Milford chronicle., 1949-05-06
THE PROPOSED POSTAGE INCREASE

lne FeQerai Administration is asking
Congress to meet the deficit in the operating
expenses of the Post Office Department by
once again raising the rates of postage on
everything except first-class mail.
New rates went into effect last January,
but they are not sufficient to meet the in
creased cost of handling the mail This In
creased cost has been incurred in part be-
cause of the salary increases given postal
carriers and clerks. Yet, the Administration
apparently feels that, unlike the services
freely rendered to our citizens by the Com
merce Department without cost, which ser
vices are paid for by the taxpayers anony-
mously, the operations of the Post Office De-
partment should be paid for by those who use
it-unless they happen to be members of
Congress or governmental officials. However,
in order not to bring the cost of its opera
tions too vividly to the great mass of voters,
our people are not asked to pay more for the
privilege of sending letters and postcards
Instead the increased cost is to be concealed
from the voters and placed on the business
men who publish newspapers, magazines,
books and other such printed forms of infor-
nation. They will have to pass this increased
cost on to their customers or go out of busi-
ness. This is just plain common sense.
Can it be the hope of the Post. Office De-
partment that newspaper readers will blame
the publisher and not the Post Office Depart
ment? 1t is a well-known and ancient prac-
tice Of governments TO collect taxes indiTectI
ly whenever possible, instead of letting every
body know they are paying the cost of gov
ernment. A generation ago the cost of send
ing a letter was two cents. Then it was raised
{ to three cents. But in order that our citizens
might be we'll informed and well read the
cost of sending newspapers through the mails
was kept within reasonable bounds. The bus
4 mess of carrying information to our citizens
1 was recognized as a public function, just as
I the business of supplying education to young
citizens was charged to the taxpayers and
not the benefciaries. We all believe in free
public schools, colleges and universities. 1t
is equally important that we supply our adult
citizens with the means of continuing their
education, that we keep them well Informed
on what is going on in the world the world
of science and literature, the world of affairs,
business and politics. In democracy this
is must" That does not mean that circu-
lars, advertisements and business prospec-
fuses should not pay the full cost of their dis
tribution. There is no obligation for the tax
payer to pay for the efforts of a business
man to sell his wares. But there is very
real obligation on the part of the Govern
ment to keep the people informed at the gen.
era cost of taxpayers-sO long as this in
formation is presented in an unbiased man
ner by newspapers having as their primary
objective the presentation of the happening;
of the day. BY no means should governmental
agencies be allowed to supply this need will
propaganda releases slanted to convey th
desires of any governmental agency or Off
cial 1t is enormously important in this da,
and age that American citizens be wise ant
well-posted. For this reason alone, if for NJ
other it would seem wise to keep the p0stag
rates on newspapers and magazine within
the ability of the publishers to pay. To d
otherwise invites disaster and ruin for man
small newspapers and deprives our citizen
of the benefits and protection of free press
This effort on the part of the Post Offc
/ Department could conceivably be an enter
ing wedge to curtail the freedom of the pres
and long step toward the end of freedor
of speech. This is a danger which ever
resident of Delaware should recognize.
letter to Senators Williams and Frear, an
to Congressman Boggs in Washington vol
ing your opposition to these postage increase
would be timely and wise.
%~@&&
MILITARY PROBLEMS INCREASE
The signing of the 12-power mutual
tense treaty marked an unprecedented ne
step in foreign policy for the United States
Practically every columnist and editorial WI
ter promptly pointed this out. But conside
ably less attention has been given to the i
i tense practical problem which must be solve
If the document is to be an effective instr
ment for stopping aggression and maintai
ing the peace of the world.
The European nations which have sign
the pact-and which in many cases ha
shown great courage in doing so-Want arr
Of all kinds Only the u S. is able to provi
the desired amounts, though England will
of some <helD And arms are EXPENSIVE