HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

Y. S. Congress House, COMMITTEE ON

THE POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTIETH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H. R. 9296

A BILL TO AMEND TITLE II OF AN ACT APPROVED
FEBRUARY 28, 1925, REGULATING POSTAL
RATES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

91123

Printed for the use of the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON

1928

Summary of the bill

4

Statement of Hon. Joseph Stewart, executive assistant to the Postmaster

General (direct statement) –

5-79

Private mailing cards_-_

6

Business reply cards and envelopes--

10

Deficient postage--

14

Second-class matter

16

Cost of handling__

33

Comparison of revenues and weights, third and fourth class_

Graph showing extent of reduction in rate according to weight__

Effect of reduced rates on revenues of department-.

Statement of Will V. Tufford, of Inland Daily Press Association_

Statement of Arthur J. Baldwin, president National Publishers' Asso-

ciation_

53

59

61

63

68

68

69

69

Criticism of cost report of Post Office Department as a sole basis

of rate making_.

85

Analysis of revenues and expenditures for second class according to

postage-rate classifications_____

90

Analysis of expenses charged according to objects for which incurred_

Expenses of Post Office Department do not increase in proportion

to revenue---.

90

92

Statement of Arthur J. Baldwin, etc.-Continued.

Division of zone-rate class into weight groups.

Chart showing revenues, pieces and weights according to weight

units___

Chart showing expense per pound according to weight units___

Chart showing weight of advertising in the mails compared with

advertising in 150 magazines‒‒‒‒

Value of advertising, quoting Postmaster General.

Statement of Leonard R. Condon, president American Seed Trade Associa-

tion_-_.

Favoring elimination of 2 cents service charge on parcel post and

pound rates for third class_-_.

Statement of Elisha Hanson, American Newspaper Publishers' Associa-

tion

Urges adoption of bundle rate and 1920 schedule of postage..

Returns to mails of second class now handled by other methods___

Baggage car rates on newspapers_.

Use of rural carriers by newspapers--

Amount of business in mails if bundle rate is granted....

St. Louis Globe-Democrat, mailing-list disposal

Answers to questions by Mr. Seeman, of Globe-Democrat..

Statement of J. D. Barnum, of Syracuse Post-Standard_.

Urges adoption of 1920 rates on second class_-_.

Recommends bundle rate on newsdealers' packages....

Further statement of Joseph Stewart, executive assistant to the Post-

master General____

Page

94

93

95

98

106

107

107

107-124

Proposes modification of bill relating to third class, so as to permit

use of precanceled stamped

128

Statement of E. T. Meredith, publisher, Des Moines, Iowa.

130-143

Effect of zone rates on second class___

131

Advertising in publications develops other classes of mail..

133

Statement of Richard H. Lee, National Council of Business Mail Users_ 143-160

Griest bill constructive but should be amended in slight particulars__ 143

Effect of increased rates on third class___

Possibilities in increased volume of mails__.

Commendation of private reply card and envelope....

Effect of proposed pound rate on third class___.

147

150

153

154

No connection with Le Claire, of Davenport, Iowa....

Statement of Hon. Luther A. Johnson, Representative sixth district of

Texas

163

Favoring 1920 rates--

163

Opposing 20-pound limitation on third class__.

163

Additional statement of Richard H. Lee regarding Canadian postal rates_

Statement of Frank E. Davis, of Davis Fish Co..

166

169

Effect of 2 cents increase in parcel-post rates_.

170

Recommends restoration of 1 cent for 2 ounces on third class___

Business reply cards----

174

174

Comparison of third-class rates with Canadian rates_.

Statement of R. B. Robinette, secretary Hascall Paint Co., Cleveland,

Ohio____

Statement of J. E. Wilson, representing the Larkin Co., Buffalo, N. Y. 187-193

Urges further reduction of third and fourth class rates than carried

in H. R. 9296__

Compares Canadian railway operation.

Canadian postal rates----

Additional postage expense under increased rates_

187

188

189

190

185, 186

185

Letter from Association of National Advertisers__

Statement of Mr. M. C. Robins, representing Associated Business Papers

(Inc.)

Relation between cost of preparing editorial contents and subscrip-

tion price.‒‒‒‒‒

Business papers do not use rural delivery-

Urges 1920 rates--

Statement of Reese V. Hicks, managing director, International Baby

Chick Association__

Growth of baby-chick business..

Effect of rates on parcel-post drives to express

Method of shipping by parcel post compared with express_

Special handling charge..

Statement of Fred K. Carey, secretary-treasurer Peter J. Carey & Sons,

New York City-----.

Free circulation papers-

Method of circulation__

Third and fourth class rates of postage apply.

Page

193

195-202

195

200

201

202-212

203

204

205

209

213-228

213

214

216

217

228

No paid circulation and can not get publisher's second-class rates-

Suggested rate and restrictions on free-circulation publications---- 223-228

Statement of Tate Butler, Birmingham, Ala‒‒‒‒‒‒.

Discrimination in proposed second-class rate between zones 3 and 4- 229

Statement of Chester H. Gray, Washington representative, American

Farm Bureau Federation_-_-

Retail stores of mail-order houses do not cause decrease in parcel

post-

236

Recommendation for creation of office of director of parcel post---.

Special handling charge..

Draft of legislation for director of parcel post---.

Statement of Carey E. Quinn, Washington correspondent, National Letter

Postage Association_.

Recommends a rate of 1 cent on local letters as provided in H. R.

8545, introduced by Mr. Griest---

Loss in revenue under proposed 1-cent rate on local letters--

Statement of A. B. Barber, manager transportation and communications,

242

243-250

244

246

Free mail services should be charged to Treasury and not to postal

revenues

258

Statement of Hon. Franklin Menges, Representative in Congress from

Pennsylvania.

263

Recommends reduction of proposed pound rate on third class from

12 to 8 cents per pound___

Statement of Cranston Williams, secretary-manager Southern Newspaper

Publishers' Association.

263

264-267

Indorses general presentation of Mr. Baldwin for second class---.

Urges return to 1920 rates__

264

265

Additonal tonnage to be placed in mails under 1920 rates_

265

Believes 1921 rates mark turning point where publishers seek other

means of transportation than mails----

266

Statement of Fred Brenckman, Washington representative of National

Grange_

267