The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-20
One.Ccnt Postage.

!, One-cent letter postage is attracting
the attention OF Congress, fifty bills
calling for the Inauguration of Il one
cent rate on local delivery letters hav-
ing been introduced.
Many newspapers throughout the
country are warmly advocating the
lower rate. and the Inauguration OF a
so-called zone" system for the trans
portation Of periodical literature Of
all kinds. AT the present time the
great bulk OF mail being carried dis
tances under second class rates is fur
nished by the magazine publishers of
i the large eastern cities. Train load
after train load of magazines Is sent
out to all parts OF the country at
cost Of one cent a pound. although 1t
has been estimated by postal experts
that It costs over eight cents pound
to deliver such literature.
This. 1t Is claimed. is manifestly I'M
fair to the publishers of newspapers
in local territories, who are required
to pay the same rate for transporta-
ton of their products. 1t is proposed
and will become part of the readjust-
ment OF postage rates when such are
made. that zone system be establish
ed so that certain rate shall he
charged for all classes OF publication
for the first fifty miles, another for
| fifty to $50 miles, another for $50 to
300 miles, and SO up to haul which
would extend across the continent.
In this way the publishers of big mag
azines would be required to pay the
government what 1t actually costs to
transport their product.
Under the present rate the United
States mails transport such maya
zines as Leslie's an average Of 1000
miles at the same rate they would
charge a newspaper for the average
haul OF fifty miles. This means a
large subsidy for Leslie's Weekly,
amounting to about 100000 per an-
mum. Some Of the other magazines,
having much larger circulation, ben
eft to a greater degree. When it is
considered that Leslie's Weekly
charges over $1,000 per page per
single issue for its advertising space,
and that one-half or more OF the per-
iodical is taken up with advertising,
1t hardly seems fair to users OF letter
postage and to newspaper publishers
that they should pay the government
a profit of one hundred percent, when
none of it is used to defray general
expenses of the department. but goes
instead to take care OF the deficit that
is created by the loss incurred in dis
tributing these magazines at one cent
n pound. rate which is almost a
franking privilege.
! Newspapers which should properly
represent the territory in which they
: are published, and carry the advertise.
ments OF the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
products in their territories are sci.
dom considered nowadays in the dis.
tribution Of big advertising appropria.
lions. The money goes rather to huge
magazine corporations, which are
growing fabulously rich. and which
pay only fraction OF the cost tc
the government for the service fur.
nished them.
The reason one large magazine bus.
mess is paying profits may be noted
In the case OF three trade publications
controlled by it. The actual value oil
these publications is about 100000
yet, owing TO advantages given By
the second class rate and the result.
ant increase in their advertising. they
were recently sold for $l,5OOOO0. II
is declared that upon its latter valu.
alton they paid a stock dividend OF
4 fifty per cent.
When it is realized that the publish.
ers Of newspapers in the smaller towns
and cities scarcely more than break
even and make a living from their
publications, Is II not fair that the
government should collect from these
huge corporations the cost Of service
onta!led? This remarkable condition
of affairs has been revealed by inves.
legations which have been made by
the National One Cent Letter Postage
Association, with headquarters a
Cleveland. o. This association is seek,
ing to secure a one-cent letter rate
and reimbursement OF charges made
on the carrying Of second class mai
which is very largely furnished b,
the big magazine publishers.
II is pointed out that II zonc sys
TEN we're to be applied the rate OF
letter postage could be lowered. tn,
advertising placed in the local news
: papers where 1t belongs. and tho hi;
magazines required to share some o
their fancy profits with the govern
. ment. which is now carrying thei