The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-20
0ne.Cent postnpe.


the attention OF Congress, fifty bills
| calling for the Inauguration of u one
cent rate on local delivery letters hav.
ing been introduced.
Many newspapers throughout the
country are warmly advocating the
lower rate, and the inauguration OF a
so-called zone" system for the trans
portation Of periodical literature of
all kinds. AT the present time the
great bulk of mail being carried dis
tances under second class rates Is fur
nished by the magazine publishers OF
the large eastern cities. Train load
after train load of magazines Is sent
out TO all parts OF the country at
a cost OF one cent a pound. although 1t
has been estimated by postal experts
that 1t costs over eight cents pound
to deliver such literature.
This. It is claimed. is manifestly I'M
fair to the publishers OF newspapers
in local territories, who are required
to pay the same rate for transporta-
ton OF their products. 1t is proposed
and will become part of the readjust-
ment OF postage rates when such are
made. that zone system be establish
ed so that certain rate shall be
charged for all classes of publication
for the FIRST fifty miles, another for
fifty to $50 miles. another for $50 to
300 miles. and so up to n haul which
would extend across the continent.
In this way the publishers OF big mag
azines would be required to pay the
government what 1t actually costs to
transport their product.
Under the present rate the United
States mails transport such maya
zines as Leslie's an average of 1000
miles at the same rate they would
charge newspaper for the average
haul of fifty miles. This means u
large subsidy for Leslies Weekly,
amounting TO about 100000 per an
nun. Some OF the other magazines,
having much larger circulation, ben
eft to greater degree. When 1t is
considered that Leslie's Weekly
charges over $1,000 per page per
single issue for its advertising space.
and that one-half or more OF the per-
iodlcal is taken up with advertising,
1t hardly seems fair TO users OF letter
postage and TO newspaper publishers
that they should pay the government
a profit of one hundred percent, when
| none Of 1t Is used to defray general
expenses OF the department, but goes
instead to take care of the deficit that
is created by the loss incurred in dis
tributing these magazines at one cent
pound, rate which is almost n
franking privilege.
| Newspapers which should properly
represent the territory in which they
are published, and carry the advertise
ments Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
products in their territories are sell
dom considered nowadays in the dis
tribution OF big advertising appropria-
tions. The money goes rather to huge
magazine corporations, which are
growing fabulously rich, and which
pay only fraction OF the cost to
the government for the service fur
nished them.
The reason one large magazine bus
mess is paying profits may be noted
in the case Of three trade publications
controlled by ii. The actual value of
these publications is about 100000,
! yet, owing to advantages given by
the second class rate and the result
. ant increase in their advertising, they
were recently sold for 81 100000. II
Is declared that upon Its latter valu-
alton they paid stock dividend of
| fifty per cent.
When it is realized that the publish
ers OF newspapers in the smaller towns
and cities scarcely more than break
even and make living from their
publications, is 1t not fair that the
government should collect from these
huge corporations the cost of service
entailed? This remarkable condition
OF affairs has been revealed by inves-
legations which have been made by
the National One Cent Letter Postage
Association. with headquarters at
Cleveland. o. This association is seek
ing to secure one-cent letter rate
and readiustrnent OF charges made
on the carrying of second class mail
I which ia very. largely furnished by
1 the big magazine publishers.
I 1t Is pointed out that IL zone sys-
ten were to be applied the rate on
letter postage could be lowered, tho
Advertising placed in the local news
papers where 1t belongs. and tho big
magazines required to share some OF
their fancy profits with tho govern
ment. which is now carrying thei,
product at a loss estimated at over