The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-19
POSTOFF|CE
DEFINES A
NEWSPAPER

Washington, May l9.-To make clear the
position OF the postoffice department as
10 what shall constitute n newspaper. as
determined by the regulations pertaining
to second-class matter. Third Assistant
Postmaster General Madden Yesterday
issued instructions supplemental 10 those
of April 10 last. intended as a response
10 various inquiries and hypothetical
questions put 10 the department by news
paper publishers.
After stating that under the law the
enclosure of matter OF a higher class with
matter OF lower class subjects the whole
matter 10 a higher rate. and that the law
applies as we'll when an alleged supple
ment is not supplement, but really mat
ter OF another class" and quoting the
law relating 10 supplements. the instruc-
tons say:
I'm all cases where application is made
for Information. postmasters may state
that the above law. which will be adj
ministered after Sept. /. next, according
TO its plain intent. provides that supple
ment 10 be mailable with newspaper or
periodical at the second class rates, must.
the word indicates. he i'm truth sup
plement; as such II must he germane'
to the publication. and IL must be mat
ter supplied I'm order 10 complete that
OF which IL is alleged 10 he a supplement;
must appear in point Of fact that the pub
licaton itself is incomplete without its
supplement. II must also appear i'm point
OF fact that the function of the supple
ment is subsidiary and not independent
in Itself in other -Mnrds-that- t-it-Ea -Eaatl4Fes
both 10 make a complete copy OF that
issue. BY way OF illustration:
MUST BE REAL CONNECTION.
"A newspaper having an article in re-
lation TO the Philippine Islands might
properly have as a supplement a map OF
the islands. or, having an article relating
to a-position or place might have as a
supplement a picture OF that person or
place. but "a map OF the Philippines or
n picture Of person or place inclosed
as gift TO the subscriber and not per-
forming the real function Of supplement.
is an eXtraneous thing and not malable
at second-class rates
1T is not sufficient for an alleged sup
plement 10 be given a notice i'm the main
publication as a sort Of hook upon which
10 hang something which is not n sup
plement i'm fact and which really has an
independent purpose and function.
That is to say, a merely colorado
reference will not be sufficient the con-
nection must be real, not fictitious. In
every case IL must appear from the pub
licatlon and the supplement. taken to-
gether. that they form one integral whole.
''lf the publisher desires ia give or sell
10 the purchasers OF the publication some
extraneous thing. like a calendar, cut-out
picture, litograph. pamphlet etc, he is
not prevented from doing so; but upon
such things when sent I'm the mails he
must like every other citizen. pay the
legal rate Of postage
He may not make his publication IT.
self transmissible at the second-class
rates. the vehicle for the distribution OF
things properly chargeable with q higher
rate 10 the detriment Of the government
revenues
The postal laws must he properly ad-
ministered, and II is expected that good
faith will he observed by publishers
"Postmasters must not regard these in
structions ms 10 supplement as affecting
the constituent sections or parts OF a
publication issued In sections or parts
III there be any abusc I'm this latter
regard 81 will I've treated separately"