Milford chronicle., 1921-05-20
THE LEGIsLATuRE HAS AD-


large for the members of the House
of Representatives to grasp. 1t is
without doubt true, that the member
ship of the Senate in business quail
fications lowered over the member
ship of the House of Representatives
making it necessary for the Senators
to shape legislation. These conditions
were unfortunate for the people of
Delaware because of the results it has
had upon the vital points of education,
highways and revenues to support the
State government. Let the dead past
bury its own dead, and let the fu-
ture welfare of Delaware be the
watchword of all citizens of the State.
**I**
EVERY. LOCAL BUSINESS MAN is
directly interested in the United
States Postal Rates for carrying mail
able matter especially are they in
terested in the zone rate as now oper-
ated by the United States Post Office
Department. Right now there is
determined effort on the part of the
periodical publishers to have the zone
laws repealed. This will permit the
circulation nationwide of magazines
and periodicals., which are three
fifths advertising and directly affect
the local dealers and publishers in
all parts of the country - especially
the rural communities, at a direct loss
to the government against local inter-
ests. A letter calling attention to the
attempt to repeal the zone laws now
in Congress, has been widely circulat-
ed among the printing fraternity-es-
pecially calling attention of the coun- |
try newspapers to the effort and what |
it means to the people. A brief state |
ment will be interesting and informing
reading for the merchants of Della
ware, as well as other business enter
prises. Repeal of the zone laws
means, four fold increase in postage
rates on second-class matter to meet
-he deficiencies which would result in
receipts of the post Office department.
This would be necessary because of
he thousands of tons of magazines
Ind periodicals which would be haul
ID across the continent at huge loss.
The business men would be compelled
o pay the shortage in receipts and add
ust that much more to their already
Iarrowing margins of profits. We have
10 evidence that Congress will pro-
ide for any deficiency in operating
be post Office department occasioned
y carrying second-class mail. at a
)ss. The cost per pound now is one
ent within the first zone and in
reases according to the haul there
fter-but does not now cover the ac-
lal cost of transportation. The Per-
,dical Publishers Association, repre-
enting the national weeklies and !:
onthlies of national circulation, and !
le trade press are backing the re-
cal. They would like to see the old
at rate of one cent per pound rein l.
ated-but realize that it is imposs- q
lie and are willing to accept any fiat il
tie the United States Congress will I
We them. The average haul for all r
mail is two hundred )
lies, including all newspapers, week. u
periodicals., magazines, trade pa II
rs, etc. The average haul of the +,
untry newspaper is less than fifty II
lies, as the majority of these do not e'
'culate to any considerable extent st
tside the county in which they are -
inted. These constitute a very con- IN
ierable item in the bulk of the Sec nj
d-class mail matter of the United al
ltes. it
Should the Congress fix a fiat rate o
second-class matter based upon Ia
cost of the average haul, the news W "
pers of this nation will be paying q, %
re than cost for their postage, and
periodicals and magazines, etc.. -
be paying less than cost for :
irs.
he present postal law is entirely :
table If the government insists that
mail must pay it's way. :
does not put premium upon the
ding matter of any publication to
subscriber, regardless of how far
~ the subscriber may be from the :
ut OF publication. But it does say
the advertiser, that he must nav
cost of handling and carriage on
business announcements-and that
must pay in proportion to the
'unt OF handling that is necessary
the length of haul that is needed
eIlVer these announcements to the
Ter the advertiser wishes to reach
the advertiser wishes to use ma :
al mediums that necessitate long
Is in place of distributing his ad-
lslng thru mediums that need onlv
ort haul, he can do so provided he =
the long haul cost. This is fair
ne local merchants and the local
spapers. pr
'thlng has ever been proposed
is so fair to the general public. Mo.
to all the various elements tn +ba d