The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-22
TAFT OPPOSES
GOVT. CONTROL
Continued from first page.)

some extent relieve the existing burden
and result in more equitable adjust
ment of rates"
That newspapers and magazines have
been potent agencies for the dissemina-
tion of public intelligence and conse.
quently have borne a worthy part in the
says, all must admit.
But" he adds, sit is likewise true
that the original purpose Of Congress in
providing for them subvention by way
OF nominal postal charges in considera-
tion OF their value as mediums of public
information ought not to prevent an in
crease, because they are now not only
educational but highly profitable. There
is no warrant for the great disparity be
tween existing postage rates on periodi-
calls and the cost of the service tho gov
eminent performs for them.
"The aggregate postal revenues for the
fiscal year 1917 were $237 ,87e, $3.50, de-
rived mainly from the postage collected
on the four classes OF mail matter. IL
is carefully estimated by the postofliee
department that the revenue derived
from mail matter OF the first class Is
approximately one and one half times
the cost of handling and carriage; that
the returns from third and fourth-class
matter are slightly in excess of their
cost Of handling and carriage; and that
while second.elass matter embraces over
65 per cent. of the entire weight OF all
the mail carried, 1t, nevertheless, yields
little more than ) per cent OF the postal
revenues"
The postal commission on second-class
matter was appointed by President Taft
following the controversy caused by the
postmaster generals original recommen-
dations for the increase in rates. The
matter was taken up by magazine pub
fishers before committees OF Congress
and sharp issue was raised as to the
correctness of the postotliee departments
figures. Congress finally passed a joint
resolution authorizing the appointment
of The commission. which was made up
of Justice Charles Il. Hughes of the
supreme court President A. Lawrence
Lowell of Harvard university, and Harry
A. Wheeler, president of the Chicago
Association of Commerce.
"The findings of the commission" says
the president, 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 increase
in the rate is not only justified by the
facts. but is desirable.
"The postal service is now, for the
first time in years, operated upon 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 revenue
largely in excess of their cost. It IS not
lust that some classes of mail should be
exorbitantly taxed to meet deficiency
caused by other classes, the revenue from
which is much below their cost of hand
ling and carriage. Where such inequali-
ties exist, they should be removed as
early as practicable.
"The proposed increase of one cent a
pound in the secondelass postage rate,
/ believe to be most reasonable and II
sufficient time is allowed before the
change goes into effect it should work
little serious injury TO the business OF
the periodical publishers, while equaliz-
ing, at least in measure, the burden
of postal taxation"
Another suggestion of the commission,
which was given the presidents approval,
wosH abolish the "cent-a-copy rate"
for newspapers other than weeklies when
mailed at city letter carrier office for
local delivery.