Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-23
Pres. Taft Approves Re-
port Of the Commission
Which ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
From | 10 z Cents a Pound
On Magazines and Mewspapers..Re.
port Forwarded to Congress.


Congress the report of the commission
on second class mail matter and
recommending that the postal rate on
magazines and newspapers be raised
from one cent to two cents a pound.
Postmaster General Hitchcock origi-
naliy recommended a four-cent rate,
but later changed this to two. The
commission finds that the cost of
handling second class matter is about
five and q half cents a pound. In APP
proving the tWo-cent rate, however
President Taft declares that the bust
ness enterprises of the publishers OF
periodicals have been built up on the
basis of the one-cent rate and there
fore It would be manifestly unfair to
put into Immediate effect larger in
crease in postage.
As to the effect of the proposed in
crease from one to two cents a pound,
President Taft quotes from the report
of the postal commission, the following
para graph:
such IN increase will not. i'll the
opinion OF the commission, bring dis
tress upon the publishers of news
papers and periodicals, or seriously in
terfere with the dissemination of use
full news or information. a reasonable
time should he allowed after the rate
is fixed, before il is put into effect
While :he news rate viii be Very far
from compensating the government for
the carriage and handling of second
class matter, it will to some extent
relieve the existing burden and result
iii more equitable adjustment OF
rates"
That newspapers and magazines
have been potent agencies for the dis
semsnaticn of public intelligence and
consequently have horne a worthy part
in the development of the country
MIR Taft says, all must admit.
But he adds, lit is likewise true
that the original purpose of Congress
in providing for them subveEtion by
way of nominal postal charges in con-
siieration of their value as mediums
of public information ought not to pre-
vent an increase. because they are
now not only educational but highly
profitable There is no warrant for the
great disparity between existing post
age rates on periodicals and the coSi
of the service the government per
forms for them. The aggregate postal
revenues for the fiscal year 1911 were
s237. S7S, S2S. CO. derived mainly from the
hostage collected on the four classes
of mail matter. 1t is carefully est :
mated by the post office department
that the revenue derived from mail
matter of the first class is approx
mataly one and one-half times the cost
of handling and carriage; that the re-
turns from third and fourth class mat
ter are slightly in excess of their cost
eff handling and carriage; and that
while second class matter embraces
over 90 per cent of the entire weight
of all the mail carried, it. nevertheless,
Yields little more than per cent OF
the postal revenues
The postal commission ON second
class matter was appointed by Presi-
dent Taft following the controversy
caused b. the postmaster general 5
original recommendations for the m
crease in rates The matter was taken
up by magazine publishers before com
mittees of Congress and sharp issue
was raised as to the correctness OF the
post office departments figures Con
gress finally passed a joint resolut4of
authorizing the appointment OF the
commission, which was made up OF
Justice Charles T.. Hughes of the su-
preme court, President y. Lawrence
Lowell of Harvard University, ano
Harry A. Wheeler, president of The
Chicago Association of Commerce
THE findings of the commission,
says the President, confirm the view
that the cost of handling and trans
porting second class mail matter u
greatly in excess of the postage palu
and that an increase in the rate is no
only justified by the facts, but is de
sirable.
'aThc postal service is now, for tn
first time in years, operated upon
self susie lining basis, and in my Judg
ment this is a wise policy; but
| should not be carried out at the eN
perse of certain classes Of mail mattel
that nav revenue largely in excess o
their cost 1t is not just that som'
classes of mail should be exorbitantl!
axed to meet a deficiency caused b.
other classes. the revenue from which
10 r,uch below their cost of handling
and carriage. Where such Inequalities
exist they should be removed as earl!
| as practicable
| 'NIne proposed iicie"et VI ''N
| a pound in the second class postag
| rate. I believe to be most reasonapl
and if sufficient time is allowed betor'
| the change goes into effect IT shoul'
work little serious injury to the pusi
| ness Of the periodical publishers, whii'
| eoualizing at least in measure, TN
| burdens of postal taxation
| Another suggestion of the commas
| sion, which was given the President
| aporoyal. would abolish the 'eent-a
| copy rate for newspapers other tpai
weeklies when mailed at city lette
carrier office for local delivery
| The new receipt for attaining long
evity is, give away your fortune
| d. x. Pearsons, who donated sever
| million to philanthropic objects, Is
notable example of success IN IN