Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-22
AMMONIA PLAN OF INCREASING
1osTAGE TO 2 CENTS PER
POUND.
GOVERNMENT NOW LOSING
W CENTS PER POUND
ooesnd. Glass Mail Matter Cause OF
Greatest Expsnss Of Postoffice De-
partmont-Oths Classes Compelled
to Make Up Huge Defieisncy-Grad-
>uaI Ineroass Favored.


today approved and forwarded to con-
gress the report of the commission on
second class mail matter recommend
ing that the postal rate on magazines
and newspapers be raised from l cent
to 2 cents a pound.
Postmaster General Hitchcock origi-
nally recommended a cent rate, but
later changed this to 2. The commts-
sion finds that the cost of handling
second class matter is about o1a cents
d pound. In approving the cent rate.
however, President Taft declares that
the business enterprises OF the pub
fishers Of periodicals have been built
up on the basis of the l cent rate and
therefore it would be manifestly I'M
fair to put into immediate effect
larger increase in postage.
Would Not Bring Distress.
AS to the effect of the proposed in
crease from to cents a pound Presl-
dent Taft quotes from the report of
the postal commission, the following
paragraph:
"Such an increase will not, in the
opinion Of the commission, bring dis
tress upon the publishers Of newspa-
pers and periodicals, or seriously IN
terfere with the dissemination Of use
full news or information. A reason
able time should be allowed after the
rate Is fixed, before it Is put into ef-
feet. While the new rate will be very
far from compromising the government
for the carriage and handling of sec
end class matter, 1t will to some extent
relieve the existing burden and re-
\ nP
rates"
That newspapers and magazines have
teen potent agencies for the dissemina-
ton of public intelligence and conse-
quently have borne a worthy part in
the development Of the country, Mr..
Taft says, aV must admit
Who're Government Loses.
But" he adds, "it is likewise true
that the original purpose of congress
in providing for them a subvention by
way Of nominal postal charges in con-
sideration Of their value as mediums
Of public information ought not to pre-
vent an increase. because they are now
not only educational but highly profit
able There Is no warrant for the
great disparity between existing post
age rates on periodicals and the cost
of the service the government performs
for them. The aggregate postal reve-
nues for the fiscal year 1911 were $751;
s7982360 derived mainly from the
postage collected on the four classes
of mail matter. It is carefully esti-
mated by the postoffice department
that the revenue derived from mail
matter OF the first class is approx
mately one and onehalf times the
cost of handling and carriage: that the
returns from third and fourth class
matter are slightly in excess Of their
cost Of handling and carriage: and
that while second class matter en-
braces over SIS per cent Of the entire
weight Of all the mail carried, it, new
ertheless, yields little more than per
cent Of the postal revenues"
Departments Figures Questioned.
The postal commission on second
class matter was appointed by Presi-
dent Taft following the controversy
caused by the postmaster generals
original recommendations for the in
crease in rates. The matter was taken
up by magazine publishers before
committees OF congress and a sharp is
sue was raised as to the correctness
ofa.the postoffice departments figures.
Congress finally passed a joint resolu-
ton authorizing the appointment Of the
commission which was made up of
Justice Charles E. Hughes. of the SUI
preme court: President A. Lawrence
Lowell, Of Harvard University. and
Harry A. Wheeler, president Of the
Chicago Chamber of Commerce.
The findings Of the commission"
says the president, confirm the view
that the cost Of handling and trans
porting second class mali matter is
greatly in excess Of the postage paid,
and that an increase in the rate is not
only justified by the facts, but is de-
SRA BILE.
Now Self Sustaining.
1.-The postal service is now, for the
first time in years, operated upon
elf-sustaining basis. and in my judg-
ment this is a wise policy: but it
should not be carried out at the ex-
rense Of certain classes of mail matter
that pay revenue largely in excess of
their cost. It is not Just that some
classes of mail should be exhorbitant-
ly 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 they should be removed as early
as practicable.
THE proposed increase Of cent
pound in the second class postage
rates, I believe, to be most reason
able and II sufficient time is allowed
before the change goes into effect 1t
should work little serious injury TO
the business and the periodical pub
fishers, while equalizing, at least in Il
measure, the burdens of postal taxa
ton"
Another suggestion of the commits
sion, which was given the presidents
approval. would abolish the Cent?
copy rate" for newspapers other than
weelklies when mailed to a city letter
carrier Office for local delivery.