Evening star., 1926-05-02
Wartime Postal Rates.

When the United States went 10
var in 1917 additional revenue was
required to meet the cost Of the ma
tional defense. An extraordinary war
revenue law was enacted. which pro
vided, with other means Of adding TO
the Federal income, for four success
siye increases in the second class
postal rates TO take effect annually
thereafter. TO these increases the
publishers of newspapers throughout
the United States assented as a meas
ure OF war necessity. The result,
however, was to drive millions OF
copies Of newspapers from the mails.
TO necessitate the adoption of other
means Of distribution, and, further
more, the increases in revenue were
not up to expectations. The first two
of the four annual increases In rates
produced sl3,3s2 900 additional income
for the Government without mate
rally affecting newspaper circulation
through the mails. The next two.
however, equal in percentage to the
first two, destroyed mail circulation to
such an extent that they produced
only s97 900 additional revenue. The
fourth increase actually produced a
smaller revenue during the first year
Il its operation than the third.
These facts have been set forth in a
statement presented at the latest meet
ing of the American Newspaper Pub
lishers' Association in connection with
efforts that are now being made 20
secure an amendment 10 the postal
ate law which will readjust the rates
from the wartime increases. A Joint
committee has been at work in the
study Of this question for some time
by mandate Of the last Congress, and
The present understanding is that it
has about completed its task ana is
soon to report its conclusions. It is
the present hope that this report will
he submitted in season for enactment
this Spring.
The post is the natural means OF
circulating periodicals., especially
newspapers, beyond the range Of al.
rect distribution. When the rates.
however, are raised to a proffbitive
rui1t, as in the case Of the third and
fourth Of the successive war time In.
creases, other means must be found
hy publishers for this wider distribu-
lion. Truck deliveries and baggage
deliveries have been adopted. The
Government Is deprived OF postal busf-
ness. Publishers and the readers OF
newspa pers at a distance from the
points Of production are. in effect, de.
MED the use Of the postal service.
Since the wartime increases we're
made by the law Of 1917 transporta-
tion conditions have materially
changed Road improvements have
heen carried out to great extent and
motor busses have in many cases sup
plemented or replaced local trains.
Truck services have been established
over short tauls. In fact. the condi-
lions have been radically altered dur
ing this past decade. All these fac
tors enter into the question OF a re-
vision of the postal rates
Newspaper readers as well as pub
fishers are concerned in this matter.
The Government is concerned, Tor
postal revenues have diminished under
tho operation Of the successive in.
greases, the necessity for which, re-
sardless Of results, has passed, and
fhe wisdom Of which, especially the
last two advances, was always doubt
ed, The law of 1917 was an emer-
sency measure. hastily framed. 1t
has proved in respect to certain OF its
features to be burdensome instead OF
helpful. and its amendment should oe
effected at once.