The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-27
ARRANGING FOR
REIMBURSEMENT
OF P. 0. Rates
Second Glass Matter Will
Get Attention at Next
Congress Session.

Washington, Nov. 27.-The ways
are now being creased for the launch
ing Of the movement for the re-
adjustment of postal rates in the next
session Of Congress- This problem
was to have been taken up in the
last session but had to be deferred
on account Of the. consideration re-
quired by railway mail pay. Since
this has been disposed Of the com
mittees are prepared to take up the
matter Of placing the various postal
rates on a more equitable basis
A zone system Of rates for second
class matter Is being prominently
urged to take the place Of the present
fiat rate which was adopted nearly
40 years ago, The present rate has
for some time been regarded as a
discrimination against the news
papers 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
besieged by petitions bearing millions
of names and several hundred thous-
and letters from individuals urging a
reimbursement Of postal rates with a
view Of making possible one cent let
ter postage, A survey Of the situa-
ton indicates that sufficient changes
will be made in the various rates to
permit the. granting Of a one cent
rate on local dslivery letters in the
next session of Congress
Chairman Moon of the House Pos
tai Committee, to-day said: II think
that the Committee will take up this
second-class mail matter at the next
session and press it to a conclusion at
once. While I cannot speak for the
Committee, this is my desire in the
matter. I do not know what kind OF
bill we will pass, whether IT will
have a zone feature attached to 1t
or not This view has been present
ed frequently in years past, and
sometimes received favor and some
times not. AS to what shape the leg
islation will be in I am not able to
say, but I am sure the Committee
will give it the best possible shape in
the public interest
Commenting on the proposed
changes in the rates on letters, SEN
ator Weeks, of Mass, formerly chair
man Of the House Postal Committee
and now a member Of a similar Com
mittee in the Senate, said: 1.-The gov
eminent is making large profit from
first class mail, just how much, 1t
is hard to say, but it must be nearly
one cent Of every two paid for each
stamp placed on letter. And the
profit derived on letters for delivery
in the same city or town in which
they are mailed must be even great
er. In view of this condition, I be-
lieve that Congress should take up
the matter of more equitably adjust
ing the rater. of postage"
Congressman Ernest w. Roberts,
Of Massachusetts, takes the stand
that "any encouragement that can be
extended business by the government,
without injury to the individual,
should be done with as little delay as
possible. Congress could greatly i'm
prove the situation by reducing the
rate Of postage from two cents to one
cent on local delivery letters, with
out any drain on the public exchequ-
err"
EVERY patron Of the postal SER
vice will appreciate a one cent rate
on drop letters because Of the great
benefit to be derived by individuals,
business establishments, banks,
churches, fraternities,- clubs and. in
fact, all forms of business, social and
domestic life,'' said Representative
Joseph Walsh, Of Massachusetts.
"And further the reduction will mean
no falling off in the revenues, as it is
generally regarded that the volume OF
mail will practically be doubled i'm
mediately upon the installation of the
new rate"