New-York tribune., 1901-07-05
SWEEPING POSTAL REFORM
SECOND CLASS NAIL RATES TO BE DE-
MED TO PUBLICATIONS WHICH EN-
PLOY ILLEGITIMATE METHODS
OF SECURING CIRCULATION.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

By TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington July 4-Postmaster General
Smith has decided to debar from second class
mail privileges the large class of periodical pub
hcat1ons which depend largely on gift enter
pr1ses, guessing contests or nominal subscrip
ton rates for their circulation. This sweeping
reform. designed to put the postal service on
paying basis. is to be ordered next week by
modification Of the postal regulations under
listing law.
BY the new regulations vast amount of
printed matter that now pays for transmission
at the rate of one cent will be charged eight
cents a pound. The second class matter has
grown until II now embraces nearly three
fourths of the entire weight of all mail matter
handled by the government, and yet 1T brings In
a revenue of less than S4.OOO.OOO a year. out of
the entire postal revenue of more than S11O,OOO,-
600. While it contains about three-fourths of all
the weight, 1t furnishes only about one-thir-
tieth of the revenue To handle and carry the
second class matter costs fully S6O.OOO,OOO
year above what the government receives for
handling and carrying it. This extraordinary
loss arises largely from the abuses which have
crept in gradually and which the law never
contemplated. They have grown up under loose
Interpretation and lax methods. The great body
Of legitimate publications furnish no ground Oh
complaint, and there is no purpose or lnterfer-
ing with them but a large number of fake
publications have been developed which have no
Just title to second class rates. In the annual
report OF the Postmaster General for 1888 II was
said
Careful inquiry has been made through eA-
perienced postmasters and by an exainna' 'ioii
of the records of the department, ana IL Is oe
lieved that fully one-half OF all the matter
mailed as second class and PAID Tor at tne
pound rate is not properly second class within
the intent of the law. and ought justly 10 De
paid for the third class rate
The law defines the conditions on which pub
lication shall be admitted to the second class
as follows:
1t must have originated and have been pub
lished for the dissemination of information OF a
public character, devoted to literature, the
sciences, arts or some special industry and nave
a legitimate list of subscribers. Provided, now
ever, that nothing herein contained shall be SO
construed as to admit to the second class rate
regular publications designed primarily for ad-
vertising purposes for free circulation, or FOR
circulation at nominal rates
In the revised regulations about to be issued
the Postmaster-General will endeavor TO carry
out the purpose of Congress and of the Execu-
tive by restoring a stricter enforcement of the
law The new order will not interfere with legit-
innate newspapers and similar periodicals. but II
will cut off the abuse by which numerous pub
lcations load down the malls with calculations
induced wholly by merchandise offers guess
ing contests that either fraudulent IN CHAR
acter or reduce the circulation TO nominal rates.
II Is also likely cut off the serial books which
by a subterfuge have secured admission as sec
ond class matter. Though promulgated next
week. the order will probably not be made oper-
alive Immediately in order that publishers may
have opportunity to conform to the new re-
quirements.