The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-15

1
Islands be at once taken over and
operated by the post ofiiee depart
Iment. This recommendation Is based
on an exhaustive investigation which
disclosed that the conditions in these
Territories are generally such as to
favor the change. A large part Of
the property involved is already gov
eminent owned and operated In Alas
ka by the war. department and In
Porto Rico by the insular government
The services are SO detached geog-
rphicaily as to preclude complexities
relationship with neighboripg sys-
tens and are yet SUFFICIENT in extent
TO afford valuable experimental
demonstration for the postal service
looking to the administration eyentu.
ally OF q complete national service
This action will have the effect Of
Strengthening the national govern
ment In Its outlying territories, and
is especially recommended because OF
the expediency Of taking over the
private ownerships before elaborate
and costly extensions and duplica-
tions Of service have been built up.
Defining the general policy he has
pursued, Mr.. Burleson says:
THE service has been administer
ed for the convenience OF the public,
not for profit; to promote efficiency
by standardizlng and simplifying
procedure; to recognize 1t and elimi-
nate paitisanship; to extend service
wherever present or prospective re-
turns justify; to reduce rates in so
far as proves consistent with general
fiscal necessity; and to provide all
communities and all sections OF the
country. as far as practicable, with
uniform service.
THE fact that the government
exercises monopoly over the re-
ceipt, transmission and delivery OF
mail carriers an obligation to perform
this function for all its citizens;
hence the postal service may not be
operated wholly upon the lines Of
private enterprise. Whether or not
service shall be granted or extensions
authorized are questions which, as
they arise in a particular case, should
not be determined entirely with re-
spect to revenue consideration. Yet
| it is equally the duty Of the depart
ment to apply the mechanical and
administrative economies which prl-
vate business enterprises deyelopes.
and which inventive genius from time
to time offer. The maximum OF ser
vice at the minimum OF expense is
the proper rule to govern public busi-'
ness.
Million Pounds Newspapers.
The report declares newspapers
and periodicals handled In 1914 un-
der the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
rate, totaled over a million pounds
an increase OF .2.94 per cent oyer the
preceding year, with a resultant
drain on postal revenues, that "emj
phasizes the necessity Of taking some
steps in the direction of readjusting
the rates on second class mail"
I'm my last annual report" Mr.
Burleson says, the hope was e1-
pressed that Congress would amend
the existing laws and raise the rate
on second class matter In accordance
with the recommendation OF the
commission created in 1911 under a
joint resolution Of Congress to inves-
tigate the subject. which found the
cost of handling and transporting
second class matter, exclusive Of GER
tain Expenditures concerning which
exact information was not at hand,
to be approximately six cents a
pound, and recommended that the
postage rate thereon be increased
from one cent pound to two cents a
pound. In order to renew attention
to the matter the department in JAN
uary last addressed letter to the
joint committee Of Congress before
which the question OF proper rates
of postage on second class matter
has been pending for more than two
years, in which 1t was recommended
THAT the rate. on publications issued
less frequent than weekly. and on
weekly publications other than news
papers, be increased from one cent
pound to two cents pound, leaving
for future determination an addition
al increase IL same should be found
necessary or desirable.
1.-THE distinction made between
newspapers issued as frequently as
once a week and other publications is
believed to be ineaccord with the long
established policy Of Congress.
Further reason why the read5ust-
| ment OF postage rates On Secuuu
class matter should begin with pub
IIications other than newspapers is
found in the greater length of the
average haul OF such publications
and the consequent greater cost OF
their transportation.
| No Report Made.
Cup to the present time the joint
committee has made no report or
Recommendation on the subject. Un.
It'll some such action shall be taken to
readjust rates on second class mat
ter no serious consideration can BIS
given to plans for revising and reduc-
ling rates on first class mail"
Discussing the question Of rail-
way compensation. the report says It
lis believed the enactment Of the
House bill, pending In the Senate.
which provides for compensation on
a space basis, will conclude a long
and vexatious controversy over rail-
road mail rates and inaugurate a
plan Of adjustment which will be en-
i tirely fair to the railroad companies
and be most economical and advant-
lageous in the administration Of the
postal service.
r.