Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-24
INCREASED POSTAGE
ADVOCATED BY TAFT
Continued from page one

should be removed as early as practical
bic. The business enterprises of the
publishers of periodicals, however, have
been built mp on the basis Of the pres
ent second class rate. and therefore ii
would be manifestly unfair to put into
immediate effect a large increase IN
postage.
That newspapers and magazines have
been potent agencies for the dissent
nation of public intelligence and have
consequently borne a worthy part in
the development of the country all
must admit. but 1t is likewise true that
the original purpose of congress in pro-
viding for them a subvention by way
Of nominal postal charges in considera-
ton of their value as mediums of pub
lie information ought not to prevent an
increase, because they are now not
only educational. but highly profitable.
There Is no warrant for the great dis
parity between existing postage rates
on periodicals and the cost of the serv-
ice the government performs for them.
The aggregate postal revenues for the
fiscal year 1911 were 1921, $40, S23. 60
derived mainly from the postage col
lected on the four classes of mail mat
ter. 1t is carefully estimated by the
postoffice department that the revenue
derived from man matter Of the first
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 and carriage and
that while second class matter en-
braces over IS per cent of the entire
weight of all the mail carried it never
theless yields little more than 8 per
cent Of the postal revenues.
Reviews Recommend atoms.
The recommendations Of the commits
sion as to the postage rates ON second
class mail are as follows:
F1rst.-The rate OF cents a pound on
copies mailed by publishers to subscribers,
to news agents and as sample copies and
by news agents to their subscribers or to
other news agents.
Second.-The rate of cent for ca al four
ounces for copies mailed by other than
publishers and news agents-that is. the
present transient rate.
Third.-The present free in county privi-
lege retained but not extended.
The commission also recommended
that the cent copy. rate for newspa-
pers other than weeklies and for peri
odicals not exceeding two ounces In
weight and the 2 cent a copy rate
for periodicals exceeding two ounces in
weight when mailed at city letter
carrier office for local delivery be abol-
ished.
As to the effect and adequacy Of the
proposed increase of cent a pound in
postage the commission says:
Such an increase will not, In the opinion
of the commission, bring distress upon the
publishers of newspapers and periodicals
or seriously interfere with the dissemina-
ton of useful news or. information. A
reasonable time should be allowed after
the rate is fixed before 1t Is put into effect.
While the new rate will be very far from
compromising the government for the car
riage and handling of second class matter,
1t will to some extent relieve the existing
burden and result In more equitable adj
justment of rates.
Suggests a Cost System.
The commission suggests that the de-
partment maintain an adequate cost
system so that the effect of the new
rates may be closely observed and
proper basis may be secured for the
consideration of any future proposals."
In these recommendations the post
master general and l heartily concur
and commend them to the early atten-
ton Of congress. The proposed in
crease of cent pound in the second
class postage rate believe to be most
reasonable and If sufficient time is
allowed before the change goes into
effect it should work little serious in
jury to the business of the periodical
publishers, while equalizing, at least in
a measure, the burdens of postal taxa
ton. WILLIAM ii. TAFT.