The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-22
Postmaster General Said tn
Favor Cheap Postage.
Change May Be Brought About
Soon, He Says.
MEASURES IN CONGRESS-
Two Bills Call for Change by
July 1, This Year.
Reduction VIII Defray Cost of
p. o. Operation.

Cleveland. o.. May 22.-The National
One-cent Letter Postage association
gave out the following today:
Postmaster General Albert S. Burle-
son, recently appointed by President
Wilson to take charge of the postal af-
fairs of the United States. is heartily
in favor of one cent letter postage. lie
so announced himself to a delegation
representing the National One-cent
Letter Postage association which wait
ed on him in Washington a few days
ago.
Il am heartily in favor of one cent
letter postage" declared Postmaster
General Burleson, who went on to ex-
plain that he hoped to bring it about
just as soon as revenues of the de-
partment could be adjusted.
The postmaster general told the ad-
vocates of one cent letter postage that
he had long believed that their con-
tention was right. He states, however.
that as head of the department it was
his business to see that sufficient reve-
nue. was raised to meet all expenses
and while he admitted that there was a
big surplus received from first class
mail each year he added that it would
be necessary to make such an adjust
ment of rates as would put the depart
ment on a business basis.
Postmaster General Burleson is
strongly in favor of putting the postal
department on an efficient basis. He
also favors adequate compensation for
postal employees, and such a readjusu-
ment of rates as will permit the opera
ton of the department in business
like manner.
1t is the purpose of the present post
office administration to establish civil
service rules throughout the depart
ment, applying eventually even to first
class postmasters.
Bills in Congress.
Senator Theodore E. Burton from
Ohio, and Representative Charles L.
Bartlett from Georgia, have re-intro-
duced one cent letter postage bills IN
the senate and house of representa-
tives- These bills call for the inaugur-
alton of one cent letter postage by July
1 of this year.
Senator Burton has long championed
the battle for one cent letter postage.
while Representative Bartlett has IA
vored the cheaper rate for many years.
A strong advocate for the lower rate
has appeared in the person of Hon.
James ]. -ritt of Asheville, N. c. Mr..
Britt recently retired from the position
of third assistant postmaster general.
Upon being asked for his opinion of one
cent letter postage he expressed it in
no uncertain tone.
'I am heartily in favor" declared
Mr.. Britt, "of the immediate reduction
of letter postage from two cents an
ounce to one cent per ounce for these
reasons:
'It will promote general intelligence
and will improve the social relations
of the people.
"It will advance the business inter
ests of the country by lowering the
cost of communication.
1.-The rate of one cent an ounce for
letters. with the increase of mail-mat-
ter which the reduction will induce.
will defray the cost of handling and
But few public questions are Of such
vast concern to the great body of the
American people, and earnestly hope
It may receive the early and serious
attention of the congress-"