The Red Cloud chief., 1912-02-29

ward University, and MIR. Harry a.
Wheeler, president of the Association
or Commerce of the city of Chicago
In commenting on their findings the
president says:
The report 0iscloses a most ex.
haustive and critical inquiry into the
subject of second-class mail matter
after adequate notice to all the par.
Ties in interest. Extensive hearings
were held by the commission. at which
the Postmaster General and the Sec.
ond and Third Assistant Postmas,crs
General appeared and submitted for.
mai statements presenting the various
contentious Of the Post Ofllce depart.
ment. together with all the relevant
ofhcial data and evidence relating TO
the cost of handling and transporting
second-class mail matter. Certain Of
the leading magazines were represent
ed by counsel. white various other pub
hcations 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 ia not only justified
by the facts. but is desirable"
Cost Inquired Into.
THE commission reports that the
evidence submitted for its considera.
tion is sufficient to warrant finding
Of the approximate cost OF handling
and transporting the several classes
or second-class mail known as paid.
atthe-pound-rate, frcc.n.county. and
transient matter. in so far as relates
to the services OF transportation. post.
Office 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-ofiice service and also what
portion of the cost Of certain other
aggregate services is properly assign.
able to second-class mail matter. It
finds that in the fiscal year 1908. the
period for which the statistics for the
Post Office Department were COM
piled. the cost OF handling and trans.
porting second-class mail. in the items
OF transportation. post-ofilce cars. rail.
way distribution, rural delivery, and
certain miscellaneous charges. was ap-
proximately 6 cents pound for paid.
at-the-poundrate matter, and for free.
in.county and transient matter each
approximately & cents pound. and
that upon this basis. as modified BY
subsequent reductions in the cost Of
railroad transportation. the cost Of
paid.at.the-pound.rate matter. for the
services mentioned. Is now approxi.
mately 5h cents a pound. while the
cost Of free-in.county and transient
matter remains ms formerly, namely,
each at approximately 8 cents
pound.
The commission suggests that tho
department maintain an adequate
cost system. so that the effect Of the
new rates may be closely observed
and a proper basis may be secured
for the consideration OF any future
proposals"
President Taft again concurs in the
Of the Postmaster
General for the adoption OF parcel
post system, suggesting the Inaugural
tion of such a service on rural routes
and in the city delivery service first.
Ownership Of Telegraph Opposed.
Hitchcock's recommendation for
government ownership OF the tele-
graph lines under the supervision Of
The postal service is not approved Of
by the president. Regarding this he
says:
There Is only one recommendation
In which can not agree---that Is one
which recommends that the telegraph
lines in the United States should be
made part Of the postal system and
operated in conjunction with the mail
system. This presents question Of
government ownership Of public utili.
les which are now being conducted by
private enterprise under franchises
rom the government. believe that
he true principle is that private en-.
.erprise should be permitted to carry
IN such public utilities under due regu-
ation as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government
sHOulu ltseu COuuuCt tUeIl. lHiS pTIU.
,iple favor because I do not think It
n accordance with the hest public pol.
cy thus greatly to increase the body
If public servants. or course. II It
,ould be shown that telegraph service
,ould be furnished to the public at n
ess price than it is now furnished to
he public by telegraph companies,
md with equal efficiency. the argu-
nent might be a strong one In favor
If the adoption OF the proposition. But
am not satisfied from any evidence
hat II these properties were taken
,ver by the government they could be
managed any more economically or
my more efficiently or that this would
enable the government to furnish serv-
CO at any smaller rate than the pub.
ic are now required to pay by private
The report OF the Postmaster Gen. |
raj is full Of statements OF changes
n the organization and methods NJ the |