The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-14

States Senate; Thomas J. Carter. Senator
from Montana, has served many years on
that committee. No three in the United
States are better versed in postofice affairs
and needs than these
On February .. 1911. the senate postofics
committee, under the leadership of Senator'S
Penrose and Carter, reported favorably to the
senate for action the postofice appropriation
bill containing a provision, put in without
allowing public hearing or open considera-
tons. but under political pressure from tho
White House, that increases the postage rate
on magazines and periodicals to such an ex-
tent that it practically absorbs all the profits
of the publishing business Of the country ana
makes the further production OF popular
priced magazines impossible. 1t imposes
tax that is conhscatory.
Notwithstanding, within the year Senator
.Boies Penrose said. referring to the Carter
Weeks BilT: 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 carry
ing second class mail matter or the proper
compensation Of railroads for Transporting
the mails until we shall have established
business methods in postofice affairs by
reorganization Of the whole postal system"
1.-THE commission unanimously recommend
the passage of the projected bill; personally
have been very much interested in all the
details and of course am heartily in favor OF
the changes to be made"
Senator Carter said last March: "But must
was cordially approved by Postmaster Gem
eral Meyer and his assistants, and likewise
has the approval Of Postmaster General
Hitchcock. It failed OF passage during the
last congress owing to lack Of time for its
proper consideration. but have introduced
the BILL which is now designated Senate
s2S7, second session, sixty first congress The
committee on postofiices and post roads will
favorabIy report the BIN to the senate, and
it should be enacted into law before the close
of this session. believe not only that it
will increase eficiency. that after the ex-
pense Of installation is absorbed it will re-
suit in such economies in the administration
of the department and service as will ere long
wipe out the deficiency. In operating under
1t the department will be able with almost
unerring certainty to determine the actual
cost of each service performed, thereby
reaching sound basis for legislation such
as is neither available nor obtainable under
the present system.
81 deeply sympathize with the earnest desire
of the department officials to get rid of the
deficiency they are fated to encounter each
year. But submit that the real movement
toward that end must begin with the substi-
tuition of a modern, up-to-d date business or
ganization for the existing sntiQuated sys-
tenn, which rests upon few sections of law
enacted in 1896, 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 magazines
are supported. not by the price paid for
the magazine by the readers, but by the
advertisers"
TN a sense magazines are private concerns.
but they have public function to perform
An educational function. To tax the adver-
tisements is to tax the quality of the educa-
tional matter contained In the pages. for the
advertisements enable the publishers to pay
high prices for literature and educational
articles. The price paid for a magazine does
not pay for the printing and the paper. II
Mr.. Hitchcock's suggestion should become
part Of the presidents plan. it would mean
that the public would suffer in the loss of
much educational material that the publish
ers then would be unable to buy"
We urge every friend of honest politics.
economical government and free press TO
telegraph or write an immediate protest to
their senators and representatives at WASH
ington.
1.-The Curtis Publishing
The Gasuwdav Evaw;um