The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-03
Postal Abuses.

Charles Eno:y Smith, Postmaster
General, in his snoual report, 1evo,es
considerable attention to the abuse Of
second class matter. He says
"Fhe most urgent need Of the postal
service is she recufcatioo OF the enor
uoos wrongs which have growo up 10
cue pervession and abase Of the pr:v'
lege accorded by law to secapd.class
matter.
For this costly abuse which drags
on toe department aud Weighs do9o
:be service. trammels its power and
means of effective advancement ip
every direction, involves sheer.
wansoo waste of $2O.000,00o or more
year: The postal deficit for the
curreos year is S6610.776. But fer
this wrongful application Of the secood-
class rate, instead Of deficit there
would be q clear surplus Of maoy
millions. Il is now proposed TO restrict
the privileges of legitimate publications
or to modify the design CT the Law, but
only to bring back its application to its
original and just scope "
As 30 the character OF the abuses
which lead to this loss, Mr. Smito says !:
"The first is the paper covered books
put out uoder pretense of being serial
publications They have nothing of the
nature OF periodicals. They do uot pos
sess single one OF the attributes which
Congress meant to require in publica-
tiops that should be eotitled 10 the sec
ond class rate. Their consecutive oum
beriog' is traversisy; their Issuance at
stated Intervals parody; their sub
scripsicn list' fiction (; their claim Of
beieg published for the dissemination
of Information of public character a
burle,qoe. There is nothing to dls'io
grisS them 10 substance from bound
books. apd the discrimiu alton in their
favor IS most unjust to the Publishers of
6uer literature.
..The secoud abuse is connected with
tie advertising house organ and the
80 called trade journal. One of my pre-
decessors. Postmaster General BisseiI,
characterized it as the bogus trade
jouroal There are many geuu ne
trade journals which are as legitimate
as aoy periodical aud justly eot,slsd TO
all their privileges.
"These are rot included 10 tbe oriti.
cisms. But the trade journal described
is simply 40 advertising scheme 1t is
no, designed to disseminate information
of public character. aud has 90 stand.
iug as che exponent Of auy trade or 10.
dus,ry These prints do not conform
in any just sense to the requirements of
the law, but cffer only nominal aud
technical conformity.
"Ths third abuse grows out Of the
privilege of sample copies. The sample
copy of regularly admitted paper or
periodical, counting for supper. upoo
its merits is presumably designed ,c
induce new subscription BY exhibiting
lie merits 10 new quarter. But. as q
matter of fact. 10 many instances the
sample copy has become GOT the ipdivi-
dual exhibit. but the potential cloak OF
thousand times multiplied distribution
without regard to subscriptions, aud
solely. as the plea and pledge fos
advertising.
..The difficulty must be cured by the
law-uakirg power. The poiots to be
reached are clear and we'll de6oed 1t
is vital to rcestablisb in their proper
classification and forbid the privilege
of the pound rate to serial libraries of
books, to house organs and other
sheets of an exclusive advertising CHAR
ac,er. to sample editions for advertising
purposes. to advertising circulars which
are masked under the names Of fraterDsl
societies, to returos b3 oews agepte of
uosoid periodicals, and to schemes by
which publishers pervers their preroga
tives BY sending matter in their owo
names at the pouud rate for advertisers
aud purchasers who Da9e oos toe
privilege