The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-22

emily or that this would enable the gov
eminent to furnish service at any
smaller rate than the public are now
required to pay by private companies.
More than this it seems to me that
the consideration of the question ought
to be postponed until after the postal
savings banks have come into com
plete and smooth operation and after
a parcels post has been established, not
only upon the rural routes and the city
deliveries, but also throughout the de-
partment. 1t will take some time to
perfect these additions to the activities
of the postoffice department, and We
may we'll await their complete and sue
cessful adoption before we take on d
new burden in this very extended de-
partment.
can not speak with too great en-
phasis of the improvement in the post
office department under the present
management. The cutting down of cost,
the shortening of methods, and the in
crease in efficiency are shown by the
statistics of the annual report.
One of the most important matters re-
ferred to by the postmaster general is the
proposed fixing of new rates OF postage
for second-class mail matter. In connec-
ton with this subject, 1 have the honor
to transmit herewith the report of tho
commission on second-class mail matter,
appointed pursuant to a joint resolution
of the Sixty-first congress, approved
The commission consists of Hon:
Charles E. Hughes, associate justice OF
the supreme court of the United States;
Prssident T,awrence lowell. of Har-
ward university; and Mr.. Harry a
Wheeler, president Of the Associa-
ton of Commerce of the city of Chicago,
whose character, ability, and experience
command for their findings and recon-
mendations the respect and confidence OF
the congress and the country
An Exhaustive Inquiry.
The report disclOSeS a most exhaustive
and critical inquiry into the subject OF
second-class mail matter after adequate
notice to all the parties in interest EX-
tensive hearings were held by the COM
mission at which the postmaster general
and the second and third assistant post
masters general appeared and submitted
formal statements presenting the various
contentious of the pOstoffice department,
together with all the relevant official data
and evidence relating to the cost OF hand
ling and transporting second-ciaSs mail
matter. Certain of the leading magazines
were represented by counsel, while Varl-
Gus other publications appeared by rep
resentatiVeS and were heard IN oral a1Su-
ment or permitted to submit written
briefs setting forth their respective red-
sons for opposing a change IN the pres
ent postage rate on second-claSS mall
The second and third assistant postmas-
tiers general, together with minor offlcers
of the department, were critically cross
examined by the counsel and representa-
tives of the periodicals., and all the vaTl-
Gus phases of the second-claSS postage
problem were made the subject OF most
painstaking investigation
The findings of the commission CONN II
the view that the cost OF handing anu
Transporting second-class mail matter IS
greatly in excess of the postage paid, ana
that an increase in the rate is not only
justified by the facts, but is desirable.
The commission reports that the eV1-
dence submitted for its CONSIDERATION I,lo Is
sufficient to warrant a finding of the ap-
nroxinate cost Of handling and trans
porting the several classes OF seconG-
class mail known as paid-at-the-pound-
rate free-in-county, and transient mat
fer in so far as relates to the services OF
TRANSPORTATION, postomice cars, railway
distribution, rural delivery, ana Ger talu
other items of cost, but that 1t IS without
adequate data to determine the cost OF
the general postonice service ana aiso
what portion of the cost OF certain olnSr
aggregate services is properly asslgnaple
to second-claSs mail matter 1t finds tnat
in the fiscal year 1903, the period Tor
which the statistics for the postoft1ce &c
partment were compiled, the cost VI
handIine and transporting SecOnd-claSS
mail in the items of transportation, post
office cars railway Distribution, rural de-
livery and certain miscellaneous charges,
was approximately cents a pound for
paid e-pound-rate matter, ana 1or
free-in-county and transient matter each
approxin ately cents pound, and that
11nnn this basis as modified by subse-
ouent reductions in the cost OF railroad
TRANSPORTATION, the cost of paid-at-the-
TONED is now approximately So cents a
nound while the cost of free-in-county
and transient matter remains as formerly,
namely each at approximately cents a
pound.
Cost of Service.
Since the commission has determined
that the cost of handling and transport
ing second-class mail is approximately
cents for matter paid neutrality-suspicious.
and approximately cents each for free
in-county and transient matter, without
taking into account the cost of the gen
eral poSonfce service and certain I'M
assignable items of expense, it is appar-
ent that the aggregate cost of all service
performed by the postal establishment in
connection with this class of mail matter
Is considera bly, above that amount.
The postal service is now, for the first |
time in years, operated upon a self-sus- |
tanning basis, and in my judgment this Is
a wise policy; but it should not be carried |
out at the expense of certain classes Of |
mail matter that pay revenue largely in |
excess of their cost 1t is not just that |
some classes of mail should be exOrbitant-
Nv taxed to meet a deficiency caused by |
other classes the revenue from which is
much below their cost of handling and
carriage. Where such inequalities exist
hey should be removed early as p<ac-
icable. The business enterprises of the
publishers of periodicals., however, have