Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-11
WANT ZONE SYSTEM
OF POSTAGE RATES
Congress Leaders Said to
Favor Parcel Post Rule for
Second-CIass Mail.

Legislation creating zone system
matter similar to that provided for
parcel post packages, is said to be con-
templated by leaIing members of Con-
gress. The existing rates, it is de-
clared. are inequitable discriminating
in favor of big magazines and against
the newspapers which circulate locally,
as we'll as users of the first-class mail
service
1t is claimed that the average news
paper circulates almost entirely within
radius of two or three hundred miles,
while magazines are circulated gener-
ally throughout the country
The fight recently made in the Sem
ate against the blue tag system OF
the government in shipping various
magazines by freight, it is claimed, has
only helped to aggravate the situation.
and during the debate it was suggested
several times that zone system OF
postage rates should be provided for
second class mail.
Randall Bill Receives Approval.
Representative Randall of California,
a member of the House committee on
post offices and post roads, recently In
troduced a bill providing for such
system, and it is said he received many
letters of Endorsement from publishers
in various parts of the country and
created an unusual amount of interest
on the part of members of Congress,
especially in the postal committees OF
both House and Senate.
1t is reported that the House COM
mittee will almost certainly include
zone rate provision in the next regular
appropriation bill
Representative Randall, referring to
his bill declares that an annual net
loss of more than eighty millions OF
rate on weekly and monthly publica-
tions of the magazine class, and that
one-cent drop-letter postage and one
cent letter postage cannot be secured
until this great loss in the carriage OF
one class of mail matter at the expense
of those who pay letter postage is
stopped.
Value of Stamps Sold in 1915.
During the calendar year 1915. 1t is
declared. two-cent stamps and stamped
envelopes were issued to the value Of
s15e,395. 25O76, while, according to the
estimate of the Postmaster General,
the loss in carrying second-class mail
at a cent a pound amounted to $780,
100000 AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Ran
dali claims, half the postage paid on
every letter goes to make up the de-
fciency caused by insufficient postage
on newspapers and magazines.
The postal rate of l cent pound
granted as a virtual subsidy to the ma
tional papers of the magazine class.
Mr.. Randall contends, has resulted in
fabulous fortunes for private interests,
to which the postal department is CIV
ing plainly an annual contribution Of
$50, 900. 900. Selecting a magazine, for
illustration, whose June issue con-
tanned more than $4,000 in advertis-
ing, he said the postal department re-
ceived ~ cents for delivering each
copy. whether in Maine or California,
making the total amount received by
the government postage on 1000, 900
copies. $4,000.
On the other hand he states, the gov
eminent suffered a net loss on the han
ding of this amgazine estimated at 5
work of delivery by carriers at des-
tination. So that the governments
loss was ss2,5o0, or. for one year,
s750,000.
Rates Recommended.
To eliminate such losses. the bill rec
ommends the following rates: Local.
for all second class newspapers. maya
zines or other publica tons, first, sec
ond and third zone (under 900 miles),
l cent pound; fourth zone $500 to
1000 miles,. 3 cents a. pound; sixth
zone G.000 to 1,400 miles). cents a.