Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-19
A NEWSPAPERS MAKEUP.
Ruling by Postal Authorities on Sup
plements and Other Articles.


the position Of the post Office depart
Tent as to what shall constitute a
newspaper. as determined by the regu-
lations pertaining to second class mat
ter. Third Assistant Postmaster General
Madden, today. issued instructions sup
Elemental to those of April 10 last. in
tended as a response to various inqulr-
les and hypothetical questions put to
the department by newspaper publish
ors.
After stating that under the law the
enclosure Of matter of a higher class
with matter Of a lower class subjects the
whole to a higher rate. and that the law
applies as well when an alleged sup
plement is not a supplement, but really
matter of another class" and quoting
the law relating to supplements the in
structions say:
'In all cases where application is
made for information rostmasters may
state that the above law which will be
administered after Sept. next. accord
ing to its plain intent. provides that a
supplement, TO he mailabla with a news
paper or periodical at the second class
rates, must as the word indicates. be
in truth "supplement:'' as such, it
must be "germane" TO the publication:
ard it must he matter supplied in or
der to complete that to which it is al
legged to be supplement. 1t must ap-
pear in point of fact that the publica-
ion itself is incomplete without its sup
plcment. it must also appear in point OF
fact that the function of the supple
men is subsidiary and not independent
Or complete in itself: in other words.
that it requires both to make COM
plcte copy of that issue. BY way of il
lustration:
A newspaper having an article in re-
lation to the Philippine islands might
properly have as a supplement a map
of those islands; or, having an article
relating to a person or place. might
have as supplement, a picture of that
person or place; but map of the
Philippines. or a picture of a person
or place. inclosed as a gift to the>sub-
scriber and not performing the real
function of a supplement, is an ex-
traneous thing and not mailable at Sec
Ond-clasS rates.
ut is not sufficient for an alleged
supplement to be given a notice in the
main publication as a sort of hook up
on which to hang something which is
rot a supplement in fact and which
really has an Independent purpose and
function. That is to say. a merely col
Orable reference will not suffice: the
connection must be real not fictitious.
In every case it must appear from the
publication and the supplement taken
together that they form one integral
paper.
IF the publisher desires to give or
sell to the purchasers of his publica-
ton some eNtraneous thing like a cal
endar. cut out picture. Autograph.
pamphlet, etc, he is not prevented
from doing so: but upon such things
when sent in the mails he must. like
every other citizen. pay the legal rate
of postage. He may not make his pub
LEGATION, itself transmissable at the sec
Ond-class rates, the vehicle for the
distribution Of things properly charge
able at a higher rate to the detrment
tai laws must be properly administered
and it is expected that the good faith
will be observed by publishers.
"Postmasters must not regard these
instructions as to supplements as af-
fecting the constituent, Sections or
parts of a publication issued i'm Sec
lions or parts. If there be any abuse in
this latter regard it will be treated sub
seuucntly."