The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-07
Postmaster General Corte|you
Wants Special Commission
SUGGESTS ITS FORMATION
Says Existing Statutes Regulating
Second Class Mail Matter are
out of Date and do not Meet
Modern Requirements.

Washington May 6.-Postmaster Gen
eral Cortelyou has recommended to the
Congress the appointment of a commits
sion to inquire into the subject of second
class matter with a view to ascertaining
what notifications of the present second
class laws are necessary. the commission
than December 10, 1906.
In order that all interests shall be rep
resented 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 speaker of the House, one officer of
the Postoffice Department, selected by the
Postmaster General, one representative of
the publishers of daily newspapers, one
representative of the publishers of week
ly, semi-weekly and tri-weekly news
papers, and one representative of the pub
fishers of periodicals and magazines, The
last three to be appointed by the Pres
ident of the United States from among
those recommended to him by represen-
tative associations of publishers of such
newspapers and periodicals, and seventh
member to be selected by the six whose
manner of selection is so specifically pro-
vided. The commission will have the
power to employ clerks and stenographers,
administer oaths, send for persons and
papers, and do all things necessary for
the carrying out of its objects.
Asks for Appropriation.
An appropriation of $4,000 is asked to
defray the cost of the investigation.
The Postmaster General in his recen.
annual report recommended to Congress
a thorough review of the whole subject
of second-class mail matter. and the en-
actment of salute to take the place of
those existing which would render un-
necessary the consideration of such ques-
tions as those upon which second-class
matters now depend. In now recommend
ing this commission the Postmaster Cen
eral in his communication to the commit
tee on postoffices and post roads of the
Senate says:
"The existing statutes regulating the
secondclass mail matter are out of date
they do not meet modern requirements of
the publishing industry, and the admins
tration of them unnecessarily. and un-
reasonably hampers the publishers of
bonafide newspapers and periodicals
"As an illustration of what is involved
in administration, it may be stated that
the question of what is bonafide news
paper periodical. is one about which
there may be and often is much difference
of opinion. The same is true of what con-
stitutes known office of publication,
what constitutes a publication originally,
and published for the disseminating of in
formation of a public character; what
t. 20 f&nr f,,ro ,afa
arts or some special industry; what is a
legitimate list of subscribers. All of these
questions, however, however, must be de-
termined in each case before second-class
entry can be granted but publication
having met all the conditions is positively
prohibited admission If 1t be designed pri-
marily for advertising. purposes, or for
free circulation or for circulation at nom
inal rates.
THAT such questions, especially the lat
ter, are subtle and complex and render
administration exceedingly difficult
scarcely need be stated
Even after the right of a publication to
pass in the mails at the second-class
rates of postage had been determined,
there are six different rates of postage
applicable thereto when the matter is
mailed by publishers and news agents and
when mailed by the general public there
is provided another-a seventh rate Each
rate is dependent upon the circumstances
of time, place and manner of mailing the
publication. Mostmasters General Cortel-
you expresses the belief that such COM
mission II appointed will be able to make
recommendations to Congress which will
result in the passage of a law that will
be equitable to the publishers. relieve
them from present annoyances and re-
strictions. and at the same time protect
the interest of the government.