The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-02-22

rIoEimoleIT ~ Cents Q round' while
the cost Qt lree ia conuty and lrlnsie
matter remains as forner.1 -namHig.
each q 1prr1 xlmafeiy cents pound
since comm On is det rniined
that the cost q handling add trans
porting second clhs mai approx
imateiy Us cents for matter paid
at the pond rate and approximately s
sent zach for free "a county aud tran
EienG matter without taking into nc
count the cost Of the general postohiee
service and certain questionable items
Of expense, it Is apparent that the ag-
gregate cost OF all service performed
by the postal establishment in connec-
tion with this class Of mail 4atter Is
considerably above that amount.
Postal Service Self Sustaining.
The postal service is now, for the
first time IN years, operated upon self
sustaining basis. and in my Judgment
this is afwfse policy, but it should not
be carried out at the expense Of certain
classes Of mail matter that pay ,reye-
nue. largely in excess of their cost. 1t
Is not Just that some classes Of mail
should be exorbitantly taxed to meet 1
deficiency caused by other classes, the
revenue from which is much below
their cost of handling and carriage.
Where such inequalities exist they
should be removed as early as prach-
cable, The business enterprises of the
publishers of periodicals, however,
have been built up on the basis Of the
present second class rate, and there
fore It would be manitestly unfair to
put into immediate effect a large In
crease in postage. ~. 4
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 It is'Iikewise true that
the original purpose oficdngress IN pro-
! yfding foritAem a subvention by way
Of nominal postal charges in copsIdefa..
ton Of their value as mediums, Of pubs
lie information ought not to prevent an
increase because they are now not
only, educational but highly profitable.
II There Is no warrant FOR the great dis
parts. 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 $o37 .sT9. S23.60,
derived mainly from the postage col
lected on the four classes of nail mat
Ter. 1t is carefully estimated by the
postofice department that the revenue
derived from mail 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 65 per cent of the entire
weight Of all the mail carried 1t never
theless Yields little more than 8 per
cent Of the postal revenues q -
Reviews Rseonhendatfons.t - 9
Tie Recommendations of the commits.
sion IS to the postage rates on second
class anlattAre as:fpIlows: ys9~ -: "a
First, Fnte .of 9eeeatssa pound on
copies ma ny publishers TO subscribers,
70 news q q salgl as sample copies and
by news 10 their subscribers or TO
Eotaet1lsR senlsis
Second rate bf1 cent for each four
ounce ~ pics pnailed by other than
pub isheEs med news aGents-that Is, the
5present I'D qsiS6t rate. 9 5G3 - d,
Il1trt, IT present free in county prIvI-
aege Tetains but not extended.
The commission also recommended
Ettlliat the cent copy rate for newspa.r
pers otheE chm Yeek1ies and for peri!
edIcaIs ndt exceeding two ounces in;
weight and the q GENT copy rate for
petfodieplq exceeding two ounces in
weight when mailed ut a city letter
carFiefs Office for local delivery, be
abolished.tf
Asto the effect and adequacy of the
proposed Increase of / cent 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 It Is put into
effect. While the new rate will be far
from compromising the government for
the carriage and handling OF second class
matter, 1t VIII to some extent relieve the
existing burden and result in a more
equitable adjustment Of rates.
Suggests acost System.
The commission suggests, that the
department. maintain an adequate
cost system, so that the effect of the
new rates may be closely observed and
a proper basis may be secured for the
consideration Of any future proposals.
In these recommendations the post
master general and heartily concur
and commend them to the early atten.
ton Of congress. The proposed In
crease of / cent a.pound in the second
class postage rate believe TO be
most reasonable. and If sufficient time
is allowed before the change goes into
effect 1t should work little serious in
tury to the business of the periodical
49,