Washington telegraph., 1901-04-19
TO EFFECT A NEEDED REFORM.
The Opinion of Reputable Publishers Asked
and the Assistance of Standard
Newspapers Sought.

Washington, April 15.-Haying 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 proposed rule
by authority of the postmaster gem
eral to bring about the desired re-
forms. With this object in view, Ed
win C. Madden, third assistant post
master general, has addressed a long
circular letter to about four hundred
publishers of newspapers and peri
odicals, setting forth the objects
sought to be accomplished by the pro-
posed rule, and asking the following
question::
'In the Judgment of those adj
dressed, will a department rule be re-
garded as injurious to legitimate
newspapers and periodicals, which
will stop absolutely all premium in
dueements, directly or indirectly, and
of whatever character, to subscrip-
tions?
"In other words, after a publisher
has fixed price on his publication,
any bonus OF premium given to the
subscriber, or any combination with
anything except a second class pubIi-
cation, shall vitiate the subscription
in it's relation to second class rates Of
postage"
Mr.. Madden adds:
''It is believed such a rule as that
proposed would be of great benefit to
legitimate journalism, and that in
very large measure it would check
these drafts upon the public treasury
for a private advantage with no com
pensating public benefit through the
elimination of an immense number of
publications which are wholly sus-
tanned in their second class status by
patronage, induced by some eXtrane-
Gus 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 mat
ter"
The circular asserts that the loss
of revenue to the government from
the abuses of the privileges of second
class matter is enormous, being esti-
mated conservatiyely to be between
$15,000,000 and S25 900, 900 a year. Ex-
isting regulations, however faithfully
administered, are inadequate to ae-
eomplish immediate reform, and the
most prolific means by which the law
is eircumvented remains undisturbed
by regulation.
OF the many means by which the
publications not properly entitled to
this favored postage rate spring into
existence and thrive, no other, it is
asserted by Mr.. Madden, is so fruitful
and so insidious as the permission
not of law or of rule, but of uninter-
rupted practice-that subscriptions
may be obtained by offers of premi-
ums of merchandise, chances to draw
prizes in guessing contests and count
less ingenious schemes of kindred
character and effect. Circlations 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 public interest in the
literature or news to which it is
claimed such publications are devoted.
Mr.. Madden asks that the matter
be given prompt attention and saws
that the reform proposed can scarce
ly be carried on successfully without
the aid and moral support of the
standard newspapers and periodicals
of the country.