Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-27
NEW POSTAL RATES
AIMED At PAPERS,
L|GHERS CHARGE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. - a
charge that the postoffice depart
ment's cost ascertainment report
was especially aimed at newspapers
and periodicals was made Wednes,
day before the senate postosfice sub
committee by Arthur J. Baldwin,
president Of the National Publish
ers' association.
Appearing at public hearings to
oppose the $4,000, 600 advance in
second class mail rates under the
administration bill to take care OF
pay raises for postal employees, Bald
win said Joseph Stewart, who hal
charge of the compilation of the re-
port, had an Obsession that the sec
ond class mail was big burden on
the department..
Il think he said, "this report is
framed with one specific thing in
mind, to show that the enormous
cost in the postOffice is in the han
ding 'Uf second class mail matter.
For Farmer, Not Publisher
Referring to the rural free deliV'
cry charge against periodicals, Bald
win said congress established this
service not for the benefit of the
publishers, but of the farmers. This
service costs approximately $780,
600. 600 year.
THAT 100000 900 should be re-
Garded as an appropriation for the
relief of the rural population" he
said.
Baldwin said he was not present
to say that the increase in the sal
aries of postal employees is not JUS
titled and merited
Il am here to say" he declared,
that as far as the method of rails
ing it is concerned, it is wrong"
Before Baldwin took the stand, +.
II. Sissby, representing the account
ing firm of Ernst e Ernst, which
made a recheck of the report, de-
Tended the document.
Defended by Investigator
at is our opinion he said, that
the data obtained for the purpose
can be considered adequate and that
it has been used in accordance with
the best established practices OBJ
served in obtaining similar results in
commercial enterprises. The report
Of the cost committee reflects a fair
and reasonably accurate apprOXima-
ton of the relative revenues and eX-
penditures applicable to the several
classes of mail and special service. -
Like the American Newspaper
Publishers association, Baldwin S
organization protested against the
short time given for the publishers
to argue on the cost ascertainment
report. Chairman Moses interrupt
ed to say that he regarded some of
the conclusions in the report with
great skepticism.
Baldwin disag greed with some com
mitteemen that the postoffice de
partment should be self-sustaining.
He declared it should not be so as
long as congress decreed that it
should handle free matter for other
departments, should carry literature
for the blind without charge, ana
perform other services at a loss.
Not Logical, He Says
"There is nothing logical or
equitable in that arrangement" he
said. Congress provides for this
service, and then says that the other
classes pay for it.
Baldwin also disagreed with the eX-
perts that the cost of handling each
piece of mail should be based on
time and not on weight or bulk. He
asserted that it must cost more to
handle an S0pOund parcel post
package than a newspaper.
Baldwin discussed the section of
tie report showing a loss of only
$4,000 900 on handling magazines
other than scientific and religious
works. which takes a free preferen
tial rate.
Il have heard it stated in con
gress. he said. that the Saturday
Evening Post alone enjoys a subsidy
from the government of $25 100000
This report shows that the loss on
that magazine, the Woman's Home
Companion and the hundreds OF
other ma gaines is less than $4,000,
900. L am glad the department
finally has nailed the falsehoOd re
garding the Saturday Evening Post.
Turning Away From Mails
at was disclosed that some of the
large magazines are getting away
from the use of the mails.
DO YOU think our publishers arc
approaching the situation in Eng
land where there are no mail sub
scription lists because of mail rates.
asked Chairman Moses.
Yes in the case of magazines oil
large circulation"
Chairman Moses expressed the
opinion that the practice now o
some gaines to ship large mum
bers of copies by freight for re-entrH
into pOstoffices in states other thar
that of publication is subversiVe OF
the spirit of the second-ciass law
privileges. This practice, he added
is to escape the zone charge.
r. Determined to have posetal rate
increase bill out before the senate
gets to q vote early next month on
the presidents veto of the postal sal
airy increase bill, the joint congress
siOnal committee drove forward will
( hearings on the measure. Additional
officials of the postOffice department
and others were called to explain