Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-10
now THEY AID INCL. SAM.

NOW THEY AID UNCLE SAM.
settling service Cor ,uncle sam is a
function of newspapers ana pcriodi- |
calls too often overlooked by members
~ Congress. Publications are the In
valuable snlcs agencies which keep
tho Governments cash registers tink- |
ling constantly, yet they receive no
commission for developing business
ror the Pcstofroo Department and
other rsEral organizations. There
4 depcrablc tendency on tho part
of government stausticians to over
look tho fact that tho revenue accru-
ING 60 tho postof,ice from its opera
tluns need not be direct or paid I'm
postage or IN money 90 he moasur-
nhlo, and that tho indirect returns
are specially noteworthy IN connection
with tho distribution OF second-class
matter, Tho postofr,cc IN the largest
business operation IN the world. as
~ has an annual turnover In excess
~ 81 a,o0o. 100000 and has s2e. 900 em-
ployoa on its payrols. Newspapers.
through their cditcrial and advertis-
ins columns. create profitable employ
mont for the pos,of'ce Department
N addition 20 sdvancing the social
welfare OF the people.
4 discriminatory tax. originally I'M
posed a. war revenue measure. Is
driving those ssles-producing agencies
from the postof'ice Department, the
scv~rnmant's biggest business institu-
ton. Tho excessive postal rates re-
strict the circulation ot newspapers
and at tn sAnnc time shut OF reve-
nuos from other sources. News and
advertisfns pages ot publications IN
crease thc desire Of the public for
vsriou. commodities. second-cla-s
matter carried at a low rate produces
large quantities ot letter mail. paying
the highest ratio of postage An Of
fclal report from a government In
ve.tisntins busfy known as the Pen
vcse-overstrcet Commission, attcsted
o. th,s fact IN the declaration that
"sccond-olass matter Is itself the cause
% sreAt volume Of frs,-class mat
ter. upon which the department rears
n HANDSOME profit Practically every
postmasier-scnoral has made the
frank s,atcment that second-clsss
matter Is instrumental IN originating
large amount Of other classes OF
mail matter.
Tho postal savings system owes its
remarkable growth 20 the widespread
publicity given IN newspapers and
periodicals.. The space In contributed
20 the government. BY this method
or encouraging thrift among th'
people tn. Postoface Department
hopes 10 restore 20 the channels o
trrde the many millions Of dollars nov
boarded. The Postofice Department
has always depended upon newspaper
for the recruiting Of new personne
through competitive civi service ex
aminaticus. Just as the Postof'ic
Department would benen, itself b.
distributing sccond-olass mail a
widely as possible AZ a low rate OF post
ass. 20 Il would likewise bencft tn
other departments Of government en-
wgcd In activities requiring use c
channels of publicity for their success
The Indispensable service performe
by the newspaper and periodical pres
Of The country during the war is We
known Little cosnixance is taken b
the KovsInment ofioials OF the peace
tirnc service of the press. The pos,
war publicity requirements Of the gov
cnrmcnt asU cpnstant-the citixsnshi
must bs kept Informed Of chsngin
laws and proposed Legislation.
taxpayers they must he instructe'
they must be advised what the dine,
cnt governmental agencies want thel
10 know about commercial opportl
mites. banking and currency cond
tions. shipping expansion. work
employment bureaus. weather for
casts. court decisions. Prosidcnti
proclamations. Congressional pr
ce.dlnss. &c.
What is thus carried through Il
mails In publications paying secon
class postage rates. saves the go
ernment tho cost OF disseminate
tho same In public documents, circ
lar announcements. or through mer
bers OF the official establishment
though II - hardly possible It cou