Evening star., 1933-07-08
Postal Failure Recognized
With Single Penny as Cause

Action Of Congress in restoring the
2-cent letter rate for local mail is be-
lieved by the public to be good busi-
ness policy for the Government. in ad-
dition to being commendable accommo-
daticn for users of the post Office serv-
ice. 1t Is also suggested that under
permissive legislation, it is likely that
President Roosevelt will restore the
old 2-cent rate for all mail. as figures
SHOW that 3-cent mail has not been
successful.
The pennys difference may seem
trivial" according to the Rockford
Register Republic, yet TO concerns
which formerly spent thousands of
dollars annually for postage. it became
an item of considerable importance. 1t
is no wonder. then. that they sought to
effect economies, with heavy loss TO
taught by this experiment with the lit
tie copper penny contains a moral for
all taX-levying and tax-spending bodies.
1t tends to prove that there is a limit
beyond which the pubic will not and
cannot pay" The Columbia IS. c.
Record agrees that "3-cent argument
did not pan out" and holds that the
reduced local mail rate may not work,
but the odds are in favor of its work
ing" and it "at least recognizes the
fact that the law of diminishing re-
turns applies to Government levies as
well as to private business charges"
"One of the first lessons a business
man has to learn" advises the Youngs-
town Vindicator. lis how to price his
product If his business is such that
he must have a large number of Gus
toners. he will make the price as low
Vt,n DnCf
Department now seems to have learned
this lesson" That paper wonders II
the utilities will now return to the old
way and use the mails" and concludes:
las for the rest of us, We shall have TO
stop and consider. whenever we have a
number of letters to mail, which Will
take a red stamp and which purple.
One phase of the difficulty Tor
thoughtless persons is brought out by
the San Antonio Evening News. with
the statement: Two sets OF rates 1or
letters-after a single rate has been IN
effect for many years-will be confus-
ing, at best. For example-as the local
authorities have pointed OUT cents
will take a letter 20 miles from this
city, to Leon Springs, while cents will
be required to take it 10 miles to Elmen-
dorf. One community is served by rural
carrier, the other by its own post once.
Such inconsistencies, which doubtless
will be found all over the country, as
early as practicable should be elimi-
mated"
"The Post Office Department" thinks
the Baltimore Evening Sun, has made
the mistake of forcing the development
of competition. and that competition,
once developed. cannot be conjured
away with a wave of the hand" The
New Orleans Times-Picayune suspects
that many will fail to note the change
in the rate" but holds that ION its
own merits and as a herald of possible
further reductions, this cut deserves
notice and salutation." The Keokuk
Daily Gate City believes that 1.-The main
point of Importance is that it is wise
conc ession to public opinion and to
public convenience" The Charlotte
Observer states that "the sponsors OF
the 2-cent local rate argue that 1t will
create more than enough re-diversion
from third class to first class, and more
than enough return to the postal system
of letters now being delivered by hand,
to counterbalance the reduction of
rate"
"If the postal receipts from this class