The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-11
The POSTAL LAWS
ARE CONFUSING
Postmaster General Recommends a
Commission.
EXISTING STATUTES OUT OF DATE.
Mr.. cOrteIyOu Suggests That Congress Provide
fora Body Representing the Various Interests
to Formulate q Series of Regulations fof
Second.class Matter to Take the Place Of
the Present tumble Of Statutes.

Washington, D. c., Especially Post
master General Cortelyou has recon-
nended to Congress the appointment OF
commission to inquire into the sub
ject of second-class mail matter with a
view to ascertaining what mod1fleations
of the present second-class laws are
necessary, the commission to render its
report to Congress not later than Decem-
Der 10, 1906.
( In order that all interests shall be
represented, he has recommended that
the commission consist of seven persons
and be made up as follows: One Senator !;
selected by the President of the Senate !;
one representative, selected by the speak
or of the House one officer of the Post
office Department, selected by the Post.
master General one representative OF
the publishers of daily newspapers. one
representative of the publishers of week
ly, semiweekly and triweekly newspapers
and one representative of the publishers
of periodicals and magazines, the last
three to be appointed by the President
of the United States from among those
recommended to him by representative
associations of publishers of such news
papers and periodicals, and seventh
member to be selected by the six whose
manner of selection is so specifically
provided. The commission will have
power to employ clerks and stenograph-
ers, administer oaths, send for persons
and papers, and do all things necessary
for the carrying out of its objects. An
appropriation of $4,000 is asked to de-
fray the cost of the investigation.
The Postmaster General in his recent
annual report recommended to Congress
thorough review of the whole subject
of second-class mail matter and the en-
actment of statute to take the place of
those existing which would render url-
necessary the consideration of such CUES
tons as those upon which second-ciass
matter now depend.
In now recommending this commits
sion the Postmaster General in his COM
munication to the Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads of the Senate
says:
'"The existing statutes regulating the
second-class of mail matter are out of
date they do not meet modern require
ments of the publishing industry, and
the administration of them unnecessarily
and unreasonably hampers the publishers
of bona fde newspapers and periodicals.
AS an illustration of what is involved
in administration, it may be stated that
the question of what is bona fide news
paper or periodical is one about which
there may be and often Is much differ
enoe of opinion The same is true Of
what constitutes a known Office OF pub
LEGATION; what constitutes publication
originated and published for the dissent
nation of information of public charac-
ter; what is devoted to literature, the
sciences, arts, or some special industry;
what is legitimate list of subscribers.
Cali of these questions must, however,
be determined in each case before second
class entry can be granted; but publica-
ton having met all of the conditions is
positively prohibited admission if it it be
designed primarily for advertising pur-
poses, or for free circulation, or for cir
culation at nominal rates That such
questions, especially the latter, arc sub
tie and complex and render administra-
ton exceedingly difficult scarcely need
be stated"