The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-25
CENT POSTAGE
w. A. L. Thompson Sends Out
Material for Campaign.
Means Millions to Letter Writ
ers of the United States.

A statement, signed by W. A l.
Thompson of Topeka. is part of the
publicity material sent out by the Ma
tional One Cent Letter Postage asso-
citation Mr.. Thompson is an officer
of the association, which has its
headquarters in Cleveland, o.
Now that election is over and the
question of general political issues
has been settled. let's get down to
business again and to something for
the people of the country.
zone of the most practical benefits
which the government at Washington
could confer upon the people gener-
ally would be the passage of one
cent letter postage law, a boon which
would mean a saving of many mil
lions of dollars to the letter users of
this country annually.
ut is estimated by postal experts
that the letter writers of the United
States are paying over $75,000,0o0
year to the postoffice department in
excess of the cost of carrying first
class mail Last year the total ex-
pense of the department was nearly
$500, 100000. Letter mail comprised
about / 3 per cent of the tonnage, but
paid over 70 per cent of the revenue,
showing a profit from letter mail of
over s75,0OO,0OO. Every postal expert
who has carefully studied the subject
is convinced that the government can
afford to give One-cent letter postage
at once. This is on the assumption
that business under a lower mail rate
would increase enormously, bringing
in sufficient additional revenue to off
set the lower cost.
Millions Represented.
This is not a movement of big bust
ness men, mail order houses or per-
sons interested in securing something
for nothing 1t is being backed by ar
organization known as the National
One Cent Letter Postage association,
with headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio,
which has a membership of about &c.
600 users of letter postage, located in
every state in the Union. who are
aware of the conditions that exist, and
are insistent that a change be made
at once. Back of the movement for
one cent letter postage are hundreds
of associations of a local and national
character, representing millions of
members.
There are many reasons why let
ter users are entitled to a one cent
rate. Among them may be men
tioneds
Because government is making
100 per cent profit on letter postage.
Because the department was estab-
lished primarily for the distribution of
letters.
Because it was never intended that
letter mail should pay government
profit.
Because one-half of our letter post
age is an overtax.
Because this tax is not used for
the general expenses of the govern
ment, but is used to take care of de-
ficits caused by other branches of the
service.
Because it is wrong to tax one
class for the benefit of another
Because Postmaster General Burle-
son and his predecessors have said
that one-cent letter postage will pay.
Because we have been entitled to
one-cent letter postage for the past
twenty years.
Experts who have Investigated pos
tai conditions in this country recognize
the fact that the rates have not been
lowered simply because the letter
users of this country have not insisted
on readjustment of rates on a fair
basis. The postoffice department was
originally organized and for time
conducted on the assumption that each
class of mail should pay costs of car
riage. Gradually this program has
been diverted and a condition has
come about whereby letter users pay
huge oVertaX to the government each
year, while other classes of mail fail
to pay the full amount which it costs
the government for transportation and
delivery.
Nothing congress could do would
be more popular or more just than the
inauguration of a one-cent letter post
age rate at this time