Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-04-10

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of publishers as may come to their
whatever without specific instruc-
lions. ',
In no case is the transient second
class postage rate one cent for each
four ounces to be exacted upon copies
of second class publications apparently
sent on account Of, expired sqbscrip-
lions as defined in paragraph 8, section
438, p. L. g. r., until the facts have
been submitted to the department and
directions to that effect received by
the postmaster: (See section 487 P.
L. & R. 80. a.y
The consensus of opinion among
publishers, as ascertained from
hundreds of communications received
from them, is that the regulations are
fair, just, and reasonable, and while
designd to put an end to long standing
and ever increasing abuse of the
seconded mailing privilege, will go
far toward establishing the publishing
business upon a substantial basis and
in full harmony with the letter and
spirit of the law. The judgment of
the department, after close observation
of the operation of these regulations
for more than three months, is that
they will ultimately relieve the postal
service of enormous losses of revenue
which it suffers, as well as the I'M
warranted burden placed upon it by
reason of the carriage every year as
second class matter at the pound rate
of millions of copies of publications
not entitled to such special rate; that
| they will save the people from the
annoyance of receiving publications
which come unbidden into their homes
and which they have been unable to
stop; and that they will relieve
legitimate publishers from illegitimate
competition and enable them to do
business on sound principles
The object of the regulations, you
are reminded, is to correct real abuses,
and not to harass, irritate, or annoy
legitimate publishers. It is the fixed
purpose to enforce them uniformly and
thoroughly, but in order to do so the
department must continue to have the
support and cooperation of the
legitimate publishers throughout the
country, and which it is now receiving
in consequence of their feeling that
their interests in respect of the second
class mailing privileges are Identical
with those of the department. To
such publishers every reasonable
opportunity will be given to bring
their publications and publishing
methods into full conformity with the
spirit and intent of the new regula-
lions, and they will be assisted in
every consistent way to do so with the
least possible inconvenience and
embarrassment.
It has been realized from the outset
that no reform SO wide-reachng in its
effects, and touching so intimately
the interests and business arrange
ments of thousands of publishers, as
that contemplated by the new regula-
tions in respect of expired subscrip-
tions can be accomplished within a
few weeks or even months; that to
avoid hardship or embarrassment to
publishers who want to obey the law
it's execution must be marked with
caution and conservatism, and that
they must be afforded reasonable
opportunity to adjust their affairs to
the new conditions; and such has been
and will continue to be the policy.
The department is directing its
principal efforts and concentrating it's
energies toward the eradication of the
graver abuses, involving heavy losses
of revenue, and in some cases fragrant
frauds upon the government. While
proceeding with this work it does not
wish to be burdened with the con-
sideration of matters of secondary or
minor Importance or with irregulari-
ties which are comparatively trifling
or inconsequential More yer,
thousands or even hundreds of cases
can not possibly be Investigated and
disposed of at once; it will require
months of unceasing labor to deal
with them efficiently and properly.
Accordingly, it is the policy to take
up cases in the order of their i'm
portance, giving attention first to
those Of the larger consequence in, the
matter of revenue and character of
abuse.
| A. L. LAUSHE,
Third Assistant Postmaster General