The Penn's Grove record., 1912-02-23

tons of the Post Office 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
leading magazines were represented by
counsel, while various other publica-
tons appeared by representatives and
were heard in oral argument or per-
mitted to submit written briefs setting
forth their respective reasons for op-
posing a change in the present postage
rate on second-class mail. The Sec
ond and Third Assistant Postmasters
General, together with minor officers
of the department, were critically
cross-examined by the counsel and
representatives of periodicals, and all
the various phases of the second
class postage problem were made the
subject of a most painstaking investi-
CATION.
The findings of the commission con-
firm the view that the cost of handling
and transporting s~econd-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 is desirable.
The commission reports that the
evidence submitted for its considera-
ton is sufficient to warrant a finding
Of the approximate cost of handling and
transporting the several classes of
second-class mail known as paid-at-the-
pound-rate, free-in-county, and transi-
ent matter, in so far as relates to the
services of transportation, post-ofice
cars, railway distribution, rural deliv-
cry, and certain other items of cost,
but that it is without adequate data
to determine the cost of the general
post-ofice service and also what por-
ton of the cost of certain other aggre-
gate services is properly assignable to
second-class mail matter. 1t finds that
in the fiscal year 1908, the period for
which the statistics for the Post Office
Department were compiled, the cost Of
handling and transporting second
class mail, in the items of ~transporta-
ton, post-office cars, railway distribu-
ton, rural delivery, and certain mis-
c%ellaneous charges, was approximate
ly 6 cents a pound for paid-at-the-
pound-rate matter, and for free-in-coun-
ty and transient matter each approx
mately 5 cents a pound, and that upon
this basis, as modified by subsequent
reductions in the cost of railroad trans
~portation, the cost of paid-at-the-pound-
rate matter, for the services mentioned,
is now approximately 5 IL cents\ a
pound, while the cost of free-in-county
and transient matter remains as form
erly, namely, each at approximately 5
cents a pound.
The recommendations of the com
mission al to the postage rates on Sec
ond-class mail are as follows:
1. The rate of 2 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 1 cent for each 4
ounces for copies mailed by other than
publishers and news agents; that is,
the present transient rate.
3. The present ~free-in-county privi-
lege retained, but not extended.
The commission also recommended
that the ~cent-a-copy rate for news
papers other than weeklies and for
periodicals not exceeding 2 ounces in
weight, and the 2-cent-a-copy rate for
periodicals exceeding 2 ounces in
weight, when mailed at a city letter.
carrier Office for local delivery, be
abolished.
AS to the to the effect and adequacy
of the proposed increase of 1 cent a
pound in postage the commission says:
Such an increase will not, in the
tress upon the publishers of news
papers and periodicals, or seriously in
~terfere with the dissemination of use
full news or information. A reason
able time should be allowed, after the
rate is fixed, before it is put into eff
feet. While the e rate will be very
far from compromising the Govern
ment for the carriage n handling of
second-class matter, it will to some
extent relieve the existing burden and
result in a more equitable adjustment
of rates"
The commission suggests that the
department maintain an adequate
cost system, SO that the effect of the
new rates may be closely observed
and a proper basis may be secured
for the consideration of any future pro.
posals."
In these recommendations the Post.
master General and / heartily concur
and commend them to the early atten-
ton of Congress. The proposed in.
crease of l cent a pound in the sec.
ouG-class postage rate, l believe, to be
most reasonable, and if sufficient time
is allowed before the change goes
into effect it should work little serious
injury to the business of the period
cal publishers, while ~equalizng, al
least in a measure, the burdens of DOS.
tai taxation. VIM. II. TAFT.
The White House. February 90 1919