Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-04-18
TO EFFECT A NEEDED REFORM.
The opis'ea sf Reputable Publishers Ask -
and the Assis-a.es ss stasaard
Newspaper seasAs.

Washington. April is.--Having re-
peatedly failed to secure remedial
legislation from congress TO prevent
abuses of the privilege of second class
mail matter. the post Office depart
ment officials have under considera-
tion the adoption of a proposed rule
by authority of the postmaster gem
eral to bring about the desired re-
forms. With this object in view. Ed.
win {. Madden. third assistan, post
master general. has addressed a long
circular letter to about four hundred
publishers of newspapers and peri
odieals. setting forth the object.
sought to be accomplished by the pro-
posed rule. and asking the following
question:
In the Judgment OF those ad.
dressed. will a department rule b~ re-
garded as injurious to legitimate
newspapers and periodicals. which
will stop absolutely all premium in
ducements. directly or indirectly. and
OF whatever character, 10 subsrrip
tious?
In other words. after a publisher
has fixed price on his pubIics tion,
any bonus or premium given to the
subscriber or any combination with
anything except a second class publ.
cation. shall vitiate the subscription
in its relation 20 second class rates Of
postage"
Mr.. Madden adds:
1T Is believed such a rule aS that
proposed would be of great benefit to
legitimate journalism. and that in a
very large measure il would check
these drafts upon the public treasury
Tor private advantage with no com
PenSating public benefit through tn.
elimination of an immense numb~r Of
publications which are wholly su<-
tanned in their second class status bv
patronage. induced by some sxtrane-
Gus thing in conflict with the xpir;t
of the law Such contamination
has much of Promise in the direction
of better postal facilities and cheaper
rates for other classes Of mail mat.
ter"
The circular asserts that the los.
OF revenue 20 the government from
the abuses of the privileges of second
class matter is enormous. b~ing eSti-
mated eou>ervstively 20 bs between
si5.0oO.0Oo and So. .OO0. .O0o a year. Fx
isting regulations. however faithfully
administered arr inadequate to a.
comPiiSh immediate reform. and the
most prolific means By which the law
is eircumvented remains undistnrb-d
by regulation.
OF the many means BY which the
publications not properly entitled 70
tins favored postage rate spring into
existence and thrive. no other. t u
asserted by Mr.. Madden. Is 50 fruitful
and so insidious as the permission
not of law or of rule. but of unint-r-
rupfed practice subscriptions
may be obtained by offers of prerni-
ums of merchandise. chances TO draw
prizes in guessing contests and count
less ingenious schemes of kindred
AdA@Sttt anu rHfCN- tlTClaFlOns run
ming into thousands and into the mil
lions. the circular says. have been
built up by this premium process. for
publications, which, upon actual merit.
could command no public patronage
whatever Such subscriptions ex.
cept in an occasional instance where
some actually meritorius publication
employees the plan. represent in no
literal sense n public interest in the
literature or news TO which il is
claimed such publications are devoted.
Mr.. Madden asks that the matter
be given prompt attention and saws
that the reform proposed can scarce
" be carried on successfully without
the aid and moral support of the
standard newspapers and periodicals
of the country.