Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-23

and recommendations the respect and
confidence of the congress and the
country.
The report discleses most exhaus-
tive and critical inquiry into the sub
jeet 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-
lions of the postoff1ce department. to-
gether with all the relevant official
data and evidence relating to the cost
Of handlingi and transporting second
class mail matter. Certain Of the lead
ing magazines were represented by
counsel while various other publica-
tons 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 MALL 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
most painstaking investigation.
Says increase ls justified. q
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 and that an increase in the
rate is not only justified by the facts,
but LIS desirable.
The commission reports that the evi-
dence submitted for its consideration is
sufficient to warrant a 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 80 far ss 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 postoffice
department were compiled, the cost Of
handling and transporting second class
mail in the items Of transportation,
postOf1ice cars. railway distribution, ru-
raj delivery and certain miscellaneous
charges was approximately 8 cents q
pound for paid at the pound rate mat
( ter and for free IN county and transient
matter each approximately cents q
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-
pr0ximately 81 cents a pound, while
the cost Of free in county and transient
matter remains as formerly-namely,
each at approximately cents pound.
| Since the commission has determined
that the cost Of handling and trans
( porting second class mail is approx
imately 51s cents for matter paid
at the pound rate and approximately
! cents each for free in county and tran
+ sient matter, without taking into &C
count the cost of the general postofice
service and certain unassignable items
of expense, it is apparent that the ag-
gregate cost of all service performed
by the postal establishment in connec-
ton with this class of mail matter is
considerably 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 a 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 1t
is not Just that some classes of mail
should be exorbitantly 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 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 1t would be manifestly unfair to
put into immediate effect a large IN
crease in postage.
That newspapers and magazines have
been potent agencies for the dissent
nation of public intelligence and have
consequently borne a worthy part in
the development Of the country all
must admit, but 1t is likewise true that
the original purpose Of congress in pro
viding for them subvention by way
Of nominal postal charges In considera
ton of their value as mediums Of pub
lie Information ought not to prevent ar
increase, because they are now moi
only educational, but highly profitable
There is no warrant for the great dis
parity between existing postage rates
on periodicals and the cost of the serv
ice the government performs for them
The aggregate postal revenues for tbs
fiscal year 1911 were So37 .sT9 1923 60
derived mainly from the postage col
lected on the four classes Of nail mat
ter. 1t is carefully estimated by The
postof1ce department that the revenue
derived from mail matter of the frs