The San Francisco call., 1906-05-07
WANTS CONGRESS TO
TAKE UP MATTER OF
SECChD-CLASS MAIL
Secretary Cortelyou Urges That
Commission Composed Chiefly OF
Publishers Be Appointed.
Threshed Out for an Intelligent
Handling of Service.
Lines Must Be Drawn as to What
Shall Be Allowed tho Liberal
Privileges.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-Postmas-
ter General Cortelyou has recommend
ed to Congress the appointment Of s.
commission to inquire into the subject
OF second-class mail matter with q
view to ascertaining what modification
OF the present second-class laws are
necessary. the commmission to render
its report to Congress not later than
December 10. 1906.
In order that all interests shall be
represented, he has recommended that
the commission consist OF seven per-
sons. and be made up as follows; One
Senator, selected by the president OF
! the Senate, one Representative, Sc
lected by the Speaker Of the House;
one officer of the --ostoffice Depart
ment, selected by the Postmaster Cen
eral; one representative OF the pub
fishers OF daily newspapers; one rep
resentative of publishers Of weekly,
senA-weekly and tri-weekly news
papers. and one representative Of the
publishers of periodicals and maga-
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
newspapers and periodicals, and sew
enth member to be selected by the SIX
whose manner Of selection Is so spe-
ciflcally provided. An appropriation Of
$4,000 is recommended to defray the
cost of the investigation.
The Postmaster General In his re-
cent annual report recommends to
Congress thorough review Of the
whole subject of second-class mail
ute TO take the place Of those existing
which would render unnecessary the
consideration of such questions as
those upon which second-class mat
ter now depend
In now recommending this commits
sion the Postmaster General In his
communication to the commission on
postofiees and post roads of the SEN
ate says:
THE existing statutes regulating the
second class Of mail matter are out
OF date They do not meet modern
requirements OF the publishing indus
try and the administration of them
unnecessarily and unreasonably ham
pers the publishers of bona fde news
papers and periodicals..
"As an indication OF what Is In
volved In administration II may be
stated that the question Of what In g
bona fide newspaper or periodical ia
one on which there may be, and often
Is. much difference OF opinion The
same Is true OF what constitutes a
known Office of publication, of what
constitutes a publication originated
and published for the dissemination
Of Information Of a public character,
what 10 devoted to literature, the sci
ences. arts or some special industry,
what In legitimate list Of subscrfb-
ers- All Of these questions must.
however, be determined In each casa
before second-class entry can b
srantedi but publication having met
all requirements Is positively prohib-
ited admission II It be designed pri-
! marily for advertising purposes or for
free circulation, or for circulation q.
nominal rates. That such question.
especially the latter. are subtle and
I complex and render administration
exceedingly difficult surely need no,
be stated"
= Postmaster General CorteIyou ex-
presses the belief that such oounmis-
sion II appointed. Will be able to make
recommendations that will be appli-
cable to publishers. relieve them from
present annoyance and restriction.
and at the same TINA protect the in
terests of the Government