The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-02-07
Postal Rill unfalr.

\
Carter and Clay and Representatives
loverstreet. Gardner and Moon and
the accompanying bill regulating
second-class mail matter which they
recommended for passage are Of SO
extraordinary a character as TO de-
mand the immediate and urgent at
tention OF all engaged in the publish
ing business.
The proposed changes are uni
formly burdensome and harrassing
and are avowedly hostile to the de-
velopment and extentlon OF newspa-
pers and other periodicals. For this
reason they would and should arouse
the proper antagonism OF publishers.
but the grave menace--and 1t could
be no graver-is found In the funda-
mental argument of which the bill
is based.
The entire theory Of the report is
that the department, the expansion,
the Improvement of newspapers and
other periodicals Is reprehensive and
should and must be curbed by law
Throughout the report are argu-
ments that the press Of the country
is furnishing its readers more than
is necessary or proper. and the bill
frankly and drastically proceeds to
restrain this tendency Of publishers
to be fair and liberal with subscrib-
ers.
The bill sets up in the postofiice
department an odious censorship,
and an uncomfortable right of inquisi-
ton.
1t is seriously proposed to put
into law the ideas OF individual sem
ators and representatives. their ideas
of how newspapers should be edited
and to outlaw those which do not
meet their views, what might other
wise be regarded as pure impo-
tence becomes an attack on the es-
sential liberty of the press. II fic-
ton and magazine matter in news
papers can he put under ban why not
editorial criticism or cartoons?
Hitherto the theory Of our govern
ment has been that free, untram-
meled and most widely circulated
newspaper and periodical press con-
stituted and best guarantee of tina;
intelligence which is indispensable to
self-governing people. To this end
special advantages in cheap postage
have been designedly accorded. the
benefits being instantly absorbed by
the subscribers.
It is now proposed to make rad
ical change in this policy. Avowedl,
basing Its action upon the course o.
. procedure in foreign countries
where policy of repression and re
striction as to the newspapers nal
always obtained, the commission con
cludes that the modern American
newspaper has become too great.
expanded and 1t offers a bill which
not alone stops further expansion
but cuts off many of the existing ant
, well-recognized features of the news
, paper and periodical press.
A system of inquisition is insti
tuted under which all that ordinar.
= and proper privacy which is enjoy
ed by every other line of business /
forbidden to the newspaper publish
, ers. Instead, the publisher Is re
, quired to make a sworn Statement
of any information respecting hi
5 publication which the postmaste
4 general may prescribe. 1t seem
clear that the American newspape
. and magazine of today have justifie,
in a most striking manner the wis
r dom Of the paper of the encourage
h ment and that American publisher
4 have no cause for shame In any com
n parison that may he made witt
t European publishers.
g The responsible American pres
Y neither asks nor desires a subsid
from the federal government and |
: does not regard the present rate a
: unduly low but simply as an expires
d sion of the national desire to sfcur
i, informed ccitizens, This has heel
e good national policy and alsos goo,
' business policy as is plainly show
y by decreasing postal deficit. Not
il wiihstanding the establishment o
;. rnraI free delivery, which was bu
:, another expression of the same ma
a tional desire. and the tremendou
t, increase Of franked matter.
=. II should be remembered also tina
}, Oppressive as the bill is, it does no
e represent the ultimate purpose Q
n the Commission as shown in It's re
y port hut is merely step toward
e. much more Objectionable end
,e
u Ii 4 R