The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-29
COUNTRY PosrMAsTERs WARNED.

Country pOstmasters transcend the
functions of their Office when they act as
agents for newspapers. 1t is an abuse
that has become commonplace, and il
ought to be abatod. The department at
Washington should issue instructions to
this effect.
An INSCRIPTIONS postmaster is in a
position to aid the circulation of news.
papers which allow him a commission to
the detriment of honest publishers who
decline to submit to eXtortions of this
character.
The Press has refused to bride post
masters to work in its interests, and as a
result we are frequestly advised of efforts
on the part of these officials to induce
our subscribers to take rival newspapers.
which in some instances allow as high
as twenty-five per cent. commission.
We do not propose TO silently suffer from
the influence of subsidized postmasters
exerted in behalf of papers which resort
to this expedient to gain subscribers.
Legitimate methods we have always
found to be the best in furthering circu-
latiOn. of course these remark do not
apply to thoseNj pOstmasters who fulfil
their duties and do not engage in this
sort of business. Perhaps there are 9th
cas- who do not realize the improperly
and illegality of using their Office in be-
half of or against any newspaper.
Impartial administrator is the first
essential of public office. 1t IL for the
accommodation of the people, and the
incumbent who perverts it to increase
his income is guilty of dereliction and
deserves impeachment.
Let us illustrate: Surprising forty
copies of the Weekly Press go TO rural
Officer The postmaster knows the names
Of all the subscribers. He can tell them
that he will renew the subscriptions at
the same price, and save them the trouble
Of writing. He is handed a dollar and
RENTS this paper eighty cents, reserving
lwenty for his trouble. II we consent,
and the forty renew in the foregoing
fashion, he virtually takes eight dollars
out Of our pockets. Publishers all over
the country are taxed i'm this way TO an
abOminable extent. We have had numer-
Gus cases of this kind, 1.-THE postmasters
renting postage stamps, another in.
fraction of the law and invariably we
return the remittance and refuse TO be a
party to the corruption of the official.
The we are informed that rival paper
allows so and SO; but we are not emulat-
ing venal examples Of this description.
The probability is that the postmaster,
having failed to secure his bride, then
endeavOrs to coax as many of the forty
readers as possible TO take the paper
which gives him commission.
Why should avaricious and unscrupu-
lous pOstmasters be permitted TO impose
such tax upon the newspaper publish
ers Of the country There is no reason
for it. 1t is palpably wrong. And we
advise our readers TO report TO the de-
partment, or TO this Office, postmasters
who engage in the newspaper soliciting
business. II for every thousand weekly
papers mailed we pay from two hundred
to two hundred and fifty dollars tribute
TO postmasters, we cannot afford to issue
so good paper, and the subscribers are
the losers. Letpubhshers generally, who
have been leeced long enough, and
patrons of postofliees who are solicited to
subscribe for certain papers, demand of
the department at Washington that a
stop be put to this growing abuse. Meiqd-
ministration Of this type can e. ~ zoe
suppressed If the proper steps arc taken.
Troy Press,