Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-02-07
@
The Second Glass Mail Abuss9

passed ne famous i1OuQ jill IOuld
have bten 50 amended as TO have
brought about the desired change.
The evil at which it aimed cost the
people OF the Quilted States about
$50 900, 600 a year with no returns ex-
cept to few private interests. The
principle on which the bill was based
IS correct. As it was reported from
the committee, however it allowed
no publication to send out mole than
500 sample copies and contained pro
visions which would have initiated
against the circulation Of the irregu-
lar but highly valuable publications
Of educational institutions. The
first defect, to which many country
newspapers are opposed, it is hoped
to eliminate by permitting the sample
copy to publications Of bona fde cir
culation. With these changes and
one or two others Of minor charac-
ter not affecting the principle Of the
bill or thwarting its aim the measure
would undoubtedly be acceptable to
the publishers OF every bona fide
periodical il the country
The extent Of the abuses to which
the second-class mail privilege has
been subjected is hardly appreciated
The rate Of cent a pound ON this
class of matter which was intended
to encourage the dissemination of
knowledge and information in the
form of newspapers and magazines
has been used by all sorts of persons
for the free distribution of all sorts Of
printed matter. Not only are there
houses that make a business OF print
ing cheap and trashy books in the
form of "A periodical consecutively
numbered, bat there are many con-
Germs that issue advertising sheets
that contain no reading matter ex-
cept few paragraphs here and there
of uncertain aye and no possible
value. This latter evil is aided by
the sample copy privilege intended
only for legitimate publications.
While no blame can be attached to
them for taking advantage of the Sec
ond-class privilege, there is not the
slightest reason why congress should
to subsidize these utterly
u seless concerns at the rate of 500
900, 900 year. Over half of the Sec
ond-class mail matter last year was
com posed of their stuff, which ought
to pay third-class rates. Had this
enormous mass of matter paid the
- 7 cents which the postotfice re-
ceives for every pound of third-class
mail instead of eight-tenths of cent
actually received, the deficit of So
80. 900 would have been converted !
into surplus of Sl7637, 900. With |
any such surplus 1-cent letter postage
would no longer be an iridescent !
dream. but an imminent possibility.
the amendments proposed
would not operate to give any such
surplus directly because their effect
would be to make the free circulation
of advertising sheets Improbable,
they would indirectly convert the an
nual postage deficit into a surplus OF
dimensions. and by re-
lieying the department Of an enorm-
Gus burden would open the way TO
many other needed reforms in the ser
vice. Postmaster General Smith. up
on whose statements the figures in
this article are based sums up the
need Of the reform in the following
words in his last report. No stronger
Argument is needed:
But for this wrongful application
Of the second-class rate instead OF
deficit there would be clear surplus
OF many millions. This nisappica
tion Of legitimate public object 10
strictly personal end. not only entails
a large loss and taxes All the people
for the benefit Of few. but it Grip
pies the department aud -ohstrucIs
needed improvements. The wrongs
which have proved - injurious we're
never contemplated by congress.
They are wholly outside the
intent Of the law. In the reform
which is suggested it's not proposed
10 restrict tile privileges Of legitimate
publications. or to modify the design
II the law but only to bring back it,
application to il original and just
scope.
1t may be that Mrs Nation can en-