Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-02-04
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL,
North Dakota Editor Thinks 1t Would
Injcre Country Publishers.


Washington. Jan. 2S.-M. H. Jewell,
publisher Of the Bismarck Tribune las
addressed u letter 10 publishers OF
country papers. daily and weekly. The
letter is protest against the Loud pos
tai bill now before the senate. and is
as follows:
Dear Sir:-IiereOn you will find
printed what is known as the Loud
Dill. relating 10 second-c!ass postage
which if passed will disastrously affect
the publishing interests Of this coum-
Try by cutting of all sample copies
wlich would include ali exchanges.
all copies TO advertisers and advertis-
ING agents, all copies issued and paid
for By campaign committees or adye.-
Users. 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
tho ruinOus rate of postage CT "one 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 off
at the expiration of the time to which
his subscription has been paid.
Mr.. Perry 5. Heath, who is the first
assistant postmaster general, in a per
sonal letter 10 Mr.. Loud has expressed
his opinion on the matter, urging an
amendment 10 the bill which would. IN
his opinion. protect the interests of
legitimate publishers.
Air. Loud is reported to have said.
IN conversation with d publisher. that
when this bill was passed he proposed
To introduce a hill prohibiting free cir
cUlation OF country papers in the coun-
~ where published. This is horne out
~ paragraph in Mr.. LIQUIDS report,
which reads as follows: They 0he
cOmmittee) do not assume that the bill
they recommend to you is perfect: fer
from it. Neither does it wholly remedy
this evil. 1t is. however, Il step in the
right direction, and goes as far as they
thought prudent at this time / large
amount of advertising contracts are
being hold up by advertisers because
OF the general belief among them chat
the adoption of this measure will re
duce circulation among the weekly ps-
pers at least 33 is per cent.
Not the least objectionable feature
Of this proposed legislation is its effect
upon immigration matters. Fer if tie
! T,rt1 u L.
Of specii' editions of the country press
containing that information which
prospective settlers and investors ali
over the country most desire. will lie
denied the privilege of second-clas5
rates now enjoyed. Net even a sin
gle extra copy. with some specially
marked article. descriptive OF the
country. Or Of some enterprise or in
dEstry. can he sent out except at enor-
inously increased rates OF postage.
Publishers generally will not fail %
appreciate the far-reaching effects OF
;his measure AID the Importance of Sc
curing its defeat Or effecting Sweepiae
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
10 defeat this dangerous measure It
would materially aid us in our work
here if you would mail us copy OF
your telegram and letter to your CON
gresham together with such othor
suggestions as you see fit to make.
Please let us hear from YOU at once"