The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1906-05-12
LAWS OUT OF DATE,
Inquiry Into Second Glass Mail Nat.
tor Is Proposed.

Washington, May 7-Postmaste
General Cortelyou has recommended
congress the appointment Of a commi
sion to inquire into the subject Of &c,
ond-class mall matter, with a view t
ascertaluing what notifications Of th
present second-class laws are necesear
to render its report to congress not lai
} or than December 10, 1906.
In order that all interests shall B.
represented, he has recommended tina
: the commission consist of seven per
/ sons and be made up as follows: On.
senator, selected by the president o,
the senate; one representative, selected
BY the speaker Of the house; one Officer
OF the postoffice department, selected
by the postmaster general; one repre-
sentative Of the publishers of daily
newspapers; one representative of the
weekly, selni-weekly and tri-weekIy
newspapers, and one representative Of
the publishers of periodicals and maya
zines, the last three to be appointed by
the president of the United States from
among those recommended to him by
representative publishers Of such news
papers and periodicals, and seventh
member to be selected by the six, whose
manner Of selection Ia so specifically
provided. An appropriation Of $4,000
ss recommended to defray the cost Of
the investigation.
The postmaster general In his recent
annual report recommends to congress
4 thorough review of the whole subject
OF second.claas mail matter and the
enactment OF a statute to take the place
Of those existing, which would render
unnecessary the consideration of such
questions as those upon which second |
class matter now depend. In now rec
ommendinR this commission, the post
master general In bis communication to
the committee on postoffiees and post
roads OF the senate, says:
The existing statutes regulating the
second class of mail matter are out Of
ahtej they do not meet modern require |.
meuts OF the publishing industry. and |,
The administration Of them unneces- Il
sarily and unreasonabiy hampers the /
publishers of bona fide newspapers and 4
periodicals.
AS an Observation-Disclosures j
Az an indication OF what liz In
'olved In administration, it may be
tated that the question of what ia a t
'pnn hde newspaper or periodical Is one I
'pout which there may be and often is c
nuoh u'ierence or opinion. The same I
true of what constitutes a known t
hiee Of publication, Of what constitutes '
publication originated and published o
or the dissemination of information Of -
public character, what is devoted to =
terature, the sciences, arts, or some n
pecial industry, what Is a legitimate /,
vt or Subscribers. All of these cues. I$
ons must, however, be determined in q
ach case before second-elass entry can loi
0 granted; but publication having
et all requirements Is positively pro,
'b'ted admission II 1t be- designed pri. "
arily for advertising purposes or for tt
ee circulation, or for circulation ut m
'minal rates. That such questions. it
pecially the latter, are subtle and r
'mplex and render administration OK. ce
edingly difficult surely need not be al
a,eu' pr
Postmaster General Cortelyou OK.
esses the belief that such commits. M
IN, II appointed, will be able to mako di
commentator that will be equable alb
publishers, relieve them from present la,
noyaneo and restrictions, and at tho N,
me time protect the interests of The Of
vernment. fir,