Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-02-02
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL.
North Dakota Editor Thinks 1T Would In
jure Country Publishers.

|
jure Country Publishers.
Washington, Jan. 31.-H. NJ. 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
II passed will disastrously affect the
publishing interests of this country by
cutting off all sample copies, which
would include all exchanges, all copies
to advertisers and advertising agents,
all copies issued and paid for by cam
paign committees or advertisers, all
copies desired to be circulated 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 sone cent for each four
ounces or fraction there o. The pro-
visions of this law can bear no other
reasonable construction than that a
subscriber must be cut off at the ex
piraton of the time to which his sub
scription has been paid.
Mr.. Perry S. Heath, who is the first
assistant postmaster general, in 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, tn at
when this bill was passed he proposed
to introduce bill prohibiting free cir
culation of country papersin the county
where published. This is borne out by
paragraph in Mr.. Loud's report, which
reads as follows; They (the committeel
do not assume that the bill they rec
ommend 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 advertisers because
of the general belief among them that
the adoption of this measure will re-
duce circulation among the weekly
papers at least 331s per cent.
Not the least objectionable feature
of this proposed legislation is it's effect
upon immigration matters. Fcr if 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 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 increased
rates of postage Publishers generally
will not fail to appreciate the far
reaching effects of this measure and
the Importance of securing its defeat
or effecting sweeping notifications.
we expect your cooperation 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. Itwould ma
terially aid us in our work here if you
wonld mail US copy of your telegram
and letter to your congressman, to-
gether with such other suggestions as
you see fit to make. Please let us bear
from you at once