Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-02-09
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL.
North Dakota Editor Thinks 1t Would
Injure Country Publishers,


WASHINGTON. Jan. BIN. III. Jewell
publisher of the Bismarck Tribune, has
addressed letter to publishers OF
country papers, daily and weekly. The
letter is protest against the Loud postal
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 if 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
subscribers, and in the language of
the bill would only allow you to send
copies of your paper ito persons who
voluntarily order and pay for the
same" except that you do so by paying
the ruinous rate of postage of lone
cent for each four ounces or fraction
thereof" The provisions of this law
can bear no other reasonable construc-
ton than that subscriber must be
cut off 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-
soual 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 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 re-
port, which reads as follows; "They
the committee) do not assume that the
bill they recommend to you is perfect;
far from it. Neither does it wholly
remedy this evil. 1t is, however, a
step in the right direction, and goes as
far as they thought prudent at this
time" A large amount of advertising
contracts are being held up by adver-
tisers because of the general belief
among them that the adoption of this
measure will reduce circulation among
Ihe weekly pdpcrS dI ledSt % 10 per
cent.
mot the least Objectionable feature
of this proposed legislation is it's effect
upon immigration matters. For if the
Loud bill becomes a 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 single
extra copy, with some specially marked
article descriptive of the country, or of
some enterprise or industry, can be
sent out except at enormously increas-
ed rates of postage. Publishers gen
orally will not fail to appreciate the
far-reaching effects of this measure
and the Importance of securing it's de-
feat or etfecting sweeping modifica.
tions. We expect your co-operation 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. II
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"