Well, yes, that may be. But most of those within range of my vision from the ladder top appear to be devoting their most active and strenuous industry to “working” the people. No, I do not like that type of human animal popularly designated as a “practical” politician. Especially do I not like him in public office--executive, legislative or judicial--elective or appointive, and I have run the lines on a good many of them. Most of them when in positions of official power and _opportunity_ act as if their consciences had been handed down in original packages direct from their jungle ancestors. At any rate most of those in positions of official power and authority seem to follow one working rule, and follow it, too, both industriously and consistently. _To conceal one theft, steal more._ The typical “practical” politician, when holding down a public office, usually holds-up the people. They pose and talk as courageous patriots and _large_ thinkers. Under close scrutiny, however, most of them will show up or show down merely as _discreet private or personal interest liars_. But I have permitted my field glass to ramble from the specific to the general. Whether the three _passed_ members of the 1906-7 commission are politically dead or taking only a temporarily enforced rest, the situation is one which suggests the propriety of that subdued and respectful tone one is expected to use when standing by as a friend is lowered to an enforced rest. I shall now offer my strictures of a few recommendations made by the 1906-7 commission and of some of the arguments the commission’s report offers to their support. The first objection I find to the report of this Penrose-Overstreet Commission is that several of its paragraphs indicate that the commission appears to have been afflicted with Mr. Hitchcock’s current ailment--an ingrown idea that some action, legislative or other, must be taken in order to curb the circulation growth and keep down the piece or copy-weight of periodicals. To The Man on the Ladder such an idea is not only faulty to the point of foolishness but it violates long established and successfully applied business practices in the transportation and handling of goods or commodities, whatever their character. The idea, it would appear, is based upon an oft-repeated but nevertheless false statement of fact, to the effect that the government is losing money in the carriage and handling of second-class mail at the cent-a-pound rate.