Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-09
ASKS 0BE-CENT RATE
FOR DROP letters
BurleSOn Also Advocates In
crease in Postage for
Periodicals
MAKES MANY
RECOMMENDATIONS

WASHINGTON, Dec 9.--In the fact
of an increase of the price of news
print paper, Postmaster General Burle-
son. in his annual report. made pub
lie last night, recommends an in
crease in the rate Of second class
matter and the application of 'one
cent postage to drop letters.
His report dealing with this feat
ure reads:
Despite the material increase in
the cost of print paper, mailings OF
newspapers and eriOdicals as second
class matter at the cent a-pound rate
and free of postage in the county of
publication showed no sign of diminu-
ton during the fiscal year 1916. On
the contrary. such mailings were
greater than ever before, aggregating
02,470.676 pounds, an increase Of
93.1S4S91 pounds. or eight and four
tenths per cent. over those Of the
fiscal year 1915. the postage derived
from such mailings amounting to
$11 .3S3,530,02 The cost of handling
and transporting second-class matter
is several times the revenue received
therefrom, and as the volume Of such
matter is constantly increasing the
necessity of taking some step 10 re-
adjust the rates thereon becomes
more and more apparent.
The department recommends that
as early as practicable tho one-cent
rate of postage be applied to all drop
letters.
Higher Periodical Rate.
1T is recommended that a fat rate
of one and one-third cents pound on
all second class mail matter, subject &c
the one cent-a pound rate, be considered
If II is thought that there should be q
| distinction between advertising an,
other matter carried in any of such pub
| LEGATIONS, Il is then recommended thai
the rate of postage on publications en-
tered as second-class matter issued les
! frequently than weekly and on weekly
publications other than newspapers shall
| be one cent a pound. except for .ucl
part of the publication ss is compose,
Of sheets devoted in whole or in part {,
advertising matter, the rates Of postage
upon which shall be the Same as IN
rates which are applicable to third ant
fourth class matter, respectively Thi
would not change the rate on news
papers and would continue the one.ccnt
/ pound rate on all matter other thar
/ advertising contained in other period
Gals, but would apply higher rates t.
advertising matter carried in period
/ Gals other than newspapers. Such nighe
/ rates would conform TO the rates Of
1 third-class matter where applicable, ant
to the zone rates applicable TO fourth
class matter in other cases"
After making his recommendation
Mr.. Burieson was visited by represen
tatives Of agricultural periodicals
who informed him that many publish
ers would be ruined If they were com
PEELED to pay a higher postage rat
with the price Of paper doubled il
the last year After hearing then
Mr.. Burleson modified HIS views AM
wrote a letter 70 the chairman Of tn
House committee on postoffices an
postroads suggesting that II thes
conditions existed 1t might be unwis
10 increase the rate this year.
Other recommendation.
Among the more important recon
mendations for legislation may b.
mentioned the following:
Classification Of the position o
postmaster at offices of the first. sec
ond and third classes.
To authorize the department 10 bont
its own employees through the estab
lishment and maintenance Of a guar
anty fund derived from assessment
levied against and collected from sue
employees.
To equalize pay OF rural carriers b
fixing salaries on basis Of number q