The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-02-13
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS IsoS
TIE NEW REGULATION.

We have called attention to the
recent regulation of the Poslof'
flee Department in regard to Il e
mailing of newspapers as secoI. d
class matter to subscribers VITO
are in arrears. The following
explanation is given of this mat
ter in a letter from the postmas'
tar at Greensboro to the editor Of
The Industrial News:
Dear Sir: In answer TO your
inquiry concerning the new reg
ulatiOn promulgated by the De-
partment in regard to expired
subscriptions, permit me 10 give
you the following facts, which l
think will make the matter en-
tirely plain: The new regulation
referred to, officially known as
paragraph of section 436 Of the
postal laws and regulations, is as
follows:
"A reasonable time will be al
lowed publishers to secure re-
newals of subscriptions, but IN
less subscriptions are expressly
renewed after the term for which
they are paid, within the follow
ing periods: :,
&" 'Dailies within three months;
tri- WeeklieS within six msnthk;
Semi-weeklies within 9 months;
Weeklies within one year; semi
monthIieS within three months;
monthlies within four months; BIZ
monthlies within six months;
quarterlies within six months,
they shall not be counted in the
legitimate list OF bscribers, and
copies mAiled on account thereoi
s'ttTdil not be accepted for mailing
AZ the second-class postage rate
of one cent a pound, bit may be
mailed at the transient second
class postage rate of one cent for
each four ounces or fraction
thereof prepaid by stamps af
fixed. The right of a publisher
to extend credit for subscriptions
TO his publication is not denied
or questioned, but his compliance
with this regulation will be taken
into consideration in determining
whether the publication is erti.
tied TO transmission at the sec.
Ond. class postage rates."
To this Postmaster Douglas ap
ponds circular letter to post
masters from the Third Assis.
tant Postmaster General, which
is in its material parts as follows
with respect to the rules ir
amended section 496, govern
ing expired subscriptions, you
are informed that notwithstand
ing January LIST 1908, is the date
the same becomes effective, it j.
the desire and purpose Of the
y Department to give every pub
Usher reasonable opportunity
10 adjust his business to the new
conditions. Publishers who
show good faith and that they
are making progress should, il
fairness, have such opportunity
The purpose of the new reguiS
tons is TO correct real abuses
. and not TO put into the hands o
postmasters instruments will
which to annoy and Vex publish
erH whose practices are normal
Therefore, you need no
question expired subscriptions
as defined by section 436 prior Il
April 1st, 1908, except in casei
which in your opinion, based up
on evidence in your possession
constitute fragrant abuses in tina
regard and should, therefore. b.
speedily eliminated.
The foregoing explains full
WY publishers of semi week.,
papers cannot, after the first O
April, send their papers to SUI
scribers who are more than min
months in arrears. We are muc
gratified atthe way our subscril
ers have responded so far to th
notices we have given of the NJ
cessity Of getting in shape b
April lst for this new regulation
We trust we shall not have to Gu
off any subscribers on account {
this new ruling.