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

alteration of their value as mediums
Of public information ought not to
prevent an increase, because they are
now not only educational but highly
profitable. There is no warrant for
the great dispority between existing
postage rates on periO dicals and the
cost of the service the government per-
forms for them. The aggregate postal
revenues for the fiscal year 1911 were
$237,879,S23.60. derived mainly from
the postage collected on the four
classes of mail matter 1t is
carefully estimated by the post
Office department that the revenue
derived from mail matter OF the nrst
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 ana
carriage; and that while second class
matter embraces over IS per cent of
the entire weight of all the mail car
ried it, nevertheless, yields little more
than per cent of the postal reve
nues.
The Postal Commission.
The postal commission on second
class matter was appointed by Presi-
dent Taft following the controversy
caused by the postmaster generals
original recommendation for the in
crease in rates. The matter asas ia
ken UP by magazine publishers before
committees of congress and a sharp
issue was raised as to the correctness
Of the postOfice department figures.
Congress finally passed a joint resolu-
ton authorizing the appointment of
the commission which was made up of
Justice Charles E. Hughes, of the su-
preme 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 trans
IL,
greatly in excess of the postage paid
and taht an increase in the rate is not
only justified BY the facts, but is desir-
able.
The postal service is now, for the
first time in years, operated upon a
self sustaining basis, and in my judg-
ment this is wise policy; but it
should not be carried out at the eX-
pense of certain classes of mail mat
ter that pay revenue largely in excess
of their cost. It is not just that some
classes of mail should be eXOrbitantly
taxed to meet a deficiency caused by
other classes. the revenue from which
IS much below their ocst of handling
and carriage. Where such inequalities
exist they should be removed as early
as practical BILE
THE proposed Increase of cent a
pound in the second class postage
rates, I believe. to be most reason |
able and If sufficient time is allowed |
before the change goes into effect it |
the business of the periodical pub |
fishers, While equalizing at least in !
a measure, the burdens of postal tax |
alton"
Another suggestion of the commits |
sion, which was given the presidents |
approval would abolish the cent a |
copy rate for newspapers other than
weeklies when mailed at a city letter |
carrier Office for local delivery.
Opposes Government Ownership.
that he did not approve of Postmaster |
General Hitchcock's suggestion that |
the government buy and operate all /
telegraph lines as an adjunct of the |
postal system. Mr.. Taft said that if :
it could be shown that the public |
would benefit by receiving service at |
less price than is now paid he might |
think differently of the plan, but that |
ne was not convinced such would be
the effect
After referring to the practical wip-
ing out of the postal deficit and 9TH
er features of Mr.. Hitchcock's adj
transmitting the report to congress
said:
There is only one recommendation
In which cannot agree-that is one
which recommends that the telegraph |
lines in the United States should be
made a part of the postal system and |
operated in conjunction with the mail |
system. This presents question of ,
tiles which are now being conducted |
by private enterprise under franchises
from the government.
I believe that the true principle
is that private enterprise should be
permitted to carry on such public
utilities under due regulation as to
rates by proper authority rather than
that the government should itself |
conduct them. This principle I favor
because 1 do not think it in accord
ance with the best public policy thus
greatly to increase the body of public
servants.
Wants to Be Shown.
"Of course, if it could be shown
that telegraph service could be
furnished to the public at less price
than it is now furnished to the public
by telegraph companies, and with
equal efficiency, the argument might
be a strong one in favor of the adop-
ton of the proposition. But l am not
satisfied from any evidence that if
these properties We're taken over by
the government they could be man
aged any more economically or any
more efficiently or that this would en-
able the government to furnish service
at any smaller rate than the public
are now required to pay by private
The president found much. he said,
10 commend in Mr.. Hitehcock's de-
partm emit 7 cannot speak with too
great emphasis" he said, "of the i'm
DrOvement in the poStoffice depart
ment under the present management -
He showed that there was a surplus
Of S219,11S.12 at the end of the last
fiscal year compared with a deficit of
two years before. This
was not to be accounted for. the pres
dent pointed out, by reductions of
force or numbers of postofices or sal
aries but by scientific economy
Mr.. Taft approved the adoption of
4 parcels post recommended by Mr.