The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-11-29
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.
POSTAL RATES MAY BE RE-
DuCED on LOCAL Delivery
Bill to be Presented at Next Ses-
sion Of Congress for Readjust-
ment of Postal Rates

Washington, Nov. q, 1916.-The
ways are now being creased for the
launching of the movement for the
REIMBURSEMENT of the postal rates in
the next session Of Congress. This
problem was to have been taken up
in the last session But had to be de-
ferred on account of the considera-
ton required by railway mail pay.
Since this has been disposed of the
committees are prepared to take up
the matter of placing the various
postal rates on a more equitable ba-
sis.
A zone system of rates for second
class matter is being prominently
urged to take the place of the pre-
sent flat rate which was adopted
nearly forty years ago. The present
rate has been for some time regard
ed as discrimination against the
newspapers in favor of the great
national magazines. Like the parcel
post the proposed zone rates would
be based on the length of the haul.
The postal committees have been
beseiged by petitions bearing mil
lions of names and several hundred
thousand letters from individuals
urging a readjustment of postal
rates with a view of making posi-
bic one cent letter postage. A sur
vey of the situation indicates that
sufficietn changes will be made in
the various rates to permit the
granting of cent rate on local
delivery letters in the next session
of Congress.
Chairman Moon of the House Pos
tai Committee, today said; Il think
that the committee will take up this
second-class mail matter at the next
session and press it into a conclu-
sion at once. While I cannot speak
for the Committee, this is my de-
sire in the matter. do not know
what kind of a bill we will pass,
whether it will have a zone feature
attached to it or not. This view
has been presented frequently in
years past, and sometimes received
favor and sometimes not. AS to
what shape the legislation will be in
l am not able to say, but I am sure
the Committee will give it the best
possible shape in the public inter-
est"
Senator Clapp, of Minnesota, said:
Legislation creating postage rate
of one cent on local delivery letters
should be enacted by Congress with
out any further delay. In view of
the nervous condition of business
throughout the country believe the
reduction of the local letter rate
from 2 cents to one cent would
serve a very valuable purpose by
stimulating the commercial situation
to more satisfactorily level"
Congressman Stafford, of Wiscon-
sin, one of the leading postal experts
in the House, has given extensive
study to the question of postal re-
venues and he firmly believes that
there is even large profit to the
Government with the reduced rates
as provided by his bill for cent To-
cal delivery letters. He said that
with the Inauguration of one cent
local delivery postage the merchants
and people generally, who use the
mails so frequently for local delivery,
will be induced to utilize the mails
still more by reason of the reduc-
ton of the rate"
Congressman Royal C. Johnson, of
South Dakota, ''The advocates of a l
cent letter postage have succeeded in
educating the patrons of our postal
service to the realization that the
existing rates are far from being e.
quitable and that the time is oppor-
tune for change. It seems almost
certain that the members of the
House will have an opportunity of
voting on a proposition to extend
the American people a cheaper rate
on local delivery letters in the next
session of Congress"