Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-29

man matter consisted - Hoa. Charles
y. Hughea, associate justice Of the
gupFeme Court Of the Unitsd States;
/ President A. Lawrenee Lowell Of Har-
ward universily, ana Mr. Harry A.
WheeIsr. president * the Association
Of Commercs OF the city of Chicago.
In commenlins on their nndings the
president says:
The report discIoses q most ex-
haustive and critical inquiry into the
subject OF second-class mail matter
after adequate notice 20 al the par
ties In Interest. Extensive hearings
were held by the commission. at which
the Postmaster General and the Sec
ond and Third Assistant Postmasters
General appeared and submitted for
NAL statements presenting the various
contentious OF the Post ONCE depart
ment, together with all the relevant
oficial data and evidence relating 10
the cost Of handling and transporting
second-class mail matter. Certain OF
the leading magazines were represent
ed by counsel. while various other pub
locations appeared by representatives
The findings of the commission
confirm the view that the cost OF
handling and Transporting second
class mail matter is greatly In excess
OF the postage paid, and that an In
crease In the rate Is not only Justified
by the facts. but IL desirable"
Cost Inquired Into.
1.-THE commission reports that the
evidence submitted for its considera-
ton 10 suflicient to warrant a finding
of the approximate cost OF handing
and transporting the several classes
Of second-class mail known as paid
at-the-pound-rate. free-in-county, ana
transient matter. in so far as relates
to the services OF transportation. post
ONCE cars. railway distribution. rural
delivery, and certain other items OF
cost. but that It Is without adequate
data to determine the cost OF the gen
eral post ONCE service and also what
portion OF the cost of certain other
aggregate services 10 properly assign
able to second-class mail matter. IL
finds that In the fiscal year 1908, the
period for which the statistics for the
Post ONCE Department were COM
piled. the cost OF handling and trans
uortixK second-class mail, in the items
of transportation, post-ofice cars. rail.
way distribution. rural delivery ana
certain miscellaneous charges, was ap-
proximately 6 cents . pound for paid
at-tIie- pouhd-rate matter. and for free-
In.county and transient matter eacn
approximately s cents . pound. ana
that upon this basis. 40 modined Oy
subsequent reductions in the cost OF
railroad transportation, the cost q
neutrality-suspicious. matter. Tor tne
services mentioned, is now approxi-
mately 5M cents o pound. while the
cost Of free-ln-county and transient
matter remains as formerly. namely
each at approximately cents
pound.
The commission suggests that the
department maintain an adequate
cost system, 90 that the effect OF the
new rates may be closely observed
and q proper basis may be secured
fot the consideration Of any future
proposals" -.
President Taft again concurs In the
recommendation OF the Postmaster
General for the adoption Of q parcel
post system. suggesting the inaugura-
ton OF such a service on rural routes
and In the city delivery service first.
Ownership Of Telegraph Opposed.
H,tchcock's recommendation FOR
government ownership Of the tele-
rraph lines under the supervision OF
the postal service 10 not approved OF
by the president Regarding this ne
says:
''There 10 only one recommendation
IN which I can not agree-that is one
which recommends that the telegraph
lines in the United States should De
made a part Of the postal system ana
operated In conjunction with the mail
system. This presents q question OF
government ownership OF public utlli-
Ties which are now being conducted by
priyate enterprise under franchises
from the government. believe that
the true principle Is that private en-
terprise should be permitted to carry
on such public utilities under due regu-
Iation as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government
ahould itself conduct them. This prin.
ciple / favor because LIDO not think i
IN accordance with the best public pol
icy thus greatly to increase the body
OF public servants. OF course, II II
could be shown that telegraph service
could be furnished to the public at
less price than It is now furnished tc
the public by telegraph companies
ana with equal eficiency. the argu
| ment might be a strong one In favor
81 the adoption Of the proposition. But
| am not satisfied from any. evidence
that n these properties were taken
over by the government they could Dc