Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-03-01

President A. lawrence Lowell Of Har.
ward University, and Mr.. Harry A.
Wheeler, president Of the Association
Of Commerce Of the city Of Chicago.
In commenting on their findings The
president says:
The report discloses . most ex-
haustive and critical inquiry into the
subject Of second-class mail matter
after adequate notice to all the par
ties In interest. Extensive bearings
we're held by the commission, at which
the Postmaster General and the Sec
ond and Third Assistant Postmasters
General appeared and submitted for
NAL statements presenting the various
contentious OF the Post Once depart
ment. together with all the relevant
official data and evidence relating to
the cost Of handling and transporting
secondclass mail matter. Certain or
the leading magazines wer represent.
ed by counsel, while various other pub
licatiOns appeared BY representatives.
"The findings Of the commission
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 in
crease in the rate Is not only justified
by the facts, but is desirable"
Cost Inquired Into.
THE commission reports that the
evidence submitted for its considera-
tiSn Is suffcient to warrant O finding
Of the approximate cost Of harding
and transporting the several classes
Of second-class mail known az paid
at-the-pound.rate, free~-in-county. and
transient matter. in so far as relates
to the services Of transportation, post
Office cars, railway distribution, rural
| delivery, and certain other items OF
| cost, but that It Is without adequate
data to determine the cost Of the gen.
eral p~ost-ofice service and also what
| portion Of the cost Of certain other
aggregate services is properly assign
able 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 COM
piled. the cost Of handling and trans
porting second. class mail, IN the items
of transportation, post-ofice cars, rail-
way distribution, rural delivery, and
certain miscellaneous charges, was APP
proximately 6 cents a pound for paid
at-the-pound-rate matter, and for free
in-county and transient matter each
approximately s cents a pound, and
that upon this basis, as modified by
subsequent reductions in the cost OF
railroad transportation, the cost OF
paidat-the-pound-rate matter, for the
services mentioned, Is now approx
mately 5M cents a pound. whAe the
cost Of free-in-courty and transient
matter remains as formerly, namely
each at approximately 8 cents
pound.
The commission suggests that the
department maintain an adequate
cost system, SO that the effect Oh the
new rates may be closely observed
and a proper basis may be secured
for the consideration Of any future
! proposals."
President Taft again oncur in the
recommendation of the Postmaster
; General for the adoption of a parce
: post system, suggesting the Inaugural
ton Of such a service on rural routes
{ and In the city delivery service first.
Ownership Of Telegraph Opposed.
t Hftchcock's recommendation To-
government ownership Of the tele
: graph lines under the supervision o
= the postal service is not approved o
BY the president. Regarding this h
. says:
1 ""There Is only one Recommendation
In which I a not agree--that is on
which recommends that the TELEGRAPH
}. lines in the United States should b
[: made a part Of the postal system an
operated in conjunction with the ma
q system. This presents a question Q
government ownership Of public util
It ties which are now being conducted b
private enterprise under franchise
I. from the government. I believe tina
& the true principle is that private Ell
It terprise should be permitted to carr
e on such public utilities under due reg
lation as to rates by proper authorit
10 rather than that. the governmer
st should itself conduct them. This pril
h chile favor because I do not think
O.. in accordance with the best public pc
le icy thus greatly to increase the bod
rs Of public servants. OF course, II
could be shown that telegraph servit
At could be furnished to the public at
It less price than 1t is now furnished
TO the public by telegraph companie
and with equal efficiency, the arg
a. ment might be a strong n In fav'
or Of the adoption of the proposition. B
IL I am not satisfied from any eviden'
a that II these properties were TAX
he over by the government they could
e. managed any more economically
of n more efficiently or that this won
ID enable the government to furnish sel
al zee at any smaller rate than the pt
,ir dc are now required to pay by priva
Ia companies"
,e, The report Of the Postmaster Gt
"a eral fs full Of statements Of chang
- a