The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-29
INCREASE Rates ON
SECOND CLASS MAIL

WASHINGTON. ID. c. Special
recommending an increase In the
rates on second-class matter, Presi-
dent Taft today sent to Congress q
special message on the Postoffice De-
partment, transmitting with II the an
nual report OF Postmaster General
Hitchcock and the report Of the COM
mission on SecOnd-class mail matter
which was appointed by joint resoIu-
ton OF Congress on March 4, 1911.
Inc commission was composed OF As
sociate Justice OF the Supreme Court
Charles e. Hughes. President a. Law
renee Howell, of Harvard University
and Harry A. Wheeler. president OF
the Association Of Commerce, Chi
cago.
The President endorsed the recom-
mendations of the commission. adyo-
eating an increase from the rate OF 1
cent a pound TO 2 cents a pound on
copies mailed by publishers to- sub
scrlbers, TO news agents and as sam
pie copies. and by news agents to
their subscribers or to other news
agents. The rate of l cent for each
-FOUR ounces for copies mailed by
other than publishers and news agents
the President recommended be un-
c1ahsed' IN accordance with the com
mittee's report.
The message declared that the in
Nesugation conducted by the commits
sion showed the cost for transporting
second-class matter is more than S
cents pound, and that the second
class service was the greatest burden
or the department and had to be paid
Tor by the profits netted by the other
classes of mail. This is not right. the
PRESIDENT said. The other classes ara
thus Disseminated against N' ~
However, il would be unfair To 'noh-
fishers, in his opinion. who had built
up their business on the basis cf 1
cent per pound rate. to make. too big
an increase at once. and accordingly
ne recommended the smaller increase.
commission. y - -,
After giving the figures of the POST
Office department finances for the,
year ending June. so. 1911, the Presi-
uent commented: II cannot speak
with too great emphasis OF the i'm
provement in the department under
the present management. The cutting
down OF cost, the shortening Of meth
OBS and the increase in efficiency are
SHOWN by the statistics of the annual
report"
The revenues for the fiscal war
amounted to $237.879.S2S.6O, bringing
ABOUT surplus over expenditures OF
$219, 11S.12. Thus. in two years. re-
ports the President. there has been
wiped out deficit OF more than $I7,-
100000.
During the same interval efficiency
mas increased, according to the Preei-
dents statement. There nave been
established 1874 new postoffices. de-
livery by carrier provided in 1876 ad-
ditional cities and new rural routes
established, 2,516 in number, and ag-
gregating 6O,679 miles in extent. The
force of postal employees has been in
creased by more than 5000, and the
amount expended for salaries Is now
$14,OOO,OOO more than two years ago.
me average salary has been Increased
from $3.50 to 1857 for rural carriers.
and other salaries IN proportion.
The report shows that the postal
savings system was begun experiment.
ally in January, 1911. and that II has
now been extended so as to include
$500 presidential postoffices, which
includes practically all of the postof-
flceS OF that class. Preparations are
also being made to establish the sys-
tenn at about 10000 fourth-cIass Of
fices. The deposits in eleven months
nave reached a total of $11.OOO.OOO
distributed among 2.T10 national and
State banks.
The President renews his recon-
mendation for the establishment of n
parcels post, to be begun first on rural
routes and in the city delivery ser
vice.