The Cordova daily times., 1922-05-19
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922
SERVICE NEWSPAPERS RENDER

Selling service for Uncle Sam IS function of newspapers and periodicals too often over looked by members of Congress. Fubllcatlohs arc tie invaluable sales agencles Whlch Keep the governments cash registers tlngllng COIL stantlv. vet they receive no commlsslon TOT ue veIoping business for the Post Office Depart ment and other Federal organizations. Ihere is q deplorable tendency on the part of govern mnnt statisticians to overlook the fact that the ,pvenun accurino to the Post Office from It's onerations need not be direct or paid ln pos taoe or in money to be measurable and that inc indirect returns are specially noteworthy in connection with the distribution of second class matter.
 The Post Office is the largest business op- eration in the world, as it has an annual turn over in excess of $3,0 3,000,0O0OO0 and has 326,- GOO employees on its payrols. Newspapers, through their editorial and advertising col umns, create profitable employment for the Post Office Department in addition to adVanc- ing the social welfare for the people.
 A discriminatory tax originally imposed as q War Revenue Measure, is driving these sales producing agencies from the Post Office De lartment, the Governments biggest business institution The excessive postal rates re- strict the circulation of newspapers and at the same time shut off revenues from other sources. News and advertising pages of pub Icatons increase the desire of the public for various commodities. Second class matter car ried at low rate produces large quantities of letter mail. paying the highest rate of pos tage An official report from Government nvestigating body known as the Penrose- Go, ot+ 1ol tn "a in the declaration that ''second class matter is itself the cause of a great volume of flrst class matter. upon which the Department reaps handsome profit" Practically every postmaster general has made the frank state ment that second class matter IS instrumental in originating a large amount of other classes of mail matter.
 In facilitating the widest distributing of publications entered as second class mall mat ter, the post office is at the same time pro- noting it's own activities and bringing about closer cooperation of it's own patrons Tn the direction of better and more economical ser vice. The Post Office Department has of late utilized these sales agencies by inauguratlng a widespread plan of campaign of publicity Through these mediums, the Federal Govern ment delivers a personal message to the us CTS of the mails.
 The postal savings system owes it's remark able growth to the widespread publicity given in newspapers and periodicals. The space IS contributed to the Government By this meth cd of encouraging thrift among the people the Post Office Department hopes to restore to the channels of trade the many millions o1 dollars now hoarded. The Post Office Depart ment has always depended upon newspapers for the recruiting of new personnel through competitive civil service examinations. Just as the Post Office Department would benefit istelf by distributing second class mail as widely as possible at low rate of postage, SC it would likewise benefit the other depart ments engaged in activities requiring use o1 channels of publicity for their success.
 The indispensable service performed by the newspapers and periodical press of the country