Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-02-11

has Its headquarters at Cleveland.
The organization, which has repre-
sentatives in all the cities and towns
throughout the United States is
working aggressively toward the Sc
curing of lower rate on first class
mail matter, which includes all let
tiers.
Business conditions, which are inn
proving throughout the entire United
States, would be further helped by a
lowering of the present rate on first
class mail natter" declared the a.
'bove in statement yesterday, which
he issued in connection with the cam
paign for the lower postage rate.
This campaign is being Loyalty sup
ported by many business men in this
city.
a have been astonished at some Of
the revelations which have been made
in connection with the way the var
ious classifications of mail are being
handled at Washington and the fact
that business men generally are be-
ing taxed for the carrying of mail
matter At the present time the
United States Government is making
profit of over $70,000,000 per year
-on first class mail matter and at the
same time it is losing more than that
amount on second class mail. The
post office statistics show that the let
ter mail nets the Government more
than eighty cents per pound, or more
than $1,000 per ton, while magazine
mail is carried at the rate of one
cent per pound or only $40 per ton.
This is rank discrimination and poor
business policy.
"Users of letter mail pay twice as
much for the service as the govern
ment pays, and the magazine pub
fishers at the same time are paying
one eighth the cost of the service,
for it has been demonstrated on good
authority that magazine publishers
mail, on which the mailing rate is one
cent pound really costs the govern
ment over eight cents pound to de-
liver at it's destination.
'SThe United States post office de-
partment is the biggest individual
business in the world, and it should
follow in the footsteps of other big
corporations in working out efficient
business methods. No large manu-
featuring or mercantile establishment
would permit one department to pay
double the cost of service and at the
same time allow another department
to pay one eighth Of the cost of ser
vice.
'sThis is primarily the reason that
the campaign for one cent letter
postage is being conducted through
out the United States. We want e
quality in the mail rates-nothing
else. In mere justice to the letter
writing public we are entitled to a
one cent letter rate at this time, and
if sufficient pressure is brought to
bear on Congress, am convinced
that we can secure such a rate. Garry
first class mail approximately at cost
and there would be no further COM
plant.
''In the annual report Of Postmas-
ter General Burleson, issued few
days ago, a surplus in the depart
ment was shown No effort, how
ever, was made to analyze the gen
eral receipts and expenditures with
view Of showing the real conditions
as to first and second class mail and
the amounts charged, or The actual
cost to the government for transport
ing it.
q wish to draw the attention Of
locsl business men to the diligent
efforts which are being put forth BY
the National One Gent Letter POST
age Association to secure this much
needed reform. only by co-opera-
gioa, through such an organization as
this can such an orga nization be OBJ
tained, for the magazine publishers
of this country are banded together
to fight any effort which would mean
tie suppression of the immense sub
sidy now granted them each year.
We feel that there is but one result I
that can come. from the present cam
paign and that is the Inauguration Of
3 one cent rate for all letter mail, !
and it will come just as soon as the
business men of this country join
heartily in demanding it."