rates send out over.
500 0O0. 900, pounds of mail a year and they
pay for it at only one cent a pound. The
proportion Of the total postage expense
which they bear is very small.
1T is unfair for the persons who use
the domestic postage first class rates to
help pay for privileges which the great
publishing houses are getting at nominal
cost
Department Accused.
THE department has been accused of be-
ing hostile to the publishers. but this is
not true. The department wants only to
be fair On March commission was ap-
pointed by congress to investigate the
question On that commission sat Justice
Hughes, Prof. A. l. Lowell president of
Harvard. and Harry 4. Wheeler of the
Chicago Chamber Of Commerce. These
men gathered information and some legis-
lation can be expected as a result of their
report when it is made.
Third Assistant Postmaster General
Britt, under whom 1 have the honor
TO work is at all times a friend of
the publisher and; wants to help
them, but he is just as earnest in
dealing with those who defraud the gov
ernment through the second-class mail reg
ulations. They use various means of de-
frauding the department, by holding sub
scription contests the legitimacy of which
is at least questionable, by. getting lists
which are not in any sense bona nde, by
reduced price subscriptions which in 50
per cent of the cases are merely nominal
which makes them contrary to law, and by
other schemes. e."
The department only wants to protect
the public in general, not to abuse the pub
fishers. You postmasters as the informed.
iarfes of the department TO the publishers
can do much by'your attitude to keep the
peace.
Good Roads Discussed.
Addresses on Good Roads" considering
chiefly their relation TO rural free delivery
were read by Frank A. Nimrocks OF OF.
tumwa and z E. codding TO sedalia
Rural free delivery was to be- discussed by
| Ulysses s., Bratten, of Little Rock and H
c. PlumIey, Of Fargo. but because it wa.
growing late they merely filed their paper
with the secretary for printing in th'
minutes
Robert S. Sharp, chief postoffice inspee
tor, who was scheduled for the principa
address Of the morning, has sent no wore
that he has been delayed, but has not ap
peared. When he comes he will make al
address.
The talk on city Delivery" scheduled
for the morning session, was delivered il
the afternoon Alexander Grant OF ST
| Paul spoke upon the railway mail servici
and Postmaster Edwards of Wichita OF
Progress and Specialization" The or
ganization of first class postoffices wa
discussed by A. w. Wills of Nashville anC
B F. Thomas Of Omaha. T. ]. Akins o
ST. Louis discussed postal savings banks.
| A plea for shipping magazines by freigh
was made by W. r. childs, postmaster a
Kansas City. Kan. The system is sdvan
tageous because although the magazines
might lose a day or so In transit the long
est possible distance, across the oontinen
they would still be carried in fast time anC
the saving in cost TO them and TO the gov
ernment would be enormous considering
the amount OF business they have. Th'
mail bags carrying magazines are marked
with a blue tag and with that mark ar,
hurried through as fast as possible.
| Picture Post Cards.
/ II got SO hot for President Without durin,
4 the session that he had 70 get down from