COST ACCOUNTING IN THE SERVICE OF POLICY REFORM - POSTAL RATE MAKING,1875-1926

The nation's largest public utility, the Post Office Department, lacke d a regular means of ascertaining the costs of providing different mai l services until 1926. Some Progressive Era lawmakers hoped that facts adduced through cost accounting would prompt reform of the postal sub sidy long enjoyed by the press. Their efforts, however, were hindered by a limited understanding of overhead costs and by congressional cont rol of rate making.