The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-12-07
Royal c. Johnson Advocates One
Cent Letter Postage

The ways and means being
CREASED for the launching of the
movement for the readjustment of
postal rates in the next session of
Congress. This problem was to
have been taken mp 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
committees are prepared to take
up the matter of placing the
various postal rates on more
equitable basis.
A zone system Of rates for
second class matter is being prom
inently urged to take the place of
the present fiat rate which was
adopted nearly forty years ago.
The present rate has for some
time been regarded as a discrim.
ination against the newspapers in
favor of the great national maga.
zines. Like the parcel post the
proposed zone rate would be based
on the length Of the haul.
The postal committees haye been
besieged by petitions bearing mil.
lion of names and several hundred
thousand letters from individuals
urging a readjustment of postal
rates with a view of making pos
sible one cent letter postage. A
survey of the situation indicates
that sufficient changes will be
made in the various rates to permit
the granting of l cent rate on
local delivery letters in the next
session of Congress.
Chairman Moon of the House
Postal Committee, today said: Il
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 / can.
not speak for the Committee, this
is my desire in the matter. | do
not know what kind of bill we
will pass, whether it will have a
zone feature attached to it or not.
This view has been presented fre-
quently in years past, and some
times received favor and some
times not. AS to what shape the
legislation will be in | am not able
to say, but ! am sure the com nit
tee will give it the best possible
shape in the public interest.
Senator Clapp of Minnesota,
said: Legislation creating a
postage rate of one cent Oh local
delivery letters should be enacted
by Congress without any further
delay. In view of the nervous
condition of business throughout
the country believe the reduction
Of the local letter rate from 2 cents
to one cent would serve very
valuable purpose by stimulating
the commercial situation to more
satisfactory level +"
Congressman Stafford of Wis
consin, one of the leading postal
experts in the house, has given
extensive study to the question of
postal revenues and he firmly be
lieves that there is even large
profit to the Government with the
reduced rates as provided by his
bill for ! cent local delivery let.
ters. He said that with the
inauguration of a one cent local
delivery postage the merchants and
people generally. who use the mail
SO frequently for local delivery
will be induced to utilize the mails
still more by reason of the reduc.
tion of the rate"
Congressman ROYAL G.. Johnson
of South Dakota. The advocates
of cent letter postage have sue.
ceeded in educating the patrons OF
our postal service to the realization
that the existing rates are far from
being equitable an6 that the time
is OppOrtune for change. 1t
seems almost certain that the
memhers OF the House. Kill haxe
an opportunity OF voting on a
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