Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-11-16
lICENT LETTER POST
AGE.

Now that Election is over and
the question of general political
issues has been settled, let's get
down to business again and do
something for the people of the
country.
One of the most practical bene-
fits which the government at
Washington could confer upon
the public generally would be
the passage of a one-cent letter
postage law, a boon which would
mean a saving of many millions
of dollars to the letter users of
this country annually.
1t is estimated by postal ex-
perts that the letter writers of
the United States are paying ov-
er $75, 100000 year to the post
office department in excess of
the cost of carrying first-class
mail. Last year the total ex-
pense of the department was
nearly $300,O0O,00O. Letter mail
comprised about Is per cent of
the tonnage, but paid over 70
per cent of the revenue, show
ing a profit from letter mail of
over $75,000,000. Every postal
expert who has carefully studied
the subject is convinced that the
government can afford to give
one cent letter postage at once.
This is on the assumption that
business under a lower mail rate
would increase enormously,
bringing n sufficient additional
revenue to offset the lower cost.
This is not a movement of big
men, mail order houses or per-
sons interested in securing some
thing for nothing. 1t is being
backed by reorganization known
as the National One Cent Letter
Postage Association with head
quarters at Cleveland, O., which
has q membership Of about 50,-
900 users of letter postage locat-
ed in every state in the union,
who are aware of the conditions
that exist, and are insistent that
a change be made at once. Back
Of the movement for one cent
letter postage are hundreds of
associations of a local and ma
tional character, representing
millions Of members.
There are many reasons why
letter users are entitled to a one
cent rate. Among them may be
mentioned:
Because government is MAX
ing about 100 per cent profit on
letter postage.
Because the department was
established primarily for distri-
button of letters.
Because it was never intended
that letter mail should pay gov
eminent a profit.
Because one-half of our letter
UOSUdRG 10 oil ONcI IDA.
Because this tax is not used
for the general expenses of the
government, but used to take
care of deficits caused by other
branches of the service.
Because it is wrong to tax one
class for the benefit Of another
Because Postmaster General
Burleson and his predecessors
have said that one cent postage
will pay.
Because we have been entitled
to one cent letter postage for the
past twenty years.
Experts who have investigat-
ed postal conditions in this coun-
Try recognize the fact that the
rates ON letter postage have not
been lowered simply because the
letter users of this country have
not insisted on a readjustment
of rates on fair basis. The post
office department was originally
organized and for a time con-
dacted on the assumption that
each class of mail should pay
cost of carriage. Gradually this
program has been diverted and
a condition has come about
whereby letter users pay a huge
overtax to the government each
year, while other classes of mail
fail to pay the fullamountwhich
it costs government for trans
and delivery.
Nothing congress could do
would~be more popular or more
Just than the Inauguration of a
one-cent letter postage rate at
this time.
Respectfully yours.
J. E. KEYSER.