, 1922-06-22
Remote the Buden

= " TX EAoGLN la Il h0b VI L Chlhog foA1- 49,.
III a bill before congreX<or relief of newspapers
Thy repeating postal rates on second class matter
(which were imposed under the war revenue af CT
i1917. On behalf of the measure Mr.. Kelly has veic-
ed the sentiments of newspaper publishers gener-
tally.
@The present postage rates on newspapers and
publications were fixed in the war revenue law
passed in 1917 and are 325 per cent higher than the
pre-war rates. Every one of the items carried in
that war measure, with the exception of the tax
;on second class mail matter, has been modified or
repealed
THE old rate was one cent a pound on second
tclass matter. The new system divided the country
iinto zones AMI fixed the postage rate on the adyer-
.tising portion of d newspaper or other periodical
las high as ten cents n pound to the eighth zone.
These high rates tend to break up the country into
isections and to encourage proyincialism and dis
courage nationalism.
absurd inconsistencies have followed in the
train of this arbitrary and unscientific classifica-
ton. For instance, an individual may send a news
paper in separate wrapper as third class mail
more cheaply than the publisher can mail it him
self in a large shipment. A ten-pound package OF
feathers occupying a large space can be sent fourth
class at about half the cost of sending a ten-pound
package of newspapers which requires very little
space
perform a large part of the handling and assert
ing before their mail reaches the po~stoffice. 1t Is
routed carefully and loaded into storage mail cars
without expense to the postoffice department Only
when it arrives at its final destination is it handled
by postal employees. Thus, it costs less to handle
this matter than either third or fourth class mail,
phL DhotA th, 49, NV
carries the heaviest burden.
"The newspapers and other periodicals are the
very fountain source of first Class and fourth class
mail. They also perform an invaluable service in
freely carrying messages of the p~ostoffice and other
departments of the government direct to the peo-
pie. They are really selling agents for the gov
ernment but they get no commission on their sales
1t is a common sense policy to give them advan-
tngeous rates in the mails.
"These war time postage rates have driven mil
lions of pounds of second class matter from the
mail into private channels of distribution. There
is something radically wrong when private com
panies can make a handsome profit at rates less
ice has the organization and the facilities and
should be able to perform this service of distribu
tion cheaper than any other enterprise.
"The fact that these high rates are charged on
the advertising pages does not lessen the injustice
Advertising is not merchandise but information
essential to the business prosperity of this country
as the highways and waterways. Not a sale can
he made or a pound of goods shipped without the
interchange of information. The advertisements
are chronicles of every advance in industrial
achievement. Without them publication of the great
national newspapers and magazines would be i'm
possible.
"In 1918 the publishers paid postage amomting
to 81. 12,000. This year they will pay more than
$50, 000, 900 for less service. I believe there is nc
good reason why the publishers of newspapers and
magazines should be singled out to pay this extra
war tax.
"Four separate increases were made under the
increases which would give the government 175
per cent more than the pre-war rates and would
not relieve the publishing industry of one cent of
The other federal taxes paid in common with all
other industries. In all fairness this action should
be taken at once"