Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-03

postmaster general, is that the exec
attempts to enact law. In the circu-
lar letter referred to it was distinctly
stated that the department had en-
deavored to obtain modification Of
the law relating to second class mat
ter before several successive oongreAs-
es and failed. 1t seemed almost beyond
belief that the third assistant post
master general should avowedly and
unblushingly propose to do by de-
partment ruling precisely what con-
gress had deliberately refused to sano-
ton.
1t is this apparent intention on tho
part of an executive department to
defeat the will of the people and to as
sumo the function Of congress which
has so greatly aroused the publishers
Of the whole country. A publisher Of
three different newspapers situated in
different cities, pertaining to one Of
the great industries Of the country, adj
dressing the writer as an officer OF the
National Publishers Bureau, used
these words: 81 believe, as you do,
that many of the rulings of the depart
ment are purely arbitrary and without
sanction of any statutes now in exist
ence, but on the other hand, contrary
to the publishers rights, as therein
prescribed"
There is wider and deeper interest
in this controversy than would arise
from the fact that the new rulings of
the department will interfere with the
legitimate business of publishers. The
question is forced upon US: Is there
not here dangerous tendency on the
part Of the executive to usurp legisla
tive powers? Whatever be the motive
and whatever the results, whether at
fecting the interests of only one class
of citizens, or of all classes, is of far
less Importance than that the very
principles of our government and a
safeguard of our liberties should be set
aside.
1t is to be noted that the new rulings,
when published July II, 1901, by no
means realized the sweeping sugges-
lions of the circular letter. They seri-
ously affected, however, most publish
ers who use premiums; they opened
the door to more of the abrupt deten-
tons of whole editions of periodicals
referred to in the first part OF this pa
per, and have already resulted in cut
ting off from second-class privileges
many publications which have had
them for nearly a score Of years under
the express sanction Of the depart
ment. One of the New York publish
ers whose business has thus been rude
ly interfered with uses this strong
language: "a mere post Office ruling,
under these circumstances, excluding
this and similar publications from the
mails, would, therefore, be as distinct
Qualification as that which was at
tempted in the times Of Andrew Jack
son and Abraham Lincoln. It is a good
law, which has had vast and helpful in
fuence i'm disseminating knowledge
and increasing happiness in millions
of the best American homes, and it
would not be right nor wise to nullify
it, even if it would be safe to do So"
1t is proper that, in this discussion,
we should inquire what was the real
intent of the law. 1t is evident that
the act was passed, not for the benefit
of publishers, but for the dissemina-
tion of newspapers and periodicals
among all the people. The purpose
was educational and was for the great
est good of the greatest number. Even
should it be shown conclusively that
the low rate on second-class mail mat
ter resulted in a great financial bur
den, is it quite clear that for that rea-
son alone the people would desire it
abolished? If by means OF it the
great body of the people get the read
| ing matter they want, and to an ex-
| tent otherwise impossible, is it at all
certain that congress representing
the people, would consent to repeal the
law?
The premium" has come in proc
ess of evolution in the publishers bust.
ness. Until something better is in.
vented the publishers must depend, as
they have for the last twenty years
and more, on premiums and sample
copies as means of enlarging their list
of subscribers. They would doubtless
like to know of something more effect
i've. Even the post Office department
does not suggest anything better. I'm
til it is prepared to do SO the conclu
sion is forced upon us that the prohi
bition of premiums and the restriction
of sample copies would be injurious tic
the business and hardship.
Let MS now inquire whether there
would be any good results that
would bring an adequate com
pensation for this loss to pub
fishers and a resultant loss te
the people. The circular letter sug
gested that Legitimate publications.
would be benefited; that 10, other perl
odicals, which use no premiums, would
get the subscribers which these othel
papers lose and would secure the ad
vertising and SO enjoy a prosperity
they do not now have. How would the,
get the subscribers? Would the peopl.
who now begin their subscriptions be
cause of a premium suddenly change
in their tastes and remit their money
for what the circular letter CALI
"higher class periodicals."
DOES sEcoND-cLAss MATTER CAUSE
THE DEFICIT?
But the principal reason for the de
partment to cut off the premiums, al
presented by the letter, seems to be te
save the expense of carrying second
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