The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-12-07
TO READJUST POSTAL RATES
THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS-

Washington, Dec. 5. "hc ways are
now being CREASED for the launching
of the movement for Il, rcadjustment
of postal rates in the next session ol
Congress. This problem was 10 hd'6
been taken up in the last session br.
had to be deferred on account Of IL.
constellation required ~ railway mail
pay. Since this has been disposed OF
the committees are prepared TO take
up tn matter of placing 'h various
postal rats on a more equitable basis.
A zone system of rates for second
urged to take the place of the pres
mt flat rats which was adoptd nearly
forty years ago. The present rate has
| for some time been rgarded as a dis
elimination against the newspapers
infavor of tn great national maga-
zines. Like the parcel post the pro-
posed zone rates would be based on
tn length of the haul.
The postal committees have been
besegd by petitions bearing millions
Of mans and several hundred thou
sand letters from individuals urging
a readjustment of postal rates with a
view of making possible one cent let
ter postage. A survey of the situation
indicates that sufficinet changes Will
be made in the various rates to per-
NIT the granting of l cent rate on
local delivery letters in the next ses-
sion of Congress.
Chairman Moon of the House Pos
tai Committee, said today: II 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 I cannot 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 zone feature to it or not. This
view has been presentyd frequently
in years past, and @ometimes received
favor and sometimes not. As to what
shape the legislation will be in am
not able to say, but I am sure the
committee will give it the best pos
sible shape in the public interest"
Congressman Austin, of Tennessee,
said: IF the leaders of Congress
would give its me abers an oppor-
tunity TO vote on the proposition the
American people Juld be given a
general one cent letter postage
without further delay. There is no
reason why any person mailing let |
ter should. be forced to pay tax OF |
one cent of every two paid, the esti-
matd profit to the Government foI
handling a letter"
Congressman McKellar, of Tennes-
see, said: "All past reductions i'll |
the rate of first class postage have |
resulted in tremendous increases il |
tn ovlume of mail. The dmand fol
such a chang. in the rate seems uni.
versal and l am sure the Congress
would justifid in taking early ac-
tioE in the matter"
Commenting on the matter Repre-
sentativ Abercrombie, of Alabama,
said: "The post office department
was created to offer tn very best pos
sibl service to the public at mini
mum cost and is not supposed to pro-
duce any more revenue than is actu-
ally needed to pay the running ex-
penses. Legislation, is needed to Gre
ate | cent rate on drop letters
should be passed without further de-
lay; it will cost the governemnt no
money and it will act as a much
needed stimulant to business"
Congressman Wingo, of Arkansas,
takes the stand that postal rates
should be fixed more in accord with
what it actually costs the govern
ment to perform the service, and
such being the condition he says
there is no sound argument against
liking the local lettr rate at ] cent
per ounce"