The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-09-14
Leaders in Fight for Lower
Postal Rate See Early Re-
alization of Long Dream
DEPARTMENT DEFICIT CUT OUT
Present Postmaster General Has Plans
Which May Result in the Rates for
Letter Postage Being Cut in Near
Future.

Active steps looking towards the in
auguration Of One Cent Letter postage
arc to be taken this coming winter by
Ihe United States postotfice department.
1t is expected that such reform will
be the next one attempted by Postmast
Ell General Hitchcock and that it will
meet with general commentator at the
hands of congress.
Many significant reforms have been
ihaugurated in the postoffice depart.
ment during the past year, resulting in
the wiping out Of a large deficit and
The creating of surplus. One of far
reaching Importance is the shipping Of
magazines by freight instead of in mail
cars. Beginning July lst theSnew sys-
ten was inaugurated and it is proving
quite successful. Tt makes it necessary
that the magazines and trade journals
should go to press a few days earlier
than formerly so that an extra day or
two may be given to their distribution.
1t is expected, however, that millions
in money will be saved this year
through this reform alone and that,
during the closing months Of this year
and the early months of 1912, q much
larger surplus viii pile up than has ever
been shown in the entire history of the
department..
With such surplus available with
Hheh to meet expenses, II is planned
TO cut tho existing rate on first class
mail matter in two, charging one cent
IN ounce instead Of two cents. This
means that every time letter is mail
I'D the cost will be cut exactly in half.
10 business men and others having post
age accounts of considerable volumne
this will mean much.
An active agitation for this reform
is being carried on by the National One
Cent Letter Postage association. The
organization is composed of prominent
business men located in every state
In the union. Charles VIM Burrows, a
prominent publisher, is president of the
association and George T. Mcintosh.
formerly heal of The Mcintosh Hard
ware corporation, but now retired from
business, is secretary and treasurer as
we'll as active manager of the cam
paign. The work of the association is
warmly approved by President Taft
Ind Postmaster Hitchcock, and in ad-
lition has been Endorsed by every man
N Cleveland and by leading boards of
;rade, Chamber of Commerce and com
nercial organizations throughout the
country.
1t is claimed that a one cent rate
IAN be inaugurated without difficulty
TX simply readjusting rates now in
operation in the postolice department
and letting each class pay nearer the
costs Of it's service. Full data concern.
ing the situation is being sent out by
the National One Cent Letter Postage
association from it's headquarters, 500
Chamber of Commerce Building, Cleve-
land, o. The association is preparing
to wage an active campaign at the win
ter session of congress for the passage
Of the necessary legislation to bring
about the required reform.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, who
has wiped out a 100000 deficit and
created large surplus solely by busi-
nessiike methods in the administration
of his department looks forward to the
establishment of One Cent rate for
letters as the next important change in
she department. This sentiment he gave
expression to in New York recently
when furnishing testimony before pos
tai commission which is investigating
the question of adjusting carrying
charges for second class mail.
In the conduct of our postal system
certain I'hdamen(al principles of adj
ministration should be closely followed,
Mr. Hitchcock said, "'The operation of
the service should be on self support
ing basis, maintained by the imposition
Of such charges as will yield an in. ome
equal to expenditures. Such adjust
ment of postal charges as will provide
for each class of mail matter rate
equal to the cost of handling and car
riage should be made
AT no time should the support of
the postal establishment be left to the
changes and uncertainties OF general
taxation. The present self supporting
condition of the service is made pos
sible only because other classes Of mail,