New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
OBJECTIONS To TIE LOUD BILL.

OBJECTIONS TO THE LOUD BILL
TRADE PAPERS. THE NETWORK PUBLISHERS
COMMITTEE SAYS. WOULD BE WIPED OUT.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Our objections to the proposed new postal
law blouse bill No. 1865. as given at length IN Inc
Tribune of February g. deem to be sufficient
answer. in general way. to the statements OF the
chairman of the House Committee on Post Offices
and Poet Roads. Mr.. Loud made to your Washing
ton correspondent and appearing in The Tribune
of February 10. There are. however. some things
In his statement to which further reference seems
necessary.
The chairman, by the use Of the word "abtse,'
gives the keynote to his assault upon the postal
law Of March. 1879 and proceeding upon this as
sumption. proposes a measure which not only strikes
Mt the assumed denquents. but deals a deathbiow
at publications and publishers that he admits are
legitimately and corscientiously purveying to the
public. That Is although the admirable act OF
1879 has conferred the public the nestmabe boon
Of the cheap libraries and thus sent good literature
broadcast over the land, even to the remotest
homes yet that law must be virtually repealed, and
a new and drastic measure substituted because of
this assumed abuse.
Every observant person must see In this new act
a retrogade step in postal system. and a re-
version OF the purely American principle or the
creates, good to the greatest number This Is
the logical construction of bill No 1855 II admits
OF no other: and realizing that the chairman comes
forward with evident afterthOuRnt-a Suggestion
that as preliminary to one.cent letter rate me
class matter is essential Literally, that implies
that literature must be sacrificed to correspondetce
that the rapll; expanding press must De res'ralhed
TO sharply defined limits, IN order that an already
cheap letter ra'" may be made stu cheaper. III al
the readers Of the United States could vote upon
such propositions does intelligent person douDt
the verdict FIRST. cheap and everywhere oOtaina-
bile good reading; after that. the onc-cent rate on
letters. 49,,
The one specialized reason excuse for this
change in the postal law; ana the consequgnt us
business. IS that Of econOmy-the assumed loss 10
the Government Of 5000 go year in the carriage o
sccon. class matter. That that deficit Is nominal
We confidently assume. Instance upon liiStdnce
can be- cited OF enormous correspondence following
the Issue Of saupe copies, Supplements. special
numbers and extra editions a., Of which are ostid-
CiZcl by this departure IN postal REGISTRATION.
Instance upon instance can be given or immense
purchases Of stamps by advertisers. whose adyer.
great accessous Of business, and yet these trace
papers virtually wiped out q existence by the
terms OF this bill. rs not enttrN 10 ne" p''
rates Instances are occurring daily IN an the
great financial. commercial and mdnuiaciu rns en-
tres II 4 tremendous accession 70 the postal reFe-
MUGS by the extra distribution OF an adVertseincAt
in a magazine daily or weekly paper, ana ye'
this new scheme Of pOstat taxation Directly pro
hibs the publishers Of these periodicals from HAL
Ing these ordered copies a; sccond-class rate:
Taking all this into consideration. and giving 10
secOnd-class matter the credit most justly us uue
the NJ suned deficit; shTinks to such proportions as
quite justlhes the declaration We make that IL Is
nominal. not real. ,.,lvron
T a. VERNON,
JOHN ELDERKIN.
Committee Of New-iOrk Publishers
Washington. Fob. -. 1896.