The Cairo bulletin., 1913-08-20
FIRST BANK JOINS
F|GH1F0RLOWFR
RATE IN POSTAGE
Urges Local Business Men to Give
Their Support to National
Movement.
PENNY POSTAL BILL TO BE
REINTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Business men OF this city are
pleased with the determined cam
paign which is being made TO Sc
cure one cent letter postage. Many
are Joining the National One Cent
Letter Association, and are assist
ing the work for the lower rate.
Bills are to be re-introduced in
congress, and very energetic efforts
will be made by the association TO
secure the passage.
The First Bank 4 Trust company
is taking an active part in the
campaign, and is urging local bust
ness men to give their support 10
the movement.
I'VE have been entitled to lower
rate on letter postage for many
years" declared an officer OF the
bank
mo concerted effort has pre-
viously been made to secure it. The
National One Cent Letter Postage
Association has now taken up the
work and has several thousand
members scattered all over the
union. This association has for it's
sole purpose, the cutting down Of
the present exorbitant rate for let
ter postage.
"In 1S4s, letters of one-halt
ounce or less, We're carried between
New York City and Buffalo, dis
tance of fewer than five hundred
miles for twenty-five cents. Similar
high rates prevailed elsewhere. The
act of March Bird, 1883, established
the two cent rate which is still in
vogue, despite the fact that the
postoffice department makes enorm-
Gus profits from this class of mail
every year.
"In 1912, over 100000 pieces
of first class mail were carried by
The postofice department. The cost
of handling and carriage, accord
ing to the department was about
$1l000,000. The revenue collect
ed was about $4,000, goo, leaving
a clear profit to the government OF
aboue $70,000,000. a proportion
ate profit has been made for each
year of the last score.
Business Held Up.
business men of the United
States are being required to pay
his exorbitant profit. furnishing
he department with a large yearly
surplus over the cost Of its service.
Il was never intended that letter
postage should pay profit. The
lolicy of the depar,mest as outlined
~ the postmaster general still con
nues to be that cost of service rem
dered shall be paid by each class of
users of the mails, and that only
ost shall be collected from any
lass.
AT the present rate, the depart
ment is receiving on first class mail
A revenue OF over eighty-four cents
per pound, equal to $3.50 per ton,
profit of sc per cent. |
First class mail supplies under IA
ger cent of the total tonnage of the
nails. yet ii is required to pay rs
yer cent OF the total revenue. 1t
tas been clearly demonstrated that
, one-cent letter rate will amply |
BAY.
THE National One Cent Letter
Postage association is conducting an |
active campaigs to secure this lower |
ate. Many business firms in this
,ity are already affiliated with this |
organization, and we hope that |
more will join as soon as they learn
lbout the unreasonable charges |
low being made for carriage OF let
ers. The association has its head |
'uarters at Cleveland, Ohio, because |
he present executive officers live
n that city. Mr. Charles VIM. Bur-
'ows is president OF the association.
nd Mr.. George T. Mcintosh, in ad-
iition to being secretary-treasurer
5 managing the campaign
I'VE urge every business man to
ffiliate himself with THIS organi-
alton 1t means that letter post
ge will be cut is two as soon as the
'attle for one cent letter postage
S won. We have everything in
mr. favor, and there is no reason
Why we should not secure one
ent rate at an early date"