The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-06-02

NOA4L4ASoAOA ASsAASO W A@N 49,
upon which to determine even with
approximate accuracy the cost OF
carrying second class matter. The
arbitrary figures announced by the
post Office department that it costs
about nine cents a pound seems to
have become a traditional stereo-
typed departmental statement of the
cost. 1t is evident that this figure
was the result of guess rather
than a substantial calculation"
The commission perfected and
presented a bill "to amend and cod
ify the statutes relating to the class
ification of second class mail matter
and the rates of postage thereon"
This bill is now before both the SEN
ate and the house. 1t IL all right
in most parts which ought to be-
ccme law, but in its consideration of
III ublishers and of their rights, it is
all wrong. 1t proposed Director
If Posts" is given dictatorial power
over the public press, 1t legalizes the
Infamous spy system now in vogue,
it deprives publishers of the protec-
ton of their home courts and trial
by jury, and sets up a new and
strange tribunal called a Commits
sion of Appeals" with power to de-
stroy the business of publishers at
, will, allowing them no adequate re-
T dress.
a This defect in the bill comes, no
doubt, from not having a fair re-
presentation of publishers On the
commission, as at first proposed.
Though this $25O,0OO commission
t ascertained that there was nothing
a to justify an increase of the postage
y rate on second class matter, yet in
the closing hours of the 61st con-
, gress, against the earnest protest of
Representative John A Moon, a
= members of the postal commission,
. and also a member Of the house
committee on postoffices and post
2 roads, a bill was passed creating
u another postal commission to be
" composed of three persons, whose
duty 1t should be to ascertain and
g report the cost of second class mat
ter, the very job upon which alread!
20 the princely sum of a quarter of {
- million dollars had been spent. II
this there appears to be a most per
- sistent desire to prove that the gov
eminent suffers great loss in carry
ing second class matter at one cen
pound. The sum of $4,000 wa
: appropriated to pay the new com
missioners, but this is only one
- tenth of that paid the old commits
sion, and certainly quite inadequat
to fer the work in hand.
4 The president has appointed o
=. this commission Justice Charles +
no Hughes of the supreme court; Pro
&C A Lawrence Lowell. president {
-. Harvard university; and LawrenC
H. Maxwell, lawyer of Cincinnati. TIL
he bill creating the commission explicit
ly excluded publishers and anyon
interested in any way with the pull
fishing business. Mr.. Maxwell b.
70 ing an attorney of the express con
:. panies also was eliminated for re;
In sons obvious. I may say that pul
II fishers generally, so far as l ca
o. learn, approve of the president
appointments, excepting the one ca!
ed noted, and expect that there will |
in fair and impartial consideration I
no the problem submitted to them, r
nc sulting In a sincere and honest We
diet; but the only problem submit
a ted to them is the mere question
all postage rates.
ng In view of the above facts,
to seems to be a suitable occasion fl
the institution of another commi
asst SIGN to be composed of persons pr
,ar sumed to know something about Il
,ed subjects to be considered, busine
OBJ men possessing some practical a
go quaintance with the questions l
yolved and the interests at stalk
hence, one composed of publisher
q to be called a publishers Commi
. sion," whose duty 1t will be
lon throw light on the vexed questio
90. so long at issue with the postof1
an department, and to endeavor n
do only to find out the cost of secol
=, class matter, but to help adjust t
relations of the government with t
rod public press in a just and prop
=, manner.
.,th Such a commission is being {
~, ganized, composed of a represent