East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-03-30

A Washington letter says of the
new postoffice ruling which requires
newspapers to carry bona fide, paid
up list of subscribers, the ruling taxi
ing effect on April l.
The order of the postoffice depart
ment, issued December 4, 1907, re-
quiring the publishers of newspapers,
magazines and other periodicals to
maintain practically paid-up sub
scrlptlon list in order to entitle their
publications to the privileges of sec
ond-class matter, has stirred up quite
good deal of apprehension on the
part of publishers of country newspa-
pers. whose custom it is to extend un-
limited credit to many of their sub
scribers.
These apprehensions have been call
ed to the attention of the third assis-
tant postmaster general, A. L. Lawshe.
who disclaims any intention on the
part of the department to embarrass
the publishers of legitimate newspa-
pers or magazines or of placing any
obstacles in the way of conducting
their business or interfering with it,
but says that the primary object OF
the order In question is to correct two
great abuses of the second-class mail
ing privileges which have resulted
from the carrying of expired SUBJ
%, narindg and
from the old 100 per cent sample copy
privllege-that Is for every copy Of
the paper sent to a subscriber, the
publisher under the old regulations,
was allowed to mail a sample copy
at the second-class postal rate Of one
cent per pound.
The essential feature Of the new
regulations, Mr.. Lawshe states, fix
reasonable limit for the carrying Of
expired subscriptions and reduce the
sample copy privileges to 10 per cent
of the mailings of publications. in his
opinion, will not work any real hard
ships upon legitimate publishers. but,
on the contrary will bring many BEN
eflclal results.
The postoffice department has re-
Gently completed a thorough weighing
of all classes Of mail matter transmit
ted by 1t. and from these weighings
has been able to arrive at a correct
estimate of the cost and revenue of
each classification of mail.
The estimate shows that 81 per cent
of all mail carried is second-class mat
ter, and from this 81 per cent only 4
per cent of the revenues of the entire
postoffice department is obtained. The
estimate shows that for transmitting
first-class mail matter-letters and
sealed artlcles-the department re-
ceives "a cents per pound.
For merchandise it receives Is cents
per pound. For publications not en-
titled to second-class mail privileges.
1t receives 9 cents per pound, and for
second-class matter. t. e.. newspapers
and other periodical publications, 1t
receives 1 cent per pound.
BY correcting the abuses which have
been growing up under the second
class matter privileges, 1t is expected
by the postoffice department that the
enormous loss to the government.
brought about by these abuses, will
be in large degree lessened, and the
postal service, If not placed on "A self
supporting or paying basis, will be
brought near enough to that condition
to justify a decrease in the rates Of
first-class postage. thus bringing great
benefits to the entire country.
The new regulations, when issued,
provided that they should go into ef-
feet on January 1, 1908; later 1t was
decided to postpone the date until
April /. 1908, and on this date the
will put the regulations
into force.
Rules Are Reasonable.
The rule in reference to the renew
al OF subscriptions is as follows:
"a reasonable time will be allow
ed publishers to secure renewals Of
but unless subscriptions
are expressly renewed after the term
for which they are paid, within the
following periods:
Dailies, within three months.
Tri-weeklles within six months
Weeklies, within one year.
Semi-monthlles. within four months.
Monthlles, within six months.
Bi-monthlies, within six months.
Quarterlles, within six months.
They shall not be counted In the
legitimate list of subscribers, and
copies mailed on account thereof shall
not be accepted for mailing at the
second-class postage rate OF one cent
a pound, but may be mailed at the
transient second-class postage rate of
one cent for each four ounces or frac-
ton thereof, prepaid by stamps affix-
ed. The right Of publisher to extend
credit for subscriptions to his publi-
cation is not denied or questioned, but
his compliance or noncompliance with
the regulation will be taken into con-
sideration in determining whether the