The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-22

pc manifestly unfair to put into imme-
date effect a large increase in postage.
4 nat newspapers and magazines have
been potent agencies for the dissenina-
ton of public intelligence and have con-
sequently borne a worthy part in the de-
Velopnent OF the country all must admit;
but 1t is likewise true that the original
purpose of congress in providing for them
a SubventiOn by way of nominal postal
charges in consideration of their value as
mediums OF pubic information ought not
TO prevent an increase, because thew are
now not only educational but highly
profitable There is no warrant for the
sIeat disparity between existing postage
rates on periodicals and the cost of the
service the government performs for
them- The aggregate postal revenues for
the fiscal year 1911 were $237, S79, 23.60 de-
rived mainly from the postage collected
on the four classes of mail matter 1t is
carefully estimated by the postoffice de-
partment that the revenue derived from
mail matter of the first class is approx
mately one and one-half times the cost
of handling and carriage; that the returns
from third and fourth class matter are
sl4e4Atly in excess of their cost of hand
ling and carriage; and that while second
class matter embraces over 65 per cent of
the entire weight of all the mail carried,
it, nevertheless, yields little more than o
per cent Of the postal revenues.
Second Glass Matter.
The recommendation of the commits
sion as to the postage rates on second
class mail as follows:
l. Inc rate Of cents pound on
copies mailed by publishers to subscrib-
ers. to news agents, and as sample copies,
and by news agents to their subscribers
or to other news agents.
2 The rate of l cent for each ounces
for copies mailed by other than publish
ers and news agents; that is, the present
transient rate.
8. The present free-in-cOunty privilege
retained, but not extended.
The commission also recommended that
the cent-a-copy rate for newspapers 9TH
hon IL.
exceeding , ounces in weight, and the 3
cent-a-copy rate for periodicals exceeding
ounces in weight when mailed at a city
letter carrier office for local delivery, be
abolished.
AS to the effect and adequacy of the
proposed increase OF cent a pound in
postage the commission says:
tSuch an increase will not, in the opin-
ion of the commission, bring distress
upon the publishers of newspapers and
periodicals. or seriously interfere with the
dissemination of useful news or informa-
ton. A reasonable time should be al
lowed, after the rate is fixed before it IS
put into effect While the new rate will
be very far from compromising the gov
eminent for the carriage and handling of
second-class matter, it will to some ex-
tent relieve the existing burden and re-
suit in a more equitable adjustment OF
rates.
The commission suggests that the de-
paTtment maintain an adequate cost
system, so that the effect of the new
proper basis may be secured for the con-
sideration of any future proposals.
In these recommendations the postmas-
ter general and 1 heartily concur and
commend them to the early attention of
congress. The proposed increase of
cent a pound in the second-class postage
rate, I 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
periodical publishers, while equalizing, at.
least in measure, the burdens of postal
taxation. VIM. H. TAFT
The White House. February 2, 1912.