Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-02-04
THE LOUD POSTAL BILL
North Dakota Editor Thinks It Would
Iujure Country Publishers.

Injure Country Publishers
WASHINGTON, Jan. ss.-M II. jew
ell, publisher of the Bismarck Tri-
bune, has addressed letter to pub
fishers of country papers, daily and
weekly. The letter Is protest
against the Loud postal bill now be-
fore the Senate, and is as follows:
"Dear Sir:-Hereon you will lind
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-
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
the ruinous rate of postage of"one cent
for each four ounces or fraction there
Of" The provisions of this law can
bear no other reasonable construction
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
a personal letter to Mr.. Loud has ex-
pressed his opinion on the matter,
urging an amendment to the bill which
would, in his opinion, protect the In.
terests of legitimate publishers.
'Mr. Loud is reported to have said,
in conversation with 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 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 general belief among them that the
adoption of this measure will reduce
circulation among the weekly papers
at least 33 1-3 per cent.
Not the least Objectionable feature
of this proposed legislation is its effect
upon immigration matters For 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 single
extra copy, with some specially
marked article, descriptive of the
country, or of some enterprise or in
dustry, 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 Sc
curing its defeat or effeoting sweep
ing notifications. 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 danger
GUS measure. 1t would materially aid
us in our work here if you would mail
us 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"