The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-01

postage for second class mail matter
In connection with this subject have
the honor TO transmit herewith the re.
port of the comEii son on second class
mail matter, appointed pursuant to a
Joint resolution of the Sixty-6rst con.
gress. approved March 4. 1911.
The commission consists of Hon
Charles L. Hughes. associate justice
of the supreme court OF the United
States; President A. Lawrence Lowell
NJ Harvard university and Mr.. Harry
a. Wheeler, president OF the Associa.
ton of Commerce of the city of Chi.
cago. whose character. ability and ex.
perience command for their findings
and recommendation the respect and
confidence of the congress and the
country.
The report discioses most exhaus.
tive and critical inquiry into the sub.
ject OF second class mail matter after
adequate notice to all the parties In
interest. Extensive hearings were held
by the commission. at which the post.
master general and the second and
third assistant postmasters general ap.
peared and submitted formal state
ments presenting the various conten-
tions OF the postoliice department. to-
gether with all the relevant official
data and evidence relating TO the cost
of handling and transporting second
class mail matter. Certain of the lead
ing magazines were represented by
tions appeared by representatives and
were heard in oral argument or permit.
ted to submit written briefs setting
forth their respective reasons for op.
posing 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
ined by the counsel and representa-
tives of the periodicals.. and all the
various phases of the second class post
age problem were made the subject of
a most painstaking investigation.
Says Increase Is Justified.
The findings of the commission con.
firm the view that the cost of handling
and transporting second class mail
matter is greatly in excess of the post.
age paid ard that an increase in the
rate is not only justified by the facts
but is desirable.
The commission reports that the evi
dence submitted for it's consideration is
sufficient to warrant finding of the
approximate cost of handling and
Transporting the several classes Of sec.
ond class mail known as paid at the
pound rate. free in county and tran.
sient matter in so far as relates to the
services of transportation, postoffice
cars. railway Distribution rural deliv.
cry 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 asSignable to sec
ond class mail matter. 1t finds that in
the fiscal year 1908. the period for
which the statistics for the postofIice
department We're compiled. the cost OF
handling and transporting second class
mail in the items of transportation
postoftice cars. railway distribution. ~,
raj delivery and certain miscellaneo"
charges was approximately cents y
pound for paid at the pound rate mat
ter and for free in county and transfer
matter each approximately cents a
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 ap
proximately 5l3 cents pound, while
the cost Of t:ee in county and transient
matter rem ins as formerly-namely
each at approximately cents a pound
Since the commission has determined
that the cost of handling and trans.
porting second class mail is approx.
imately 514 cents for matter paid
at the pcv'.l rate and approximately E
cents each / II free in county and tran.
sient matte, without taking into ac,
count the cost of the general postoffice
service and certain unassignable items
of expense, t is apparent that the ag,
gregate cost Of all service performed
by the posta establishment in connec,
ton with Il IS class of mail matter is
consider bly, above that amount.
Postal Service Self Sustaining.
The postal service is now. for the
first time in years, operated upon a self
sustaining basis. and in my Judgment
this is wise policy, but it should not
be carried out at the expense of certain
classes of mail matter that pay reve
nue. largely in excess of their cost. II
is not just that some classes of mail
should be eXOrbitantly taxed to meet a
deficiency caused by other classes. the
revenue from which IL much below
their cost Of handling and carriage
Where such inequalities exist thew
should be removed as early as practi,
cable. The business enterprises of the
publishers of periodicals. however
have been built up on the basis of the
present second class rate. and there,
fore II would be manifeStly unfair to
put into immediate effect a large IN.
crease in postage.
That upvSpuDprS and mo0a1inac ba ye