Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-24
PUNISHING THE PRESS
New Postal Rates, Under Guise Of War Tax,
One Way in Which Congressional
Blatherskites Do Ii

T EST any one be deceived by congress
time to time, it may be as we'll to state
clearly and unequivocally some of the
fact concerning the new confiscatory
postal rates which affect newspapers and
othe periodical publications beginning
July l.
Enacted under the disguise of war
tax, these rates were demanded as a
source of war revenue not previously
tapped. But it requires only the most
superficial knowledge of the past policy
and design of the Postoffice Department
to see how labored is this excuse. The
postoffice never has been and never
should be regarded as revenue producer
for the general purposes of the Govern
ment. 1t is purely public utility and
the only possible excuse for maintaining
it as an exclusive Federal monopoly is
that it shall give the best service to the
people at the least possible cost.
So that in attempting to raise a war
tax out of this public utility Congress is
merely putting itself in the same posi-
tion as City Councils in Philadelphia
might, were they to add tax of four or
five cents to each street-car fare paid, in
order to secure revenue for the current
expenses of the city, which are in their
way quite as much affected by the war
emergency as are national finances. The
fallacy is, Of course, apparent.
There must be some other reason,
therefore, for this deliberate attempt by
Congress to punish the press. What
those reasons are might be surmised by
any one familiar with the character and
philosophy of the politicians in Congress
who inspired this vicious law Even in
the back-woods districts of the South
and West where they come from the
press, by its unceasing vigilance and
sharp remonstrance against political
charlatans, knows how to sting. Indeed,
there are a number of these same blatant
gentlemen from unheard-of places who
bear scars of editorial lashings which
must frequently burn. Enough, then. as
to a motive.
But, aside from any such considera-
tions, there is another phase which, to
even the ordinary intelligence at Wash
ington, ought to be worthy of respectful
consideration. In all modesty it may
fairly be said that never in the history
of this or any other country has the
newspaper and periodical press as a
unanimous body done more to uphold the
efforts of the nations leader in time of
acute stress and anxiety. No charge of
selfshness, greed or profiteering will lie
against the press of America today.
Although as an industry it has been hard
hit by the tremendous advance in the
cost of raw materials and labol-an
advance entirely ascribable to the war
yet there has been no complaint, no petty
striking back, no covert thrusts or i'll
concealed chagrin. The press is doing
its bit and doing it well.
Not day passes which does not bring
to probably every responsible editor in
the country many appeals to his patriot
ism and loyalty for service to the Gov
ernment. Senator Smoot, we believe it
was, recently looked into this question
and found that single newspaper in the
Middle West during the course of one
week received several bushels of requests
for free publicity, sent out from a total
of some forty-fve different publicity
bureaus connected with the Government
at Washington.
President Wilson himself thinks so
we'll of the aid that can be given to his
Administration by the newspapers and
periodicals generally that he has stanchly
stood behind the Creel publicity commit
tee, even though the expenses have run
to hitherto unheard of figures.
Mr.. Schwab only the other day at a
luncheon in this city declared soberly
and seriously that had it not been for
the efforts of the newspapers to arouse
enthusiasm and interest in the shipbuild-
ing program he might have fallen far
short of the splendid record now being
made by the shipping board and fleet
corporation forces under his able direc-
tion.
Even the Congressman themselves
think so well of the need for Government
publicity that they approve huge appro-
priations out of the National Treasury
for maintenance of large and high-sala-
ried corps of departmental press agents
to turn out thousands of tons of pam
phlets, slip-sheets and what not-and
even that much-revered newspaper the
Congressional Record, of fragrant de-
light.
How utterly and invincibly stupid it
is. therefore, for Congress as a whole
to permit small, but at present power
full, group of soured and disgruntIed
members to vent their spleen in such
fashion upon great and indispensable
industry They might as well put head
,,,o,. Tho lon &c