New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09
TO OPPOSE THE LOUD BILL.
JOHN ELDERKIN AND ORV1L1E j. 'ICioi'
GO TO WASHINGTON TO PRESENT AK
GIrMENTS AGAINST 1T.

John Elderkn and Orvllle J. Victor went to WASH
ington last week to voice the opposition Of New
York publishers the Loud bill. which changes the
postage on second-class matter. Their forma argu-
ment as follows
This bill takes out OF the classification OF second
class mail matter sample copies, all BOOKS OF re-
prints of books, whether they be sold Dy suUsI1,p
lion otherwise, or whether they are ssueG d.
miims or supplements, or form parts OF regular
newspapers periodicals, and all unso;d puoHCa o
tlons that heretofore have been remaied from one
newsdeaer to another. This bill further proViiues
that all numbers OF second-cass puD.lcat.o,
sent by the publishers thereof, acting as the agent
Of an advertiser or purchaser to addresses FUR
nished by the latter, shall be taken OUT Oh inc
elias flea lion OF eecond-c.ass mail matter. -.
This is a radical change OF the postal laws az
feeling periodicals. Its immediate effect VII De u, 70
reduce the number OF special trade ppnca.VGnfs U IL
voted 20 tine manufacturing ana c9mn,erci,m W
dustries Of the country. The value OF puDcity %.
our admirable postal System until 1t IL paramount
influence in the Rrofpery OF b the biz Hus reng to
sample copies and special editions Is Girec' D.om
esfs to which this form Of advertising il Of vast
concern. IT. would be hard 10 1VeIyses ss by the
enactment 81 these provisions, and their reinorse-
loss execution by hostile and narrow-minded OIL
There is in the postoffce Department senti-
mcn antagonstic to the business Interests oil me me
country; the commerce Of the county IL more ue-
pendent upon newspaper advertslngt tnan upon any
existing agency There Is little difference IN value
~ the public between the news and the advertising
columns OK the two departments which make up
a periodical. the business world Is more dependeni
n na column When our legislators are business
men, and consult the businese Interests OF the
country they will place advertising matter IN the
most favored class.
The provision which abollshes all supplements ana ,s
premiums of regular newspaper periodicals IN me
form OF extras with reprints OF books or pampn!etss
aI sr5us anua sy at a9Gap the
AZURE OF the time TO the homes OF every state and
upon il prohibltory rate OF postage. changing the
present rate OF one cent to eight cents pouhd;
p5pS sIa'' cheap ieraturs benedcen creation Of
the present postal system which has done so mucn
proylded the people of these United States with the
greatest means OF mental and moral culture and
Innocent recreation ever known IN the history Oh
The exclusion Of sample copies mail matter OF
the second class VIII ieprive many 81 our nesi Re-
ilgious ard Sc ,uar weekly newspapers and period
Gals OF the great feeder Of tae.r subscription lists
At present the same rate Of postage IS conec Yea
upon sample copies OF u regular periodical OF me
scrlbers and there seems to Be sufficient reason
why a copy mailed to possible subscriber shou.d
be CARR at the same rate as to regular sub
ne prctext for this radical revision OF our adj
mlrable pcsta. laws Is more revenue from the mails
VIII the enactment OF this bin increase this reve-
nue. All experience goes 10 establish the TACT that
O., the pest as a medium Of exchange. and less n
the revenue In corresponding ratio; especially VIII
this when e. is claimed that TINS BIZ VIII
.cgsllte out OF existence one-halt OF the udae
per'oiods OF ert or ros.a sysiyn and make it
srlf-srstairirg then why not abolish the expensive
the sub. Hes FOR speedy ocean mail carriage
th.ngs wricn arec; legs Immediately the masses y
the people. and N.'h the lprlcaI apph'd tOn OF
the PRINCIPLES Whl il embodied ia this b!li?
That ere ls 10 such ground IN tho loss 10 the
postnficr by the carriage OK this sccond-clasS mail
matter as IL claimed ny th~ authors - this o Is
proved by the fact that al the principal express
companies that enter Chicago are now carrying the
same raster FOR one c'nt pound THIS new OK
press re:e s now IN cfe and takes IN al the Coun-
~ wcst OF ia. ohio and Peunsy yauid Sta.e lines.
This liu &C. reaction against cheap postage. ana
special legislation in ilc interest OF express com
Ianl~s II 10 past condition or pubic con-
ven!ence public taste and public needs. Al !eglsa-
AMI si.ial now conditions. but absolutely % create
them n the interest 4 advancing Intelligence The
ilp % N.rrh. ls13 such act There was 4
pronounce. call for itr1tur" In cheaper iorins, tho
by.t works ~ the best authors were men selling az
prices prob '.iory 80 all save the rich The need
was f1r form % publication which would not only
be SOLD ., low cost 10 the public. but which could
De- caeaply transmitted al over the country The
lawmakers took cognzance OF this; they fully under
stood Tie conditions. ana by the act OF March 1873,
held the malls open this class Of periodicals
These is~les called libraries. complying with al the
requirements II periodicals. quickly sp-ang into an
enormous popularity, ana thereafter the works OF
cooper. scott Dickens Thackeray. George Eliot,
Gilmore Smms captain Marryat and hundreds OF
Other good writer's we're scattered by thousands in
The homes % the farmer and the artisan by the
Pot flee 'hroug out the land.
To make up the deficiency caused by the nece'
sl'y - u1ln' aiming many hundreds OF postOf'ices
ami pos; routes which do not pay expenses and for
siles ard excessive charges FOR rail ana steamer
TIA. t.orta.iou tbs bill would impose an onerous
postal rate he literature OF the peope and the
organs q commercial Intercourse, and confer a
dangerous power ot censorship OF the press upon the
postal authorities.