The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-06-24
ONE CENT LETTER
POSTAGE POPULAR

the attention of Congress, SO bills cali
Ing for the inauguration of a one cent
rate on local delivery letters having
been introduced.
Many newspapers throughout the
country are warmly advocating the
lower rate. and the Inauguration OF q
socalled zone" SYSTEM for the trans
portaiion OF periodical literature of all
kinds AZ the present time the great
bulk OF mail being carried distances
under second.elass rates IL furnished
by the magazine publishers Of the large
eastern cities, Train load after train
load Of magazines are sent out 10 sill
parts Of the country at a coat OF one
cent pound although II has been
estimated by postal experts that 1.
costs over eight cents a pound TO de-
liver such literature.
This, II Is claimed, Is manifestly un-
fair 60 the publishers OF newspapers In
local territories. who are required 90
pay the same rate for transportation
of their products IL In proposed. and
will become part OF the reimbursement
of postage rates when such are made.
that Fone system be established SO
that certain rate shall be charged for
all classes Of publication for the FIRST
iifiy milns. another for 80 10 l5tl miles.
another for $50 TO 300 mice. and 50 up
10 a haul which would extend across
the continent In this way the pub.
fishers Of big magazines would be
required 10 pay the government WHIST
II actually costs to transport their
product
Under the present rate the United
States mails transport such magazines
as Leslle's an average of 1000 miles al
the same rate they would charge a
newspaper for the average haul Of tifiy
miles This means large subsidy for
LeslIe's Weekly, amounting 10 about
100000 per ahnum. Some Of the other
magazines. having q much larger cir
eulaiion. benefit TO a much greater
degree. when II In considered that
LesIie's Weekly charges over $1,000 per
page per single lssne for liza adyertis.
Ing space, and that onehalf or more
OF the periodical is taken up with adj.
yertlsing, II hardly seems fair 10 users
OF letter postage and 20 newspaper
publishers that they ahould pay the
government a profit Of i00qt, when
none Of II In used to defray general
expenses Of the department, bat goes
instead 10 take care OF the deficit
created by the loss Incurred In dis.
tribuling these magazines al enc cent
pound. a rate which is almost Il
frankinE privilege
Newspapers which should properly
represent the territory In which they
are published. and carry the advertise
mants of the nationally advertised
products In their territories arc seldom
considered nowadays In The distrlbu
ton of big advertising appropriations.
The money goes rather 10 huge maga-
zine corporations which are growing
fabulously rich. aud which pay only
fraction OF the cost TO the government
for the service furnished them
The reason one large magazine basl.
ness Is paying profits may be noted Ia
the ease Of three trade publications
controlled by H. The actual value of
these publications in about s2aU.oGg.
yet, owing 10 advantages given by the
second-class rate and the resultant In
crease In their advertising, they we're
recently sold for 81 100000 II II d..
elared that upon It's latter valuation
they paid a stock dividend Of 5eat.
When IL Is realized that the publish
efs Of newspapers in the smaller towns
and cities scarcely more than break
even and make living from their pub
LEGATIONS, IL u not fair that the govern
men, should collect from these huge
corporations the cost Of service en
tailed This remarkable condition Of
affairs has been revealed by inyestiga
tions which have been made by the
National One Cent Letter Postage As
ISOLATION with headquarters 81 Cloye.
land. Ohio This association is seeking
10 secure a one cent letter rate and a
readiastmeni Of charges made on the
carrying Of see0ndclass mail which In
very largely furnished by the bis mag.
aEine publishers
II Is pointed out that IL rome sys-
TEN we're TO be applied the rate on
letter postage could be- lowered the
advertising placed ia the local news.
papers where IL belongs. aud the big
magazines required to share some of