New-York tribune., 1911-03-07
THE POSTAL LNnrIRY.

There is good reason TO hope for a
satisfactory readjustment of second class
postal rates as a result Of the investiga-
tion for which n joint resolution of Con-
gress provided in the last hours Of the
session Already II is clear that the
magazine publishers are ready 10 aban-
don some features of the diScreditable
warfare which has been carried on in
their name by certain members Of their
association. In the course Of the discus
sion on Sunday before the Jersey city
Peoples Institute the representative q
Doubleday. Page & Co. said in reply TO
the Third Assistant Postmaster Gen
ersl: we magazine publishers are per
"fectly willing 20 have the postal rates
for magazines readjusted; we are Will
"ing to pay the Postofiice Department
whatever II costs 10 carry our maea-
zines" Without inferring too much
from this statement II may fairly he
said 10 reflect a very different temper
from that which was conspicuouSly in
evidence during the last fortnight Of the
sessions temper which bids fair to be
helpful 10 the investigation which VIII
be prosecuted during the coming months.
1t is perfectly evident that the Spo6es-
men of the magazines will do Wei 10
withdraw a number of the contentious
which they have been intemperat7ly
urging They cannot, for example. hope
or wish 10 maintain their fantastic arg1-
ment that the administration has been
seeking 10 revenge itself upon its critics.
No reasonable citizen harbors any such
suspicion against Nr Taft and his adj
v;sers. and the assertion of il did more
tLan ANYTHING else 20 hurt the cause
wi: :ch il was intended to help. II would
be- equally foolish. though not equally
d!screditalle. 10 continue to denounce
the proposed increase in second class
postal rates as "an unjust. discriminatory
and confscatory tax ON the popular
magazines That is a description
which bears not the remotest resem-
blance 10 the fact The truth Is that the
magazines are receiving AN indispensa-
ble service from the government at far
less than cost. II may he dehatahle
oueStion whether or not they ought. for
the sake Of the general welfare. To con
tinue 10 receive that service on those
terms. That ii is wise or proper to 1t-
+empt 10 confuse the issue by wildly
erronaous definitions j. not dehatabie.
Neither is il wise 10 insist 80 strenu-
ously that the magazines are entitled TO
uut direct burden of enormous weight
or the government because their adver-
Using pages produce large amount ~
profitable first class postage. Carried -
It's logical limit. that argument nece'@a-
rilv implies that the magazines ought 10
be carried free in the mails-that the
Postofiice Department ought. indeed. 10
pay n bonus for the privilege of carr
ing them. thereby immensely increasing
lis remunerative business.
Finally. the magazine publishers Will
in our Judgment. serve their own inter-
estS If they greatly restrict the ac'iVl-
ties If the lobby which has been repre-
sentins them in Washington. They a""'
of course. entitled to have their side II
the case fairly and fully presented To the
attention If Congress, and that is doubt
less as far ~ most 0t them have ever
wished 10 20. But they can hardly fail
10 he aware thnt during the closing
weeks Of the session the alluring hHlt
Of entire freedom from criticism and fre-
ouent eulogy WAS held ont in their name
to Senators and Representatives WHO
we're thought 60 be- susceptible TO TINT
sort of influence. If that line of effort Is
abandoned. if such irrational pleas a-
those to which we have referred are
dropped. and if the magazine publishers
lav their case before the commission
frankly. reasonably and in the right
spirit-in the spirit recently manifested
rs we are glad 10 say. 10y Mr. MunSey-
We believe that the coming investigation
will give them DO just cause for com
plaint either in its procress or lis con
clusiuu