The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1917-01-19
COUNTRY PUBLISHERS
MUST MAKE WAY FOR the
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
AND OTHER MAGAZINES

Hon. Chas. H. Randall of Califor-
mia, has eventually discovered that the
postoffice department is top heavy and
in seeking to find a means of releiv-
ing it of the Congressional Record
and other publications sent out by
hundreds of tons to their constituents
who need such stuff to start fires,
concludes that now is the time to
soak the small newspapers Of the
country-many of which are actually
read; for the benefit the of big maya
zines and daily newspapers.
Congressman Randall has figured
out that he can make big hit with
the people Of the country by advo-
eating one cent postage and taking
it out Of the hides of the country pub
Usher, by putting him on zone
classification, and compelling the
country publisher to make up his mail
according to these zones" on the
order of the postmaster general.
Naturally, if it can be ordained that
each person who has any volume of
mail to post, can be forced to put it
in packages for convenient handling,
their will be less need of clerks in the
postoffice department, but more in the
other fellows office; this will make a
reduction in order that free stuff can
be sent out by franc more freely and
relieve the situation without in the
least injuring the prerogatives Of our
duly elected masters. 1t will make a
showing for them and at the same
time cut the expense off onto the little
fellow.
Congressman Randall speaks of the
enormous increase of mail but fails to
give any figures as to the increase Of
"free" government mail that has made
up that increase during the last two
years; how many thousand tons YVES
"free" mailed out by politicians dur
ing the past year to make up this in
crease?
How much "free weed seed" was
sent out?
Really, nothing has been so startling
since the Arizona statutes fell over
onto our Winchester.
Despite the fact that the postoffice
department has claimed that it was
actually making money for the gov
eminent, here comes man and shows
it up as all hollow sham and shows
where the country newspaper is to
blame for the most of it, but insists
the change won't injure them any, for
he proposes to make the Womley
Homley Journal pay the most of it.
Congressman Randall Rambling
ramblcs off law as follows:
"Be 1t Enacted, etc, That all news
papers, magazines, and other publica-
tons regularly admitted to the mails
as matter Of the second class shall
hereafter be subject to the following
rates Of postage, the zone system now
applying to parcel-post matter to be
adapted also to second-class matter:
"Local, first, second and third zone
(under 300 miles), l cent per pound.
Fourth zone $500 to 600 miles), 2
cents per pound.
Fifth zone (600 to 1000 miles), 8
cents per pound.
"Sixth zone (1,000 to 1,400 miles),
A cents per pound.
Seventh zone q 400 to 1900
miles), 5 cents per pound.
Eighth zone lover 1900 miles, 6
cents per pound.
provided, That free-in-county cir
culation provided by law shall con-
tinue as at present: And provided fur
Their, That the Postmaster General
shall have authority to require pub
fishers to separate or makeup" to
zones or in such manner as he may
direct all matter Of the second class
when offered for mailing"