The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-02-14
STRONG DEMANDS MADE
FOR CENT LETTER POSTAGE
Campaign Being Waged For Reduc,
ton in Letter Postage Rate
Double Cost of Transportation

be the next live issue effecting the post
Office department at Washington, &C.
cording to Senator Theodore E. Burton
of Ohio, who is leading the campaign to
secure lower letter rate.
A new one cent letter postage bill has
been introduced by Senator Burton in
the senate and Rep. John W. Weeks in
the house, and active steps are being
taken to promote its passage. The till
provides for one cent rate by July of
this year.
"Without doubt the time has arrived
when the people Of the United States
are entitled to one cent letter postage
declares Senator Burton. 1.-THE present
two cent rate has been in existence
since 1883, and no important changes
have been made since that date, despite
the fact that the population OF the
country has increased immensely, and
there has been an astonishing increase
in the amount of letter communication
between our people.
THE most important reason why
citizens of the United States are en-
titled to one cent letter postage is the
fact that although we are charged two
cents each for the carriage of letters, it
actually costs only about cent apiece
for the government to handle them.
This results in the accumulation of a
surplus of over $4,000 600 each year on
first class letter mail.
1.-The post Office department was
never defended to be other than self.
supporting. The government is entitled
to sufficient compensation for the actual
cost involved in carrying first class
postage, but any rate which rolls UP so
enormous a surplus, is nothing less
than tax upon the users of postage
stamps throughout this great country.
"In 1S43, the rate of postage on a
letter weighing one.half ounce or a
fraction thereof, carried from the city
of New York to Buffalo. a distance of
less than 500 miles, was twenty-five
cents. On October l, 1883, the two
cent rate became operative on letters
weighing half an ounce or fraction
thereof. This rate, with slight changes
has existed for thirty years.
'In the meantime, the correspond
ence of the country has increased enor
mously and transportation facilities
have improved in proportion. There is
no question but that the government
can carry letters for less than one
cent, and make profit.
For the fiscal year ending June 80
1912, the total government receipts
from first class mail were about STU,
100000 of which amount aboutS70, 900, 00
is estimated to have been clear profit Il
the department, thus demonstrating
that the lower rate, which would vastl,
stimulate the growth of this class o
mail, with resultant further increas
of revenue therefrom, would ampl,
compensate the government, particula
ly as no reduction in postage on posta
cards is contemplated.
II have introduced in congress, bill
providing for the Inauguration OF on
cent letter ratei on July |, next. Thl
have done upon the insiStent deman
a of many thousands of people OF a
classes throughout the entire country
i An organization known as the Nation'
4 One Cent Letter Postage Association
with headquarters at Cleveland, Obi
has been formed to support the NOV
" ment.
Il 1.-THE immense profits made on FIR
class letters are a direct tax on ever
FL person who writes letter. That tn
view of the situation is reasonable I
s one can doubt. In no other departmel
B of the government does such stu
s ton exist-the reaping OF an abnorm
/ profit from a public service which
supposed to be merely self'supportin
Although all letters pay two cents
piece, only a very small portion weil
the full ounce permitted. They actual
average over forty to the pound al
hence nav at a rate of about $3.50 p
u ton. which is an unwarranted charl
b iorstransportation in these days. OF ca
B communication between cities, stat
Z and continents. First class mall su
niles only IA per cent Of the total to
5 mage of the mail, yet it pays at =
present time rs per cent OF the to1
revenue. .;so
\ "Charles William Burrows, preside
and GtMae T. Mcintosh, secretar
treasurer of the National One Ce
letter Postage Association, who nd
made an exhaustive study OF pos
rates, extending over period OF ma
"a wears, were among the first to pro
d That the present rate is extortlona
IL, ,,ao,lo NJ tho country q