The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
THE DECLINED WITH THANKS"
MAIL.
A Practical. Dispsssisnate View OF tn
Manuscript Postage question.

A Practical. Dispsssisnate View Of the
Manuscript Psstaee question.
TO rHs EDlroR OF TEE suN-Sir: OBJ
serving In resent issue Of literary publi-
cation In this town that Mr.. Ernest Insersoll
turns down rather ruthlsssly the request
Of the Society Of American Authors-what-
ever II may be-that he assist It In it, Efforts
to secure . reduction Of postage. l would
like to say . word thu other way. Mr.. 1nger-
soil says that instead Of reducing the postage
rates to writer's they should be increased In or
der to shut out hundreds who might better be
holding the plough than tho pen. or words to
that effect. But why keep them out9
The publishers have competent readers
who can settle that sort Of stun at the rate OF
about q minute to the manuscript, and as
they work eight hours, 400 minutes day.
they could dispose OF 40 manuscripts day.
II there are only two readers to the house.
that makes $50 manuscripts a day disposed
o. Do many publishers receive greater
number than that daily? At this rate they
should have plenty Of time TO read those that
show some possibilities. IS some Of them
do: and from this class come the vast ma
jority Of those who make the literature OF this
ago. There are lots OF authors who have
spent dollara 10 postage, going and coming.
who have to pay 1t only one way now. and
wouldn't have to do it that often II they would
suggest to their, publishers that their stuff
Mss worth Ss s9ma 1as
from any part q the United States both
ways TO bring, their manuscripts 70 their
ths, than have hs% ss sas
when the postage stamp was burden to
road that leads TO Parnassus- that the
Mr. Tn 1ersoll savs that most of tho periodl-
Gals in these days use largely only such mat
ter a. they order. Say that they DO. The
matter s.s e Of sTsis Mt
sSsir Mvins 1t Il. But there are various reas-
ons Why ono editor cannot always accept
the work Of 4 writer whose matter 10 valuable.
90 he must return II At the writer's expense
What 10 available at ono place Y not available
ct another. and this means that the writer
Eet~at his own expense; letter rates Of post
age, two centS an ounce. And 90 1t goes
and comes,
e. ,s f. w,,,. !: IL ted
United States. Say that two-thirds Of them ZEN
pss!o sdhi' That leaves one.,Si!d Who take
Say 10 authors xrits only. what is ordered
from them land should think there are net
more fortunate ones than that. We are left
SaS. wSo ars Dsyns % po.sss sssh %ays
( 4. eYsat many Of them mall something every
day, and often Il weighs more than one ounce.
But let us figure II all At one ounce per pack
age, and say that they send onlv every other
four cents each, or Sis day-Ss7.37 so year
paid In postage by these writer's. who are by
no means Of the wealthy dass. Isn't that q
pretty large sum OF money and wouldn
half 81 Il, or less. be fair TO the Government
What II cheap postage .does increase the
number Of writers7 Let It. and the 4overn-
ment will make up its loes ON the reduction
asked for BY the Increased business II does.
am not member Of the Authors Union
No. 1, or whatever II Ia, and therefore speak
exclusively nor does my postage bill exceed
my board bill. w. j. LAMPToN.
NEW YORK Oct, q