The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-22

Joint resolution Of The siSty-6rst con
gress, approved March 4. 1911.
The commission consists Of Hon. |
Charles Il. Hughes. associate ius,S,c |
Of the supreme court Of the United |
States; President A. Lawrence Lowell
of Harvard university and Mr.. Harry
A. Wheeler. president of the AsSo,ia-
tion OF Commerce OF the city Of chi
cago. whose character. ability and cX-
pericnco command for their findings
and recommendations thc respect cnd
confidence OF the congress and the
country.
The report discloses most eyhaus-
tive and critical inquiry into the sub
ject of second class Lgil matter after
adequate notice to all the parties I'm
interest. Extensive hearings we're held
by the commission. at which the post
master general ana thu second and
third assistant postmnsters general np-
peared and submitted formal state
ments presenting the various cOnten-
tions Of the postodicc department. to-
gether with all the relevant official
data and evidence relating to tie cost
Of handling and transporting second
class mail matter. Certain of the lead
ing magazines were represented by
counsel. while various other publica-
tions appeared by representatives and
were heard in oral argument or permit
ted 10 submit written briefs setting
forth their respective reasons for op-
| posing n change in the present postage
rate on second class mail. The second
and third assistant postmasters gen
eral. together with minor officers OF the
department. were critically cross exam
incd by the counsel and rcprescnta-
tives of the periodicals, and all the
various phases OF the secord class post
age problem were made the subject of
a most painstalilng Investigation.
Says lnsrsass Is Justified.
The findings OF the commission con-
firm tho view that the cost of handling
and transporting second class mail
matter is greatly In excess Of The post.
age paid and thut an Increase IN the
rate IS not only justified by the facts,
but is desirable
The cofnmiss'-1 rcporis that the evil
dence suEmIvd for It's consideration IS
sufficient 10 warrant a finding Of the
approximate cost OF hnndllng and
transporting the several classes Of Soc
ond class mail known as paid at the
pound rate. free I'm county ana tran
silent matter IN SO far as relates to the
services OF transportation postonice
cars. railway distribution. rural delly-
ery and certain other items OF cost. but
that It is without adequate data to de-
termine the cost of the general post
Office service and also what portion OF
the cost OF certain other aggregate
Services Is properly assignablc TO sec
oad class mail matter. II finds that in
the fiscal year 1908, the period for
which the statistics for the postoaice
department were compiled. the ccst o.
handling and transporting second clasI
mail In the items OF transportation,
postonlce cars. railway distribution. ru-
raj delivery and certain miscellaneous
charges was approximately G cents Il
pound for paid nc the pound rate mat
ter and for free IN county and transient
matter each Approximately . cents n
pound and that upon thls basis. rs
modified By subsequent reductions In
the cost of rallrond transportation the
cost OF paid Mt the pound rate matter
for the services mentioned IS now ap-
proSimately 5h cents pound. while
the cost of free IN county ana transient
matter remains as formerly namely.
each at approximately > cents q pound.
Since the commission has determined
that the cost Of handling aud trans
porting second class mail is approyl-
lnutely ~ cents FOR matter paid mt
the pound rate and Approximately o
cents each for free I'm county and tran
silent matter, without taking into ac-
count the cost of the general pOstollice
service and certain uIassicnGble items
Of expense, It is apparent that the as
g;egato cost OF nll service performed
by HE p0stpl establishment in connec-
ton w,ih this class OF mail matter Is
considerably above thnt amount
Postal cervioe SELF Sustaining.
, The postal service IS now, fer the
FIRST timc IN years, operated upon self
suStainiuY DaSis, and IN my Judgment
this Is Il wise policy. but it should not
be carried out at the expense Of certain
clrsses Of mail matter that pay rcye-
: me largely In excess Of their cost. II
Is not lust that some classes Of mail
should lie eyorbltantly taxed 10 meet a
, deficiency caused by other classes the
revenue from which is much Eeow
, their cost Of handling and carriage
, Where such inequalities exist they
4 should be removed as early as practica'
BILE The business enterprises OF the
! publishers Of periodicals, however, have
! bern built up on the basis Of the pres
. ent second class rate ana therefore II
would be Iaanifestly unfair to put lhto
, immediate effect large increase III
. postage
That newspapers and magazines nave
been potent agencies for the d-H''ii''