The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31
RICHMOND PEOPLE
WANT LOWER RATE
Join in National Campaign to
Have Letter Postage Re-
duced to One Cent.
WILL URGE CONGRESS TO ACT
Alvin NJ. Smith, Leading Move
ment Locally, Explains Why
Rate Should Be Cut.

Business men of Richmond are enlist
Ing in campaign for l-cent letter
postage. For ,most among those In
this city who are Interested in the new
movement is Alvin 81. Smith, president
OF the Smith-Courtney Company. Mr..
Smith Is urging his; friends and bust
ness acquaintances to affiliate them
sslves with the work and 10 become
members OF the National One-Cent Let
tor Postage ASSOCIATION. which now
has membership in nearly every
state in the Union.
Already effectivs wor:, mas been done
and in the forthcoming investIgalion
OF the manner In wnicn the Pos L-CInct
department Is being conducted the ola
GERS OF the association propose 10 take
an active part, convincing the .nves,i-
gators that the business mea OF the
country are entitled 10 an Immediate
reduction on nrst-ciass matter
The association, which wls fos.ued
several months ago. has for its specific
purpose the reduction or tho rate VI,
iirst-cIass mall matter from cent
TO cent, thus cutting exactly in hal.
the present charge. That there are
plenty or reasons why thi5 should 1t
done, Mr.. Smith AYERS. and turnishe.
facts TO substantiate his claim.
Dig Local SIeinbcrship.
Efforts are now beng mad. tn build
up good membership OF the assocla-
tion in this city. AT the next session
OF Congress active steps are 20 b /.
taken to pres sthrough bill providing
for l-cent letter rate, a reform wnlch
VIII benefit the big business houses In
TINS city TO the extent II many thous-
ands OF dollars annually. Already e
number of local Trims have anliialeo
with the association, but IL is eXpecteo
that the membership here will become
much stronger within the next few
weeks.
The big business houses II the
United states are contributing many
millions each year to the PGst-Otilcc
Departments surplus on its h:st-ciass
mail matter, While rtha second ella SIS
matter is being carried at an enormous
loss" said Mr.. Smith yesterday. 'Ir.
the past ten years the department made
pront OF about s5oc.0JV.cO0 81 first
class postage, losing in the same PERIOD
about S6ooYV0 900 on second class mat
ter. The PostmasterG General has
shown that the government received Q
revenue OF about 81 Cents & found Tor
letters, about forty letters being count
ed TO the pound.
Front on Ffrsf-Clnss Nall.
During the year 1909 the .lront ON
first-class letter mail was over S5S,up0.
600. while last year it was r!y s59,-
100000. In 1909 the loss on the second
class mail matter was more than s6i.,
ohU.U0p. while last year Il aggregated
about S7Q.VO0.0 Geo. Is this r.;ht?
leave IL TO business llen them: elves t.
decide. Every time you use a 2-cent
stamp il means the paying OF bonuf
of cent to users of the second ella SIS
mailing privileges offered b. the Post.
ONCE Department
Legislation looking towards l.
cent letter postage rate has been In
PRODUCED tn Congress by senator Tn, o.
dore Il. Burton, Of Ohio. who offered
u bill in the Senate. and Representa-
tive John w. Weeks. OF Massachn-
sets. who presented similar one in
the House.
Senator Burton, Known throughout
the United States for his advocacy
Of important river and harbor iegis-
lation and chairman Of the United
states Senate Committee OH Expendi-
lures in the Treasury Department. has
paien in the Senate for the passage
OF the l-cent postage bill. Repre-
sentative John w Weeks. of NLassa-
chuset:s. viii! look after the Interest
Of the bill in the House.
July / is the date set for the inau-
Guration OF the me- rate. provided
Congress introduces the bill at this
session.
NO opposition has arisen TO the
movement for l-cent postage. Officers
OF the association say that IL the
lower rate is not inaugurated within
q short time II will be because OF
selfish interests which formulate out
side"