Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-04
Restricting Abuse Of Second
Glass Mail Matter.
RESULTS ATTAINED
REPORT OF THIRD ASSISTANT
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Deficit for Year Of Over 81, OOO, 600,
About Equal to Increased Cost on
Account Of Rural Free Delivery.

The report Of Edwin c. Madden, third as
s.stant postmaster general, which has just
been made public deals at length with the
subject of the abuse of the privileges OF
second-class mail matter, topic which has
engaged Mr.. Madden's attention during a
great part of his incumbency. He says:
THE abuses of this class of mail matter
have been discussed and defined in many
previous reports Under date Of July IL.
1901, after much elaboration and after the
abuses of this class had been a scandal to
the postal service, for many years, it was
determined to undertake a reform, through
proper and rational Interpretation Of the
statute, which should be as thorough as
possible and yet free from interference with
legitimate newspapers and periodicals in
the rights accorded them by law. Since
that date the department has moved steadi-
ly forward toward accomplishment of the
desired end. The following results may
be regarded as definitely attained and sub
stantially established
Results Attained.
First. All publications which are in fact
books and not periodical publications have
been relegated to the third class, as the
statute intends. under the rule that the. law
may not be cheated by mere device or gloss
OF words.
Second The news agents return privi-
lege'-that Is to say, the privilege of mailing
at the pound rate dead or unsold matter
back to the point from which 1t was origi-
nally shipped, to be returned to the pub
Hsher-haS been stopped
Third. A limit properly Justified nv the
statute has been put upon the sample-cony
privilege, the effect of which Is to cure in
the main the so-called sample-copy abuse.
Fourth Alleged newspapers and period
lcalS, issued by certain private schools
academies and other educational enter
prlses, usually with an advertising purpose.
and claiming the benefit of the law accord
ing the second-class mailing privileges to
pupi1catlonS of regularly Incorporated in
situations of learning have been eliminated
from that class and placed in the third
class OF mail matter, as contemplated by
law. ~
tanned under the act of March 8, 1879,
which tend to correct the great evil by
winch many advertising sheets contrary to
the express prohibition of the statute both
gam ana maintain the second-class mailing
privilege by having advertisers or other in
terested parties contract for a bulk number
or copies of several or many issues To he
sent to persons designated by them. Such
pretended subscriptions made In bulk were
formerly classed as regular in making up
what the statute requires-'a legitimate 1ist
of subscribers 1N'S
The first three reforms above mentioned
may De SAID to have been completelv ac
compished There has been q contas+ -,
the courts on the first item The depart
ment lost in the lower court hut in tha
court OF appeals 1t won. The unanimous
oootiui Vi ihe higher court in judicially
constituting the act of March 8, 1879 has
nrmly established the principle upon which
the reform is based-that is to saw II has
n nsaa a4 that periodical publication
, lily iot ne created by mere formal COM
of the statute -- eiiieii''
He continues:
In additlon to the foregoing much prog
ress mas been made in correcting the nrac
tice of giving so-called premiums, n s,,h-
scrlpers, by which means many newsna ners
ana periodicals are in effect given awav
contrary 10 the prohibition Of the statute
against free circulation. There are MANY
instances where more than the value Of the
SUBSCRIPTION price is returned in mercban-
disc to the alleged subscriber, rendering the
clrcuiatlon free or at a nominal rate, and
the conclusion is obvious that the publica-
ton exists primarily for advertising mr.
poses. pui-
"A vast amount of work remains to be- ac-
compllshed in the direction of curing the
abuses of the second-class mailing nrIvi-
leges. especially in the cases of publications
which exist for advertising purposes: but
l am pleased to be able to report to Won the
substantial accomplishments above record
Consultations Mail Matter.
I'm my last report" Mr. Madden saws. .T
explained the difficulty Of differentiating be-
tween third and fourth-class matter and
how irritating and vexatious the questions
which arise through the necessity of main
tanning these two classes are to the public
Without repeating the argument on this
point again recommend that Congress be
asked. in the interest of efficient postal
service. to consolidate the third and fourth
classes of mail matter and fix the rate of
postage at 1 cent for each two ounces or
fraction thereof. The effect upon the reye-
nues would be immaterial. while the service
would be greatly simplif1ed and advanced.
both to the public and to the department"
Matter Mailed During the Year.
The following table shows the estimated
number Of pieces of matter of the several
classes mailed throughout this country and
to foreign countries during the year:
fipst-ciass matter: No Of pieces.
Paid INSTRUMENTATION. 4, 100, 100 174
on Official business, free. 153, 233 500
Total paid and free. ........... 4,2e2, 1888 e77
Fostai cards. Observation-Disclosures. 1857 $50
Second-class matter:
Mailed at the pound rate. $3.50: 2,Os9 los ga
Mailed for local delivery by carri-
ers, with stamps affixed. ..... OF 15s ara
Transient secOndclass matter ..... 1856 500 1877