The record-union., 1896-03-14
SECOND-CLAOS MATTER.
Louds Bill Would Cripple Newspaper
Circulation.
Propositions Which Would Seriously
Injure the Business of
Publishers.

Congressman Loud has introduced a
bill in Congress readjusting rates on
second d-class matter sent through the
mails. We present the bill in full here
and comment upon it in another col
umn.
Mr.. Loud's bill (H. R. 1866 reads as
follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled,
That mailable matter of the second
class shall embrace all newspapers and
other periodical publications which are
issued at stated intervals and as fire.
quently as four times year, and are
within the conditions named in Sec
tions 3 and of this Act; provided, that
nothing herein contained shall be so con-
strued as to admit to the second-class
rate publications purporting to be is
sued periodically and to subscribers,
but which are merely books, or reprints
of books, whether they may be issued
complete or in parts, whether they be
bound or unbound, whether they be
sold by subscription or otherwise, or
whether they purport to be premiums
or supplements or parts of regular
newspapers or periodicals.
Section ,. That publications of the
second class, except as provided in
Section % of the Act Of March, 3, 1879,
when sent by the publisher thereof, and
from the office of publication, excluding
sample copies, or when sent from a news
agency to actual subscribers thereto, or
to other news agents, shall be entitled
to transmission through the mails at
one cent a pound or fraction thereof,
such postage to be prepaid as now pro-
vided by law; provided, nevertheless,
that news agents shall not be allowed
to return to news agents or publishers
at the pound rate unsold periodical pub
lications, but shall pay postage on the
same at the rate of one cent for four
ounces.
Section 3. That all periodical publi-
cations regularly issued from a known
place of publication at stated intervals
as frequently as four times a year, by
or under the auspices of benevolent or
fraternal societies, trades unions, or
orders organized under the lodge sys-
tenn, and having bona fide member
ship of not less than one thousand per-
sons, shall be entitled to the privilege
that such matter shall be originated
and published to further the objects and
purposes of such society or order
Section 4. That the conditions upon
which a publication shall be admitted
to the second-class are as follows:
First-It must regularly be issued at
stated intervals as frequently as four
times a year, bear a date of issue and be
numbered consecutively.
Second-It must be issued from
known office of publication which shall
be shown by the publication itself
Third-It must be formed of printed
paper sheets without board, cloth,
leather or other substantial binding,
such as distinguish printed books for
preservation from periodical publica-
tions.
Fourth-It must be originated and
published for the dissemination of in
formation of public character, or de-
voted to literature, the sciences, arts,
or some special industry, and must have
legitimate list of subscribers who vol
UNFAIRLY order and pay for the same;
provided, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as to admit to the
second-class rate regular publications,
designed primarily for advertising pur-
poses, or for free circulation, or for cir
culation at nominal rates; and pro-
vided that all extra numbers sent by
the publishers thereof acting as the
agent of an advertiser or purchaser, to
addresses furnished by the latter, shall
| be subject to pay postage at the rate
of one cent for every four ounces or
fraction thereof; and provided further,
that it shall not be permissible to mail
any given article or articles, or any part
| of any particular number of a newspa-
per or periodical, segregated from the
rest of the publication, except at the
third-class rate of postage.
! Section ). That publishers and others
| whose publications shall be admitted as
mail matter of the second class under
| the provisions of this Act shall be re-
quired, before depositing such mail
matter in the Postoffice, to separate the
same into United States mail sacks or
| bundles by States, cities, towns and
counties, as the Postmaster General
may direct.
/ Section 6. That the Act of Congress
in regard to second-class mail matter
! approved July 10, 1854, be, and the
same is hereby repealed.
| Section Z. That this Act shall take
/ effect and be in force from and after
July 1, 1896.