American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-25
THE ZONE POSTAL SYSTEM.

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of ours from being permanently d.
yided against Itself The Union was
preserved. north. south. east and west
continued to ny one flag and the
United States OF America vas happily
perpetuated. Since the termination OF
that conflict Il Is probable that the
people OF the country we're never as
united In fact and spirit as they are
al the present moment. Sectional
ism. with all the term implies. has been
swept away. One OF the few good re-
suits that have been brought about
BY the present gigantic struggle Is
the further consolidation OF different
sections OF the country into one ANAL
gamatcd whole. Any member OF con
gress who raised his voice In an ef-
fort TO destroy this fabric. or In de-
Tense OF se%otionalism with the curse
that IL placed POI our people. would
D. greeted with derision. aud would
b. considered as an enemy TO society
and 10 the Republic.
The astonishing accusation OF con
nplracy. brought By Claude Kitchen a
few days ago. vas IA startling reyeia-
tion In its untimeliness. II any one
should accuse this representative OF
The South OF a desire 10 perpetuate
such a condition. the accusation would
doubtless be rcpudiated by him with
his usual emphasis yet. this Is the act
OF which he Is found guilty. Of which
ne ~ convicted out OF his own mouth.
There has been for a long time a feel
ms that he was not a friend 10 our
Industrial upbuilding. His recent utter
ancea seem to prove this belief.
Ours n an industrial country. II
the government should undertake TO
destroy or embarrass It's industries.
We should be compelled TO resume
among the worlds powers a second
rate standing from which we have
long since emerged. In some sections
and among some members OF congress.
81 whom Mr.. Kitchen Is a fair rep
~reseutative. there has been shown dur
Ing the past few years an uneasiness
I'm regard 70 the wealth that this coun-
fry was accommodating aud a diatrust
OF those who we're accommodating Il.
With a tendency TO promote legisla-
zion which. u carried 10 It's ultimate
conclusion. could only bring about a
curb upon our industrial growth that
would be destructive TO the upbuiiding
of the commonwealth. IndustriaIIy
this country can not stand stiil. II
must either 40 forward or fall back
ward. n the business interests are at
tackled and penailzed. the result Is in
evitable.
IN the present instance Mr.. Kltch-
on's attack Is directed primarily
against the publishers OF the country,
be sure. but has he not deserved the
criticism which has been passed upon
him many times by the American
press II his attitude now toward
those who stand behind our press Is
due 10 any vindictiveness on his part.
a. simply confirms a belief that has
tong existed. The publishers as a whole
are among the most respected and rep
utable OF our citizens. Why. therefore,
should their business which Is now
suffering from singular and unprece-
dcnted causes, be made the victim OF
special attack and destructive legisla
tion' The accusations which he has
brought against the publishers as such
are not only directed against them but
also cast ~imputations against the char
aoter and standing OF the secretary OF
the treasury and Indirectly upon the
president himself.
The press has had much to say dur
ing the past year or more an regard to
thai part OF the revenue act known as
the Zone system OF postal rates. Il Ia
Ton well understood by the people AZ
large 10 need any calculation here.
Under this system the United States
h. divided up into eight zones. and the
papers passing into those various zones
are compelled TO pay a different rate
AZ postage according TO the distance OF
that particular zone from the place OF
publication. II a probable that the
Ingenuity OF a could not conceive OF
any system of rates more unbuslness-
~ and more u~nscienti1c than this.
During this time Of wal Il Is the duty
81 the government aud the duty OF the
individual 70 reduce unnecessary ex-
penses In every possible way. Legis-
tatiou tending 20 limit the output OF
labor -such a. the FUN Crew lawn
a costs instead OF introducing
~%conomy. The zone system OF postal
rates Ia another step in the same d.
recuon; and Il appears as though Il
~ere a method OF penaliEing a particu-
iar section a. a time when business Is
least prepared 10 bear any such bur
den
Il Is. perhaps. not we'll understood
By the Legislators who passed this act
how enormously the post office force
must be Increased 10 carry out It's pro-
visions Perhaps b is not well under
stood By them that in order TO fuihll
the exactions OF the post office depart
ment the publishers are also Obliged
20 employ extra labor. Il is. in fact
doubtful whether this provision. had
AZ been brought up separately and
~11b q full understanding OF all the
conditions. would have been passed by
congress last year. II Is far NOR,
doubtful whether II could be passed
uau The nofnf witch ahould ho afar,