The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-31
CHECKING MAIL ABUSES
Reforms That May Lead to One Cent
Letter Postage.
Three Important Orders Debarrina
"Premium". Publications From
Second Class Rates Issued.

Washington. D. C.-Postmaster-Gen-
eral Smith has signed three orders
amending in important particulars
three postal regulations affecting sec.
ond-class mail matter. The first order
amends Section 276, which is the gen.
eral definition, so as to exclude from
the second-class publications which
have the characteristics of books.
This amendment Is in these words:
periodical publications herein re-
ferred 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 (not excluding advertising),
and conforms to the statutory charac-
teristics of second-clasS matter"
The second order amends Section
2S1 in several particulars, the princi-
pal one being that publications., the
subscriptions to which are not found
ed on their value aSnews or literary
journals, and which, by the general
use Of premiums or other considera-
tions in the form of chances to win
prizes, etc., to induce subscriptions,
in effect circulate at apparently a NOM
inal rate, will be excluded from the
second class. The essential para graph
of this is as follows:
"The subscription price must be
shown by the publication, and when 1t
appears from the contents, or from
the extrinsic inducements offered in
common with it, that the circulation
Of the publication is not founded on its
value as q news or literary journal
and that subscriptions are not made
because of such value, but because Its
offers of merchandise or other consid-
Grafton result, In effect, in its circula-
ton at apparently q nominal rate,
such publication does not come within
the requirements Of the law for ac-
ceptance as second-class matter"
The third order amends Section 301,
so that unsold copies Of second-class
publications may not be returned at
the pound rate to news agents or to
publishers.
An explanatory statement given out
at the Department regarding the Or
der says: "The action of Postmaster
General Smith is regarded as highly
important. It Is evidence Of the pur-
pose of the Department to administer
the law as 1t Is. strictly and properly.
and that abuses, wherever found. will
be eradicated. Loose and Indifferent
Interpretation heretofore is respousi.
BILE for the loss Of many millions to
the Government. It Is believed that
when the effect Of the changes Is thor
oughly established many postal i'm
provements will follow, and one-cent
letter postage will be made possible"
An immediate effect of the orders
will be to bar from the mails at regu-
lar publication rates all flake" publi-
cations and other periodicals whose
circulation depends on various lottery
and prize schemes. No legitimate
publication will be injured by the new
dispensation. On the contrary, all
such publications, including news
papers and magazines Of established
character. will be distinctly benefited
through the practical suppression by
the Postoff1ce Department of catch
penny periodicals that have been sys.
tematically swindling the Government
out of millions Of revenue every year
by burdening the mails with class of
matter which the lawmakers never in
tended should be considered as enti-
tied to the rate of second-class mail.