The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
The Postal commissions Report.

Inc FUStdl commission RGpOTt.
The report Of the postal commission
authorized by Congress 10 inquire into
the operation and effect Of the existing
law relative to second-class matter, which
was recently submitted to that body, has
aroused "a storm Of protest from the
newspaper and periodical press. Ignor-
Ing The power Of Congress TO prescribe
what shall or shall not be regarded as
postal matter, critics of the commissioner
report characterize the bin framed To
carry out its recommendation as a denial
of the rights Of free press and d long
step in the direction OF a press censorship
OF course. neither of these assertions is
ia any respect true Nothing could have
been further from the purpose OF the
commission than to place any restrictions
upon the dissemination Of public fnforma-
uon OF intelligence or TO establish such
control over the contents and subject
matter Of publications as would amount
10 censorship. It's whole purpose was
g equalize the postal rates. 50 that the
rate of compensation may bear a reason
able proportion 10 the cost Of service. and
10 fix a definition Of periodicals which
would be enforceable without cumbersome
administrative machinery and without
irritating and humiliating surveillance Of
every publishers business. Some defects
there may be in the measure framed BY
the commission. but they cannot be at
tributed 10 a sinister design on the liber-
ties Of the press. and the motive and pur-
pose of the bin are upon the whole com
mendable.
With respect to postal rates, the COM
mission advised the system of payment
by the individual piece, with a minimum
limit of weight and an increased rate for
each increment of weight-a system which
is IN vogue the world over outside the
United States and Canada. The ad-
vantages of this system as set forth by
the commission are:
That the normal periodical is not profoundlv af
fected; the country weekly viii still retain its free
county privilege; the daily newspaper. even when
weighing over four ounces being for the most mart
transported in bulk and having stiIl the refuge of
the cent per pound bulk rate. will be affected
only 20 an inappreciable extent and those ranrrs
whose copies are Of the average weight Of from two
Ia four ounces VIII not be affected at all. the
normal type Of weekly or monthly periodical viii be
but slightly affected. and the increase of revenue
VIII come primarily out Of excess advertising"
IL will be thus seen that, according to
the commissions view. the recommended
increase in postal rates will affect only
the immense Sunday or special issues of
the daily press, and those only when
mailed singly, and that II will not touch
at all the ordinary newspaper issues. The
fiercest criticism has been directed. how
ever. to the standard Of classification de-
vised by the commission. This is an ad-
mittedly difficult subject, but the commits
sion recommended certain changes in the
law with the view of restricting the
second-class rate TO periodicals. legiti-
mately engaged in the dissemination OF
Information and the presentation and dis
cussion of current topics in relation to
literature, science. art. and industry. The
proposed bill. therefore, provides that a
periodical may not consist wholly or
substantially of fiction, and not more than
one-half OF it may be composed OF ad-
veTtising matter. Newspapers may be
issued in parts, but all such parts shall