Saturday, November 25, 2017

Millions Petition Post Office For One Cent Letter Postage, 1916

From The Commonwealth, Scotland Neck, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1916

One Cent Postage Is a Possibility Soon…Next Congress Will Be Asked to Give Relief at Next Term of Congress…Committee’s Favorable Report

Washington, D.C., Nov. 27—The ways are now being greased for the launching of a movement for the readjustment of postage rates in the next session of Congress. This problem was to have been taken up on the last session but had to be deferred on account of the consideration required by railway mail pay. Since this has been disposed of the committees are prepared to take up the matter of placing the various postal rates on a more equitable basis.

A zone system of rates for second class matter is being prominently urged to take the place of the present flat rate which was adopted nearly 40 years ago. The present rate has for some time been regarded as a discrimination against the newspapers in favor of the great national magazines. Like the parcel post the proposed zone rates would be based on the length of the haul.

The postal committees have been besieged by petitions bearing millions of names and several hundred thousands letters from individuals urging a readjustment of postal rates with the view of making possible one cent letter postage. A survey of the situation indicates that sufficient changes will be made in the various rates to permit the granting of a one cent rate on local delivery letters in the next session of Congress.

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