New-York tribune., 1917-06-11
The Second Class Postage Subsidy
Bu Frederick G. ShuU

charge from the freight station TO the grocer
but il also has TO stand an expensive dlstri-
button charge before it finally reaches the
consumer
Comparing the mail rate on "The Outlook
with the express rate on coffee, 1t VIII De
seen that the express rate on merchandise
from Boston TO Buffalo is i.6 times the mail
rate on THE Outlook; the express rate TO
Chicago is two and one-half times and 10
San Francisco is ten and one-half times the
mail rate on THE Outlook
One Cent for Three Copies
To find out what THE Outlook is actually
paying per copy at the present time for
postage, have weighed eight recent out
looks" taken at random, which | find have
a combined weight, without the mailing wrap
pers, of forty-four ounces, or five and one
half ounces each. | have assumed, there
fore, that when ready for mailing three
"Outlooks" weigh one pound At the pres
ent rate of one cent per pound, therefore,
"The Outlook" is paying only one-third OF a
cent per copy, or II cents per annum per sub
scriber, for postage TO all parts OIL the
United States.
To take an extreme case, THE Outlook
is paying only one cent for the transporta-
York to San Francisco, or the same amount
that one would have to pay for the delivery
of one postal card from any part of Boston
to any other part of Boston.
Taking up the proposed increase of rate,
"The Outlook's" editorial states that 1t IS
proposed to increase the postage on this sec
ond class matter from two to six times the
present rate The above figures show that
if the rate is increased to six times the pres
ent rate the postage on "The Outlook" would
be only six times one-thrd Of a cent, or two
cents Assuming the average proposed zone
rate TO be four times the present postal rate,
it would make the average proposed postage
on THE Outlook" only one and one-third
cents per copy to all parts of the United
States. or only one cent per copy increase.
The average yearly increase. therefore. would
amour. to only about 80 cents per subscriber,
which is only one-half the amount of in
crease that "The Outlook" put into effect
when it recently increased its subscription
rrice from So to 81 per year. In view of the
fact that "The Outlook" was apparently able
to adopt this increase of 81 per subscription
without serious results. it would seem con-
elusive proof that it could levy on its sub
scribers an additional average increase OF 90
cents per year for postage without forcing
them to discontinue their subscriptions. II
is possble that this increase would lnJure
the business of some of the heavyweight
magazines physically speaking, but there
is no possibility. in the writer's opinion, Of
such an increase in postage lesseninS the
circulation of a magazine of the calibre OF
"The Outlook"
Increase Just
In view of all these facts and figures It
would seem that "The Outlook's" statement
with reference to the proposed increase that
at is unjust" ought in reality to admit that
il would be unjust not to put this increase
into effect
Furthermore, the statement that "it is IN
furious to the public" should more properly
state that the present rates are injurious
to the public, because the public is called
upon to make up the deficit caused by these
ridiculously low rates, which deficit. in JUS
tice. ought 70 be borne by the publications
or their subscribers.
Finally, with reference 10 the statement
that 'it is unpatrotic," it ought TO be ap-
parent to any fairminded person that it IS
unpatriotic for the publishers Of this coun-
try any longer TO expect the United States
government to furnish them mail transporta-
tion at rates far below those at which 1t
could possibly be had on a commercial basis.
sincerely hope that you will continue to
use YOUR efforts toward urging our repre-
sentatives in Washington to put these sec
end class mail rates on a scientific and busi-
nessike basis.
Concord, Mass, June Q, 1917