The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-15
A new MAILING RULE.
TO BAR NEWSPAPERS OFFERING
PREMIUMS.
PUBLISHERS ADVICE ASKED.
WILL CAUSE A HOWL IN SOME.
QUARTERS.

Third Assistant Postmaster General
Madden Addresses "a Circular Let
ter to 400 Publishers, Suggesting a
New Rule to Be Promulgated by
the Department-This Is to Bar All
Newspapers and Periodicals, OfYer-
ing Any Premium Inducements
Whatever, From Second Class
ment Enormous.
Washington, April 14.-Having repeated
ly failed to secure remedial legislation
from Congress to prevent abuses of the
privileges of second class mail matter.
the postoffice department officials have
under consideration the question of the
adoption of proposed rule by author
ity of the postmaster general to bring
about the desired reforms. With this OBJ
ject in view Mr.. Edwin c. Madden, third
assistant postmaster general, has ad-
dressed long circular letter to about 400
publishers of newspapers and periodicals,
setting forth the objects sought to be
accomplished by the proposed rule and
asking the following questions:
will departmental rule be regarded as
Injurious to legitimate newspapers and
periodicals which will stop absolutely all
premium inducements, direct or indirect,
and of whatever character, for subscrip-
tions? In other words, after a publisher
has fixed a price on his publication, any
bonus or premium given to the subscriber
~,
except a second class publication, shah
vitiete that subscription in it's relation
to the second class rates of postage"
Mr.. Madden adds:
VIII Aid Genuine Newspapers.
at is believed that such a rule as that
proposed will be of great direct benefit
10 legitimate journalism, and that
in very large measure it
will check this draft upon the
public treasury for private advantage.
with no eompensating public benefit,
through the elimination of an immense
number of publications which are wholly
sustained in their second class status by
patronage induced by some extraneous
thing in conflict with the spirit of the
law. Such consummation has much of
promise in the direction of better postal
facilities and cheaper rates for other
classes of mail natter
The circular asserts that the loss of
revenue to the government from the
abuses of the privileges of second class
matter is enormous, being estimated con-
servatively TO be between $15,000,000 and
S25,000000 a year. Regulations existing,
however, faithfully administered are in
adequate to accomplish material reform,
and the most prolific means by which the
law is circumvented remains undisturbed
by regulation. OF the many means by
which publications not properly entitled
to this favored postage rate spring into
existence and thrive, no other, it is as
serted by Mr. Madden, is so fruitful, and
so insidious as the permission--not of law
or rue, but uninterrupted practice-that
subscriptions may be obtained by offers
of premiums of merchandise chances to
draw prizes in guessing contests and in
countless ingenious schemes of a kindred
character and effect.
Mr. Madden asks that the matter be
given prompt attention, and says that the
reforms proposed can scarcely be carried
on successfully without the aid and moral
support of the standard newspa pers and
periodicals of the country.