Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-02-22

IL IucSo properties were taken OVel
by the government they could be
managed any more economically OF
any more efficiently or that thit
would enable the government to fur
nish service at any smaller rate
than the public are now required tc
pay by private companies"
The president found much, he
said, to commend in Mr.. Hitchcock's
department. II cannot speak with
too great emphasis" he said, "of the
improvement in the postoffice de.
partment under the present manage
ment." He showed that there was
surplus of $219,11S.12 at the end Of
the last fiscal year compared with
deficit Of $17,479,770.47 two years be
fore. This was not to be accounted
for the president pointed out, by re-
auctions Of force or numbers Of post
offices or salaries but by scientific
economy.
Mr.. Taft approved the adoption Of
a parcels post recommended by Mr..
Hitchcock; said that the placing of
assistant postmasters in the civil ser
vice should be followed by placing
under the classified service Of post
master and commended the postal
savings system. Preparations are
being made, he said, to establish this
system at about 10000 fourth class
offices
Approves Raise In Rates.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Presi.
dent Taft today approved and for.
warded to congress the report Of the
commission on second class mail
matter and recommending that the
postal rate on magazines and news.
papers be raised from one cent to
two ~or pound.
Postmaster General Hitchcock orig.
inally recommended four cent rate
but later changed this to two. The
commission finds that the cost of
handling second class matter Is about
five and half cents a pound. In
approving the two cent rate, how.
ever; President Taft declares that
the business enterprises Of the pub.
fishers of periodicals have been
built up on the basis of the one cent
rate and therefore 1t would manifest
" be unfair to put into immediate
effect a larger increase in postage.
That the newspapers and maya
zines have been potent agencies for
the dissemination Of pubic intelli-
gence and consequently have borne a
worthy part in the development of
the country, Mr.. Taft says, all must
admit.
"But," he adds, ut is likewise true
that the original purpose of congress
in providing for them a subvention by
way Of nominal postal charges in
consideration Of their value as med.
iums Of public Information ought not
to prevent an increase, because they
are now not only educational but
highly profitable. There is no war
rant for the great disparity between
existing postage rates on periodicals
and the cost Of the service the gov
eminent performs for them. The az
gregate postal revenues for the ifs.
cal year 1911 were $237, S79, 1923 go,
derived mainly from the postage col
lected on the four classes of mail
matter. It is carefully estimated by
the postoffice department that the
revenue derived from mail matter of
the first class is approximately one
and one.half times the cost of han.
ding and carriage; and that while
second class matter embraces over
6 per cent Of the entire weight Of
oil the mail carried, TT nevertheless,
yields little more than 8 per cent OF
the postal revenue.
Another suggestion Of the commits.
sion, which was given the presidents
approval, would abolish the "cent-a'
copy rate" for newspapers other
than weeklies when mailed at = city
letter carrier Office for local deliv'
cry. &C.. .- y =. ss@..r,ss Isl