The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-02-29
TAFT ASKS RAISE
IN POSTAL Rates
Urges Adoption Of Commits
sion's Recommendation On
Second-CIass Mail.
PROFIT IN POSTAL SERVICE
For the First Time In History tho
Department Made Money-Adop-
ton of Parcel Post System
Again Is Urged.

Washington, Feb 22.-Accordlng TO
the annual report of Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock transmitted to con-
gress today the postofiice department.
for the first time in history, shows a
profit for the fiscal year ending June
so, 1911.
Accompanying the document was
the report of the commission on sec
ond-class mail matter appointed by
joint resolution OF congress on March
4 Of last year and brief message OF
the president, In which he called at
tention to the principal features Of the
two reports.
Would Increase Second-Class Rates.
The report OF the commission on
second-class mail matter makes the
following recommendations:
l. The rate of cents a pound on
copies mailed by publishers to sub
scribers, to news agents, and as sam
pie copies, and by news agents to their
subscribers or to other news agents.
2. The rate of l cent for each 4
ounces for copies mailed by other
than publishers and news agents; that
is, the present transient rate.
5. The present free-in county priv
ilege retained, but not extended.
The commission also recommended
that the cent-a-copy rate for newspa-
pers other than weeklies and for pc
riodicals not exceeding 2 ounces In
weight, and the 2.cent-a-copy rate for
periodicals exceeding 2 ounces In
weight, when mailed at city letter
carrier office for local delivery, be
abolished.
AS to the effect and adequacy OF the
proposed increase OF ! cent pound
In postage ,the commission says;
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 reasonable
time should be allowed, after the rate
is fixed, before 1t Is put into effect
While the new rate Will be very Tar
from compensating the government
for the carriage and handling OF sec
ond-class matter, 1t will to some ex
tent relieve the existing burden and
result In more equitable adjustment
OF rates"
Both the president and the postmas
ter general concur In the recommends
tons.
President Taft again concurS In the
recommendation of the Postmaster
General for the adoption CT a parcel
post system, suggesting the Inaugural
ton of such service on rural routes
and In the city delivery service first
Ownership Of Telegraph Opposed.
Hitchcock's recommendation fol
government ownership of the tele
graph lines under the supervision oil
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 tina. the telegraph
lines in the United States should be
made part of the postal system ant
operated in conjunction with the mai
system. This presents question ol
government ownership of public utili
ties which are now being conducted by
private enterprise under franchises
frnn ha a
the true principle is that private en-
! tcrprise should be permitted to carry
on such public utilities under due regu
lation as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government
should itself conduct them. This prin
ciple favor because | do not think Il
in accordance with the best public pol
icy thus greatly to increase the body
Of public servants"
The report of the Postmaster Gen
eral Is full of statements OF changes
in the organization and methods of the
postal service made since the last an
nual report, and OF tentative drafts oil
Legislation embodying certain recon-
heuudtlonS vi the uepdi lhJtuN Wh1Nh
need legislation to carry them out. II
also calls attention to the fact that
| the revenues for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1911, amounted to $237S79,
$3.50 and that the expenditures
amounted to 1921, $50, 7054S, making a
surplus of $2l9,1lS12,
The report shows that the postal
savings system was begun experiment
tally In January. 1911, and that 1t has
now been extended 30 as to include
1900 presidential post offices, which
includes practically all of the post
Offices Of that class. Preparations are
also being made to establish the sys
TEN at about 5000 fourth.class Offices