New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-01
PROPOSED PNSTAL REFORMS.
AN ATTEMPT To REMEDY INEQUALITIES AND
ABU5Es IN THE PRESENT LAW.

AN ATTEMPT To REMEDY INEQUALITIES AND
ABUsEs II TIE PREsENT LAW.
Washington, Jan 3l.-Congressman owen scott. Of
Illinois has had series OF conferences with the POST
Office Department and with officials OF the Nauona
Editorial Association, within the last few weeks, ana
A. result Of these conferences has framed number
Of bills designed TO correct certain determinations
complained of by newspaper publishers generally ahc
acknowedg ed by pOstOfice officials TO exist In t1I
present law. These bills will De introduced Ill Tie
House tomorrow, and in urging them upon Congress
during the coming session Mr.. ScOtt will have the CO.
operation of n committee specially app dated for this
purpose by the newspaper publishers Of The Cnitec
states.
The most important OF these seehs 10 pro-
hibt advertising sheets from being transmitted at tho
rates for legitimate newspapers Great abuses are
said grown up under this law as it now st@uS
the Postofice Department seems po"erless 10 pre-
vent them. Persons desiring TO advertise some
nostrlIm speciality start social he"spSPei
put in columns OF plate matter. make uhe rev
ul,ite aiiidavits, and get the papers aiintted nv
second-cass rates Of postage. They publish nominal
subscription price and have but small list OF merely
nominal paid subscribers. Then the abuse goes
step further VITA Il LIST Of 100. possibly ooo SUD
scnbers said to be paid for sample copies, oiNhu-S
of many thousands. dumped on the mails WIN cach
issue This Mr. insists. Is fraud on the postal
service His bin seeks prevent tlls by limit ny
the number OF sample copies 10 onthah the huhuer Oh
actual paid subscribers, and more mily ue7ohoi"F
and classifying newspapers 50 as to eAciuae mere
advertising sheets.
Another reform sought to be effected is to prevent
more books and reprints OF books being ciNuIa'e1 d.
second-olass or newspaper matter lheie aIo' w.
Scott says a great many firms engaged IN pruning
.sraI matter which circudies through the mails ~
/ cent per pound new papeis. IAeS are !" 'i'
sense NEWSPAPERS and no more admissible al sec
ondclass postage rates than bound books containing
:, much higher grade OF fcu u. il this class o pao
la
rates the mails would be greatly relieved OF an unjust
burden. ...,.,a
te hostage on publications. entitled TO circulate Tree ia
the counties where they are published A the III"
now stands tie Il sldencc OF the subscriber dst rlea
whether the paper goes free not. Where pOstJccs
are near county lncs, many dlmcuiuco are ei'o"'
tered. TOstnasteIs at county SEATS ana O'her Po"''
remote rom the county line postoice have no means
Of knowing whether subscribers live ia the county VI
publication or line IN tlc Olher county, "a
D OncIed by Mr.. scott proposes 70 chahEe w .is
% tna papers shall cicuats free to All po5oI.n.oo
In IL. county where The publication Is maue' ics"''
of the residence of the subscriber ..,
Another discrimination bears heavily on oe, ,tI
elias es Of publishers newspapers At lctte!.chii7i
Offices any paper other than weekly IS required 10
btar ctn stamp Oh each copy neiiTTrs .s1 az tT
weekly or monthly can be mailed 10 any once, ~
pound rates the ONCE where II Is puOiisIieu ~
costs cent each copy 10 have II GeIlNeleu " ,
suhscrbers 4 semi monthly monthly paper PM
lshed in Bloomington Ill, under the present Ia" can
lie to Francisco or New YORK at CEN hr ~
II is published costs the eXOrbitant rate OF cent "a
copy weekly paper becomes prosperous and %lshcS
10 become a semi weekly, the postal laws lays an
embargo on this enterprise and spread Of intelligence
BY requiring prohibive postage 1t would cost 81 "a
twice. week delivered in the city where 1t Is
pAnted Mr.. scott's bill puts papers published daily,
bss a. weellies and makes the rate OF postage uni
form at all carrier Offices at cent pound