The Yale expositor., 1898-02-04
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL.
North Dakota EdisJr Thinks IL Would
Injure Country Publishers.

North Dakota EdisJr Thinks It Wouid
InJure Country Publishers.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-M. II. Jewell,
publisher of the Bismarck Tribune, has
addressed a letter to publishers OF
country papers, daily and weekly. the
letter lisa protest against the Loud pos
tai bill now before the senate, and Is
as follows:
Dear Sir:-Hereon you will find
printed what is known as the Loud
bill, relating to second-class postage,
which IL passed will disastrously affect
the publishing interests of this coun-
try by cutting off all sample copies,
which would include all exchanges,
all copies to advertisers and advertis-
ing agents, all copies issued and paid
for by campaign committees or adver- ,
tisers, all copies desired to be circu-
lated for the purpose of securing new
the bill would only allow you to send
copies of your paper "to persons who
voluntarily order and pay for the
same" except that you do so by paying,
the ruinous rate of postage OF zone cent
for each four ounces or fraction there,
Of" The provisions of this law can
bear no other reasonable construction
than that a subscriber must be cut OF
at the expiration of the time to which
his subscription has been paid.
"Mr. Perry S. Heath, who is the first
assistant postmaster general. in a per-.
sonal letter to Mr.. Loud has expressed
his opinion on the matter urging an
amendment to the bill which would, in
his opinion, protect the interests OF
legitimate publishers.
"Mr. Loud is reported to have said,
in conversation with a publisher, that
when this bill was passed he proposed
to introduce bill prohibiting free cir
culation of country papers in the coun-
ty where published. This is borne out
by paragraph in Mr.. LIQUIDS report,
which reads as follows: They (the
committee) do not assume that the bill
they recommend to you is perfect; far
from 1t. Neither does it wholly remedy
this evil. 1t is, however, a step in the
right direction, and goes as far as they
amount of advertising contracts are
being held up by advertisers because
of the general belief among them that
the adoption of this measure will re-
duce circulation among the weekly pa
pers at least 33 1-3 per cent.
mot the least Objectionable feature
Of this proposed legislation is it's effect
N1,a
Loud bill becomes law, extra copies
OF special editions of the country press
containing that information which
prospective settlers and investors all
over the country most desire, will be
denied the privilege of second-class
rates now enjoyed. Not even a sin
gle extra copy, with some specially
marked article, descriptive of the
country, or of some enterprise or in
dustry, can be sent out except at enor-
mously increased rates Of postage.
Publishers generally will not fail to
appreciate the far-reaching effects of
this measure and the Importance OF Sc
curing its defeat or effecting sweeping
notifications. We expect your coop
Grafton in an effort to amend or defeat
this bill. We urge you to act at once.
Telegraph and write your congressman
to use his influence and utmost efforts
to defeat this dangerous measure. 1t
would materially aid us in our work
here if you would mail us a copy of
your telegram and letter to your con-
gresham together with such other
suggestions as you see fit to make
Please let us hear from you at once"