The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-21
FAIR NOTICE TO ALL
Of Our Subscribers Who Have
Not Yet Paid Up.
We Are Sending Out Notices to All
in Arrears of Their Indebtedness
Asking Settlement.


less subscriptions to newspapers are
expressly renewed after the term for
which they are paid within a given
time they shall not be counted in the
list of legitimate subscribers, and
copies mailed on account thereof
shall not be accepted for transmits
sion in NE mails at the second-cltss
postage rate of one cent per pound,
but must be mailed at the rate of
one cent for each four ounces or
fraction thereof prepaid by stamps
affixed.
The government has made this
rule for its own protection, to keep
from loading down the mails with
advertising sheets, scattered broad
cast over the land, and which are
not paid for. Newspapers are ad-
mitted to the mails at lower rate
of postage than any other class of
matter, becaues the founders of our
government looked upon newspapers
as educators and guardian of the
peoples liberties. The postage was
made low to encourage the circula-
tion of papers and to allow the peo-
pie to get them at low price. But
in this day of advertising, many peo-
pie have been taking advantage of
the law to send out their advertising
matter free. The government now
intends to stop this as much as pos
sible.
Newspapers enjoy very liberal
terms as to postage, and that is one
reason why they are sold so cheap.
There is no charge for postage on
papers delivered in the county and
for papers out of the county the rate
is only one cent a pound. But for
those liberal rates to papers and per-
iodicals afforded this second class
classification the excess postage
would eat up all the profits Of many
magazines and papers and put them
out of business. The government
has been badly imposed on by adver-
tising sheets that have no right to
be circulated through the mails at
second class rates. These advertis-
ing sheets had no regular list of
subscribers and sent their worthless
sheets to anybody that would take
them out of the postoffice.
When overhauled by the Postoffice
Department these advertising sheets
. would exhibit subscription list of
, names, none OF whom had ever SUBJ
scribed or paid a cent for them and
under the then rules of the Post
Office Department they were entitled
, to the same low rate Of postage en-
, joyed by legitimate newspapers. At
ter trying many plans to get rid Of
these advertising sheets without
: success, the Postoffice Department
. has finally hit upon plan that Will
/ put them out of business and save
millions Of dollars to the govern
! ment. This plan is to require all
newspapers that want to enjoy the
low rate of postage to have q practi-
cally paid in advance subscription
list. AS these advertising sheets are
D sent free to all, they have no paid
e up subscription list, and will not be
allowed the low rate Of postage. To
make this rule effective the Postoffice
Department had to put all publica-
D tions on the same footing and re-
: quire them to have paid up SUBJ
t scription list to enjoy the low pos
tage rate.
$ We have gone into full explana-
D tion of the matter SO as our subscrib-
> ers will thoroughly understand it and
3 see that we have no choice in the
j premises At present the cost OF
0 mailing a, paper to subscriber in
U arrears is nothing at all in the coun-
| ty and is only a very small item for
y the papers mailed out of the coun-
; ty But just as soon as this ruling
: goes into effect, which will be In a
very few days now, on each paper
that goes to delinquent subscriber
there will be a charge Of one cent
hostage to be paid by stamp affixed
the same as on letter. We would
have to pay S1.04 postage per year
on all papers sent to subscribers who
t are in arrears. This simply means
that we VIII nave 10 cut Oll dll SUI
scribers who are in arrears and con-
a form to the new rule OF the Postof-
n flee Department.
In the future, where we might
otherwise he willing to favor sub
/ scribers by allowing subscriptions to
e run on, we are compelled not to do
e so or to pay rate of postage that
y is wholly out of the question. So
the only thing left for us to do is to
~ conform TO this new postal reSula-
S ton. We are therefore sending out
n statements to all whose subscriptions
= are not paid up, calling their attne-
l. ton to this very important matter
% and informing hem of the action
e that it will be necessary for us to
s take in the event that they fail to
respond. We trust that they will
10 show their best appreciation of our
ia indulgence in the past by making 1t
rs possible for us to continue 10 send
,r them The Times and Democrat.
Our HpSt Row