New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-30
POSTAGE on PkOOE-SHEETS.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN MECHANICAL AND INTEL
LECTUAL PROOF READING.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The determined effort OF the present
Administration put the whole Cyil Service In antlg
ousm with the Press to have extended as far az
tho Post ONCE Dep rment. This made clear To the
writer during the past week.
have been reading for the author. who Is absent
from the city, the proofs OF volume which Is now In
course OF Publication at the University Press at Cam
bridge These proofs have been passing TO ana FRO I'M
nterruptedy until last n.y. when small package
Of them received marked Due &c ceuts-writing
other than corrections" Surprised that so stad firm
Wech, BIgelOw Co. should be guilty Of "A violation
of the postal laws, hastily broke open the package
expecting to find smugRed correspondence. instead oil
which found only twelve pages OF proof previously
corrected by and two of revised proof OF the
same AS l have formerly had occasion 10 do 10
another capacity. Immediately wrote for an eXpdRa-
ton TO efficient Postmaster who gave me prompt
and courteous rely, referring me to Department cir
cular which he incloscj and from which quote the
following Regulation" there credited 10 Page ia,
Section 29" the italics being those of the Department.
Corrected trootshe Will be charged WIN postage
the prescribed tnirfcas5 matter In case me
corrections be those only OF Typographical errors out
If re,1 matter introduced bg The corrections or any
noi1tors ndde By uatch Information ~ osGed or cor
reyed Instructions giren ~ rItHy e ShtetS are sue
jeef 70 hier pOStdge"
Note the worSings Of this rule writer for the press
receives from his pubish proof-saeets Of all article
or book As long as nc cOu1uos himself to the alpha
bet OF progressing, such as " W. fsp' ." cs" aho
us.." violence Is done 10 the N1eDectua! senSo
OF The Post-Olice Department But lot him attempt 10
do this work anything bordering an intelligent
Manner, substituting correct statements for incorrect
incomplete matter, supplying necessary ell
slons mcroscOpicaliy revising the written word aud
tue whole Executive branch OF the Government up in
arr "A 10 Ina hnr1 mr.
sary weight OF Public documents do not
demand this revision, and not they the perfection
OF accuracy
But this no, ALL In the Of the writer the Post
called special attention the directions given
page 10" Of the PROOF. Aud, Mr.. Editor. what do
you imagine &" the directions given on page ~ to have
bceni Were they instructions 10 draw upon the writer
for Democratic campaign expenses In the doubtful
Statesi Were they instructions 10 the University Press
to print and send TO the Fret Assistant POstma ter
General edition Of The Shin Of Fools for gratul-
distribution through the Department? Strange
1t may seem, they were none OF these. / quote the
directions full Please send revise pp 1880" How
tho Regulations" 0; this ID parmcnt must delight the
soul Of that dear old mechanical proofreader who
from hls grave to mark turned 4" - in his epi:aph!
In word this rule q believe it has not yet attained
the dignity of law would smother the beautiful but
cIhy conceptions OF Cougres in their chrysalIs state.
Instead OF fostering literature by observing tho spirit OF
the law it would add IL to the tarf list 10y narrow
depreciation II the letter That II docs have
direct influence ia this direction due largely the fact
that strict and unwaraued c0nstruc lion OF the law
Is neither known 10 writers enforced by officials.
safety that depends the laxy OF post-oice clerk
held avery uncertaq tende indeed As the rule stands
1t a rrem:um upon incompetehCy and ignorance both
10 proofreadcrs and Government employees. In this ia
stance We suppose the redress lies with Gov. Jewell
VIII not TIN TRIBUNE, which has been the originator of
SO many reforms and tho auxiliary Of all start a
tracer the track OF the person with whom rests the
responsibility OF making nugttcry the clearly
and platform fortified demand OF the people tor cheap
postagel r. U. }.
90