Smyrna times., 1913-04-16
DEFINITE ACTION SOON
FOR ONE-CENT POSTAGE
POSTMASTER GENERAL 5URL.
SON INVESTIGATING COST
Examination Into Enormous Surplus
Created by First-Class Mail May
Result in One-Cent Letter Rate

Action on the part Of Postmaster
General Albert S. Burleson, involving
the appointment of a commission to
investigate the "actual financial,
physical and working condition of the
postal service" is regarded by busi-
ness men all over the country as the
initial step towards one cent letter
postage. Postmaster General Burle-
son indicates that there have been so |
many conflicting reports as to the
general conditions of the department |
that he has decided TO have a full and |
complete investigation made with a
view to determining the exact status |
of affairs. The commission is COM
posed of Daniel C. Roper, Joseph |
Stewart, A. NJ. DOckery and James
/. Biackslee. first, second, third and
fourth assistant postmaster general
respectively, and Merritt o. Chance.
chief clerk of the department. These
are the new officials just appointed
under the Wilson administration to
conduct the affairs of the postoffice
department.
Postoffice Now Realizing S65 100000
Now that the parcel post is in act
ual operation and bids fair to be ex-
tended during the next few years. it
is claimed by business men generally
that their demand for a one cent let
ter rate should be needed. They
point to the fact that the post Office
department is now realizing an enOr-
nous surplus, something like $685.
900. 600 per year. from the letter
mail Although letter mail con-
stitutes but fourteen per cent of the
revenue of the department it pays
about seventy FIVE percent of the rev.
enue received from all classes, and it
is evident that this is a decided dis
elimination against users of first class
or letter mail. One of the interest
ing features of the post Office depart
ment which will be Investigated is
the sO-called "blue tag system.
In September. 1911, the plan was
inaugurated. 1t covers that section
of the United States lying between
Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, St.
Louis and Kansas City and provides
that within this section. serond class
mail, particularly heavy magazine
mail, shall be hauled in freight cars.
A report from Postmaster Childs OF
, Kansas City indicates that the system
has been a great success so far as il
has been worked out. Reports fur.
! nished by Postmaster Childs indicate
that the saving on the small part oi
the whole mail that this portion GOV
y cred for a term of seventeen months
e was 1864, 995. so. Former Postmast
; er General Hitchcock, who recently
retired from office, was firm in tn,
belief that an immense saving could b.
effected throughout the coutry if thi.
: plan was followed. all large easter
magazine publishers required to dis
3 tribute their product in this manner
q The Curtis Publishing CO., of Phila
IS delphia, probably the largest period
, cal publishers in the world, ship ou
/ of Philadelphia by regular mail servic
:. every day. from to 10 fully loade
y cars stacked to the roof with mag
:. azines. These are carried at tn
s. rate Of one cent per pound or $50 pc
y ton. When shipped in this way the
may be carried for that ridiculou
sum. all the way from PHILADELPHIA
to California.
Letter Mail Costs Average of eAc ID
Letter mail. on the other hanC
cost its OrginatOrs an average (
es over "a cents per pound, because the
" are in the neighborhoOd of 45 piece
he including some postal cards, to Il
as pound. This means a cost of SIC
n; 800 per ton on the originator of lett
A. mail. as against $40 per ton for Il
I. big magazines published in the Eas
d; some Of which charge as high as $5, OF
g; page for advertisements. 1t is clair
n. ed that the loss TO the goverme
"a | NuEouku THIS AhGh VI DlbiutS5 ulGNAl
&C. is over $50, 900, 600 per year. sufii'
n ent to entirely eat up the surpl
To furnished by first class mail. II is
". investigate this entire problem wi
IN; a view to making recommendatio
I'd. for a suitable readjustment that {
E. commission will deal. Sentime
favor Of a one cent letter rate is NJ
strong throughout the country, accoi
!. ing officers Of the National One ca
1. letter Postage Association, which
-, its headquarters in Cleveland, q
- which is conducting a vigorous ca
' paign for the lower rate.
Ah
II A CARD