The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-20

~ postal orders reforming Sec
Il, "A ond class mail abuses are
before the public for con-
sideration. AS we predicted. they aim
no blow al reputable publishers. Post
master General Smith is too good
journalist to undertake to do that.
The orders number three. The first
amends Section 276 of the existing law
so as to exclude publicati tions which
have the characteristics of books. the
amendment being as follows: peri
odical publications herein, referred to
are held not to include those having
the characteristics of books. but only
such as consist of current news or
miscellaneous literary matter, or both
mot excluding advertisinG) and con-
form to the statutory characteristics
of second class matter" This aims to
prevent the circulation of ponderous
books at the cent a pound rate under
the pretense that the separate and dis
connected volumes are numbers in a
periodically issued library" Many
good books are published in library"
form; but their publishers have no
right to expect better postal rate
than the publishers of ordinary books.
The second order amends Section PSI
in several particulars. the essential
paragraph being as follows: "rhc
subscription price must he shown by
the publication, and when it appears
from the contents or from the eXtrin-
sic inducements offered i'm combination
with it, that the circulation of the
publication Is not founded on it's value
as news or literary journal. and that
subscriptions are not made because of
such value, but because it's offers Of
merchandise or other consideration re-
suit in effect. in its circulation at ap-
parently a nominal rate, such publiUa-
ton does not come within the require
ments Of the law for acceptance as
second class matter" This does not
rule out the giving of premiums by
publishers except so far as they are
practically the entire inducement Of
fered to the subscriber.
The third order amends Section 3o2
so that unsold copies OF second class
matter may not be returned at the
pound rate to news agents or to pub
lishers.
No estimate Of the saving which a
careful enforcement of these new
rules will effect has been hazarded by
the postoffice department but it will
be considera BILE, probably enough to
overcome the present postal deficit.
Today it costs the government from
four to five cents a pound To handle
periodicals that go through the mails.
The second class rate is one cent
pound, so that the loss in carrying
these periodicals is apparent. About
three-fourths of the postal matter is
rated as second class and yet there is
collected from second class matter
only $4,000, 900 toward the annual ex-
pense of the service of $l1O 900, 600.
The publications which are to he en-
cluded will have to pay third class
rates if they are sent through the mail,
which is eight cents a pound. at which
rate there will be some profit to the
government
Now if congress will abolish the
frankinS privilege, which is greatly
| abused, and compel the railroads to
make just charges for hauling the
| mails, the postal department can not
| only complete its extension of free
! rural delivery to cover practically the
| inhabited farming communities of the
country and institute penny letter
postage but also return a fat profit.
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