Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-10

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on February "a, entitled "Un-
kindest Cut"
This editorial shows clearly
that former President Tru-
man was in error when he
accused the administration
of attempting to substitute"
the slick magazines with be-
low-cost postage rates. AS you
so well pointed out, I have
tried many times to raise
rates on these magazines, and
1t looks like we are now near
success.
l am also well aware that
The Star has been among
many eading American
newspapers that have, over
the past several years, sup
ported the moderate postage
rate proposals which we have
recommended to the Con-
gress, and, in fact, another
fine editorial March 3 entitled
Compromise or Else" again
indicated this support.
Even though these news
papers themselves must pay
part of the postage increases,
they have put the interest OF
the public above their own
interest in the finest tradition
Of American Journalism.
/ want to thank you for
this public spirited support
In this important matter as
well as for this latest editorial
which so convincingly reveals
the error in Mr.. Humans
statements.
Arthur E. Summerfield,
The Postmaster General.
This is to clarity certain
statements made in your
editorial OF February "a. In
your editorial you criticize
ex-President Truman's state
ment that the Scent letter is
a G. o. P. device to subsidize
the slick magazines. You
comment that the "Repub-
lican administration has
Striven nightly to raise the
postal rates on the slick
Magazines" only to be
blocked by a Senate Post
Office Committee controlled
by Democrats.
To say that this analysis
is superficial is being over
generous. 1t Is true that
postal rate legislation was
passed by the House in 1856
and 1857 and that another
rate bill was favorably re-
ported, but not acted upon
by the House in 1854. All of
these measures did provide
some increase in second-clasS
mail rates. However, the ma
jor opposition to these bills
was based on the unwar-
ranted increase in first-class
letter mail rates. while hard
ly disturbing the total amount
of subsidy, or loss to the
Post ONCE Department in
handling magazines and
other types of mail.
But, more specifically. let's
look at the party lineup on
the roll call votes in the Sen
ate on the postal rate bill to
judge the accuracy of Mr..
Truman's statement. On the
Monroney amendment to set
first-class rates at 4 cents in
stead Of 5 cents, IS Repub-
leans and four Democrats
voted for the scent letter:
two Republicans and 40
Democrats opposed 1t. On
the rk-Proxmire amend
ment to place an annual $l.8
million on postal losses in
Cured by any second-class
mall user applying to rates
OF large slick magazines) 20
Democrats and five Repub-
licans voted to require pub
fishers to pay the cost Of
handling their magazines,
minus a subsidy of $l.8 mil
lion: Al Republicans and is
Democrats voted to continue
"sky is the limit" subsidies
to the slick magazines. On
the Morse amendment to pro-
vide an additional increase in
second-class publishers rates
on the advertising portion Of
magazines, 10 Democrats and
four Republicans voted for
the increase: Al Republicans
and 80 Democrats voted
against the increase. On the
basis OF this record, / feel
you owe Mr.. Truman an
apology.
George M. Rhodes,
Member of Congress, Penn