Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1916 — Congressman Wood Backs Bill to Reduce Postage. [ARTICLE]

Congressman Wood Backs Bill to Reduce Postage.

Representative Wood, of this district, is one of the backers of a bill that is to attract much attention during the coming session of congress. It provides for a readjustment of the postal rates in such a manner that they will be on an average lower than they are at the present time. Congressman Wood’s bill was to have been taken dp at the last session but had to be deferred on account -of the consideration required by railway mail pay and the many other important matters that were disposed of by congress. Since the railway mail pay problem has been taken care 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 forty years ago. The present 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 thousand letters from individuals uring a readjustment of- postal rates with a 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 l cent rate on local delivery letters in the next session of congress.