New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-11
SECOND CLASS NAIL.
ROBERT E. BONNER WRITES CONCERN.
ING THE PROPOSED CURTAILING
OF IT'S PRIVILEGES.


class mail matter, has received letter from
General c. II. Howard of The Farm Field
and Ffreside," of Chicago, asking him to have a
representation of the New-York publishers AT
the conference in Detroit, where il was proposed
to bring up the whole subject. While not feel
ing warranted TO act for the publishers in this.
Mr.. Bonner sent the following communication
giving his own views on the subject:
am n not in position as chairman of the COM
olal communication This chairmanshi1 perta pl
only to the business Of the committee in so far as
ence to the proposed ruling The COMMITTEE was
q representation of three. chosen from the New
lion sent the Third Assistant Observation-Disclosures
eraI which resolution and petition stated "tbat IN
postofice ruling proposed by the Third Assistsns
Posmaster-Generai in his circular letter Of April
ard practices OF our postal aystem, an ASSUMPTION
Of legislative power not vested in the Postofiice
Department, and detrimental to the interest and
circulation of periodicals now legtnately included
in mail matter Of the second class 1. however
ject as Individual and publisher / inciose
our committee had with the Third Assistant POST
master-General May s, 1901; also copy of the re-
Postmaster-General on Wednesday June IS 1901
The copies OF these reports will give you idea of
II seems 10 me that the present law 1872 is all
sn sun tor th m Of both the Possoce
deficit IN the Postoftice has decreased year after
vas formerly over s5 10000 is sufficient evidence
that the law of 1879 is good law The wide dis
and OF good literature is OF inestimabie benefit
70 a country depending upon universal suffrage for
considered for one instant, and If cheese
thing alarming it must not be forgotten that the
deficit itself is steadily shrinking from year to
Department should put into effect a ruling such
as was proposed in the circular letter Of the
Is. it would undoubtedly be assumption OF
y ana With With the the T pos
master-General endeavered to make it clear that
which reads follows:
III must be originated and published for the dis
semination Of information OF public character. or
special industry. and having a legitimate list of
contained shall be SO construed to admit 70 the
primarily for advertising purposes or for free cir
cuIation, for circulation at nominal rates"
the Third Assistant Postmaster General that
cording TO this section of the law OF 1879,
of periodicals which could not be admitted to the
Pgs Of class mail ,a- matseT namely D
poses designed primarily for free circulation, or
and l Interpreted each clause as follows: DE
signed primarily for advertising purposes" has been
determined to mean advertising catalogues and
other private business publications. when the
law put Into effect there Were no such pun
which the advertising pages were considerably
ing matter. Hence 1T could not have been the In
tent Of the law TO refer TO such periodicals as
clause refers to the class designed primarily for
primarily for free Circulation This does not mean
that are not to ANY 9eay 4ee
ognized this. and allow all periodicals free circuia-
9n to the en 01 ee d OF cause or
signed primarily for circulation at nominal rates
ferprefaon rs the previous clause Of free circula
ton. namely. that periodical designed primarg
for circulation at nominal rates is not entled ds 20
the privileges of second class matter. but ~ Goes
any circulation al nominal rates. but on the con-
as the to t has s al Tes ruled shai
amounting TO 80 per cent Of its paid circulation,
reasonable amount of circulation al nominal rates
To this Interpretation the Postmaster-enerad TOOK
.e;rduIation at nominal rates. practically meant
the same thing. and that nominal rates was ex-
ADDITIONAL class. Ny reply was that the repetition
Of me WORD abs ana or Ine crcuaton ieave no
possible doubt TO my Interpretation being cor
the sentence would read for free circulation cir
cuation at nominal rates" and the for" would
pested three times and therefore, means a three ,
clauses. for advertising purposes Tor rree en-
our Interview with the Postnaster-Generai L dla
his simple INTERPRETATION of the law and 1 wrote
TO him fully after our return TO New-f ork ASKING
him TO show wherein either my reasoning VI
INTERPRETATION was not correct. but 1 have not
We are TO have the Postmaster Generals new
in few DAYS, and do not think II is al al nkely,
.udging from the discussion Of the subject which
took place in both Interviews. that the Postofiee
authorities fn Washington VIII pronulga.e Iui-
~ anrfl ~ OF the Third Assistant PostmasterGen
erai whatever ruling IS made should be logical
sequence OF the law Of 1879 II II L. not all pup
hshers should unite TO defeat IT,
Az meeting Of publishers held here some
time ago a resolution was adopted declaring
,be nronosed ruling to be contrary to the tradi-
fjcns and practices of our postal system an
sssu,nn.,on Of legislative power not vested In
the Postoffice Department, and detrimental 70
the interest and circulation OF periooicaiS ho"
iegtimately included In mall matter OF the Sec
ond class"
This was signed by 1.-THE Century Company
Harper a. Bros. Charles Scribner's Sons
Doubleday. Page & Co., Robert Bonner's Sons
American Tract Society, Street & Smith Dodd'
Mead G. Co, S. s. Mcclure Company Mcclure
Phillips & Co, Methodist Book Concern, The
Outlook" Company the Judge" Company,
life" Publishing Company the Truth" Com
parry G. p. Putnams Sons. THE Art Inter
change" McGraw- Marden Company, 1.-THE Re
view Of Reviews" The Churchman" Company
Mum & Co, The Outing Publishing Company
congregational Work" THE Evangelist Pun
fishing Company, Christian at Work Ihe
New-York Observer" e. l.. Kellogg Company,
Funk & Wagnalls Co, THE Examiner, Ihe
New-York Weekly Witness" Orange Judd Com
pany, Phelps Publishing Company. Public
Opinion" and Golfers Weekly"
AR. ROOT TO INSPECT FORT MONROE
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