The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-09
ONE CENT POSTAGE.
Prominent Topeka Men Interested in
Movement.

Business men in this city are
pleased with the determined cam
one cent letter postage. Many OF
them have Joined the National One
Cent Postage association and are as
sist;ng in the work for a lower rate.
Bills have been introduced in both
branches of congress, in the senate by
Hon. Theodore Z. Burton. and in the
house by Hon. John W. Weeks. call
ing for one cent letter rate to be
Instituted July l next.
Very energetic efforts are being
made by the association to secure the
passage of these bills. w. A. l..
Thompson, president of w. A. L..
Thompson Hardware Co. OF this city
is taking an active part in the. cam
paign and is urging local business men
TO give their support to the move
ment.
I'VE have been entitled to a lower
rate on letter postage for many years, .
declares MI Thompson.
No concerted effort has previously
been made to secure it. The National
One Cent Letter Postage association
has now taken up the work, and has
several thousand members scattered
all over the union. This association
has for its sole purpose the cutting
down of the present eXorbitant rate
on letter postage.
The bill presented to congress, re-
cites the fact that letters of one-half
ounce or fraction thereof, were car
ried between New York and Buffalo
in 1919, distance under 500 miles
vailed elsewhere. The act of March
8. 1888, established the rate which is
still in vogue, despite the fact that the
postofice department has been max
ing enormous profits from this class
of mail every year.
In 1910. $50, $4,000 pieces of
first class mail were carried by the
postoffice department. The cost of
o1-r-f. inc to
Postmaster General Hitchcock. was
S96,752. 511.35. The revenue collect
ed was $154.796, 66S.0S, leaving a.
cIaer profit to the government of $685.
been made for each year of the last
score.
business men of the United States
are being required to pay this exorbit-
ant profit furnishing the department
with a large yearly surplus over the
that letter postage should pay
a profit The policy of the department
as outlined by the postmaster general
still continues to be that costs of ser
classes of users of the mails. and that
only cost shall be collected from any
class"
A one cent letter rate has been IA
vored by postal officials for a long
time. They realize that no one should
be charged excessive prOflt on services
rendered by the government"
AT the present rate. the department
is receiving on f1rst-class mail a reve
nue. of about "a cents per pound equal
to $3.50 per ton, making a profit II
56 per cent. F'irst-class mail supplies
under IA per cent of the total tonnage
of the mails, yet it is required to pay
IS per cent of the total revenue. It
has been clearly demonstrated that |
one cent letter rate will amply pay"
THE National One Cent Letter Post |
age association is conducting an active |
to- secure this low rate. Many |
business firms in this city are already |
affiliated with this organization and 1 |
hope that more will join as soon as they |
learn about the unreasonable charges |
now being made for carriage of letters.
The association has its headquarters at |
Cleveland, O., because the executive Of |
hcers live in that city. Mr.. Charles |
William Burrows is president of the |
and Mr.. George T. Nc |
Intosh, in addition to being secretary |
and treasurer, is managing the cam |
paisn."
Personally 1 urge every business man |
to affiliate himself with this organiza- |
ton. 1t means that letter postage |
rates will be cut in two as soon Us |
the battle for a one cent rate is won /
We have everything in our favor and |
there is no reason why We should not |
secure a one cent rate at an earl? |
date"