The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-06
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY s, 1907.
Nature falls short Of Art In no In
stance, Art being but an Initiation OF
Nature.-Marcus Aurellus.
Press Censorship.

When Third Assistant Postmaster
General Edwin c. Madden began to make
war on the newspapers, claiming that
the rates on that class OF matter were
too low, all his arguments were soon
knocked into pl by the answers of the
pared with express charges. the rates
were reasonably high, and that the do
felt in the postal service was not due
to the handling OF newspapers, but to
the enormous amount of government
business handled free Of charge, and to
the ranking privilege of congressman
who sent through the malls everything
they were pleased to send, from pack
age OF seeds to COW. The publishers
were determined that the blame for the
deficiency should be placed where it be-
longed, and they proved their case; but
the Postal Commission, composed of
Senator's Penrose, Carter and Clay and
Representatives Overstreet, Gardner and
Moore, have prepared a report and
bill, which contain provisions OF harsh
and seemingly hostile, nature towards
3 the newspapers. In fact, as the New
York World points out, the commission
would make the Postal Department the
censor and editor of all the newspapers,
magazines and weekly periodicals in the
country. If this seems an exaggerated
statement, read the following clause from
\ the report:
Another consequence of the expansive
power Of fiction Is found in the confu-
sion of the newspaper and magazine
types and the unhealthy exaggera ton Of
the modern newspaper, as shown espe-
cially in its Sunday edition.
The newSNper Is rapidly being eX-
tended Into Che magazine field at tho
sacrifice both of the postal revenue and
the true mission OF the newspaper. The
miscellaneonce matter contained in the
Sunday issue of newspaper must Of
necessity lack the quality TO make it
socially and educationaly valuable"
Suppose the newspaper Is Incorporate
Ing magazine features, what has tho
postal authorities to do with 1t? Sup
pose 1t does lack quality, who Is to be
the judge? It may be that the edto-
rails lack quality. Some Of them certainly
Go in the estimation OF members OF Con-
gross and officers of government; but
are the editorial expressions OF the news
papers to be'Lcned np--or down-to suit
the taste xhd-'the politics OF the Post
n,aster-General and his assistants?
In order to check this unhealthy ex-
sgseration." as estimated by tho Postal
Commission. the bill provides that
''Thc newspaper title and date must
appear upon every page OF every part
section, Or supplement OF the paper
No newspaper or part or section OF a
newspaper of the other periodical must
consist wholly or substantially of fiction
z No newspaper or part or section Of 9
newspaper must have advertising to {;
greater extent than fifty Per cent of its
superficial area.
Each part or section Of newspaper
must be of tho same size, form anG
weight Ct paper.
Supplements must be OF the same
form rs tins main body of the pubica
ton, save IN the case Of maps and plans
Illustrative Of the text; must contain M
advertisements and must be supplied
only to complete matter left incomplet,
IN the main body OF the publication"
Another clause in the bill provides
that publishers nre required under .oatl
to furnish such ether information will
respect TO the publication rs the Post
nlaster-General may by regulation pre-
scribe"
All this Is in contempt OF that provi
sion Of the Constitution which guaran
toes the freedom Of the press, and (!
in keeping with tho new spirit of Fed
eralism which is now so rampant Il
Washing ton. II IS enough to arouse tn
people as well as the press,
AS the New York World aptly says, q
the Fost-oflce Department may edit nc
ttop out Of newspapers and magazines
prescribe their size and shape and deter
mine the percentage Of advertisements
how long will ii be before tho blue pen
ellis Of Washington censors may b
II turned upon tho editorial criticism O
public measprer which is essential in
free republic?"
4s5t ----- ---'7----=s-==--=--=---=-===
.