Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-09
Ruling Does Not Apply
To Legitimate Newspapers,
Says Postmaster Snyth

In your editorial in Fridays issue
you refer to a ruling alleged to have
been made by the honorable third assis-
tant postmaster general requiring sub
scriptions to be paid in advance in order
that a newspaper may have the benefit OF
second class or cent a pound rates.
The act of March 8. 1879, under which
these rates We're established. provides that
the papers entitled to fits benefit must
have "a legitimate list of subscribers.
The regulations of the postoftice depart
ment define a legitimate subscriber to be
one by or for whom, with his consent
express or implied, payment of the sub
scription price has been made, or agreed
to be made" There is nothing in this
definition requiring payment in advance
either i'm original subscriptions or in re-
newals. Publishers are free to conduct
their business in their own way. and run
their own risk in collecting their subscrip-
lions. The department only requires that
the subscriber must have consented or
agreed to pay the subscription, either
expressly or by implication before the
paper can he mailed him at pound rates
There has been no change whatever
made i'm this regulation.
The statement that the department has
ruled that "a subscription must be discon-
tinued when the time for which II has
been paid in advance has expired" emf
mates from a publishers bureau in Chica-
CO., ILL.,, and Is absolutely without founda >
ton. Ii is a part of an effort on the part
of many publishers of books and gift
enterprises heretofore entered as second
class matter, the entry of which have re-
Gently been cancelled, to discredit the en-
deaVorS of the postmaster general TO re-
duce these publications to only such as
were intended by congress when the act
of March 3. 1873, was passed.
1t is a well known fact that large
number of publications-such as books
ETC.. have from time to time been admit
ted under this law which were not in
tended or expected by the makers.
Several attempts have been made in sew
eral sessions of congress to abate these
abuses, but without success. A powerful
lobby of those interested in their contin-
uance has worked against the passage of
any bill that has been proposed. When
the last measure was before congress an
ingeniously worded circular was sent to
all country newspapers stating that their
craft was in danger" and calling upon
them to urge their congressman to vote
against the bill. Though there was no
truth in the statement and though the
country papers would have been really
benefited by the passage of this bill, the
majority of those papers swallowed the
bait and contributed largely to its defeat.
The right of entry as second-class for
any publication being matter of con-
struction of the law, and abuses having
arisen by too liberal or erroneous con-
struction, the postmaster general, in the
absence of any action sought for from
congress, has recently been closely scru-
tinizing the right of entry Of all publica-
tions heretofore entered, and as the re-
suit of his Investigations has Cancelled the
entry of a large number who had not met
the requirements intended by the act I'M
der which the entries were made.
AS this second-class matter is conveyed
in the mails at great loss to the govern
ment the saving made by cutting off these
publications will more than cover the an
nual deficit in the postofflce department,
which the people have to pay for.
The money is saved for the people ana
no legitimate newspaper will suffer. I'm
der direction of the department, I have
carefully examined those published in At
lanta and find none of them affected by
the recent rulings, They should all en-
courage the efforts of the postmaster gen.
eral to rule out the illegitimate publica-
lions and not be led astray, by the false
representations Of those publishers who
have been mailing all sorts Of publica-
tione at the expense both of the public
and the newspapers and periodicals origi-
nally intended by the law
w. II. sSMYTH, Postmaster.