The Meeker herald., 1898-02-05
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL.
North Dakota Editor Thinks That IL Wea1A
1njure County PublLshers.

lnjure Country Publishers-
Washington, Jan. 31.-M. II. Jewell,
publisher of the Bismarck Tribune.
has addressed letter to publishers OF
country papers, daily and weekly.
The letter is a protest against the Loud
postal bill now before the Senate, and
is as follows:
Dear Slr:-Hereon you will find
printed what is known as the Loud
bill. relating to second-class postage,
which, If passed. will disastrously at
feet the publishing interests OF this
country by cutting Off all sample cop
les, which would include all exchanges,
all copies 10 advertisers and advertise
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 to persons who
voluntarily order and pay for the
same except that you do so by pay
ing the ruinous rate of postage of 'one
cent for each four ounces or fraction
thereof The provisions of this law
can bear no other reasonable construc-
tion than that 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 per-
sonal letter to Mr.. Loud. has express
ed 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.. Loud's report,
which reads as follows: They, (the
commttee) do not assume that the bill
they recommend to you is perfect: far
from it. Neither does it wholly rem
edy this evil. 1t is. however. step
in the right direction, and goes as far
as they thought prudent Mt this time.
large amount of advertising con-
tracts are being held up by advertisers
because of the general belief among
them that the adoption of this meas
ure will reduce circulation among the
weekly papers at least 33 l-3 per cent.
Not the least Objectionable feature
of this proposed legislation is its effect
upon immigration matters. For II the
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 he
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-rcaching effects Of
this measure and the Importance of Be-
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 congress-
man to use his influence and utmost
efforts to defeat this dangerous meas
ure. 1t would materially aid us in our
work here if you would mail us a
copy Of your telegram and letter to
your congressman together with such
other suggestions as you see fit to
make. Please let us hear from you at
once"