The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1908-01-29
new RULING
IN EFFECT SOON
WHY THE POSTOFFlCE DEPART
MENT HAS A NEW REGU.
LATlON
GOES INTO EFFECT SOON
Some Patrons are Already Enquiring
Why Their Papers are Not
Coming

Some subscribers to newspapers are
already feeling the effects. of the new
ruling by the postoffice department.
AT the Baraboo postoffice, patrons are
enquiring for papers which, do not
come. This is because the heads of the
postoffice department at Washington
have decided that newspapers cannot
be sent through the mail at the regular
rate if subscriber is far behind with
his payments. Theltime allowed on
dailies is three months and weeklies
one year. That is, if subscriber owes
publisher for more than three months
for daily or for more than one year
for weekly, the paper cannot be sent.
The postmasters are ordered not to
send them, so if a publisher dumps
them into the postofflce, they can not
go forward. All publishers of papers
are treated alike, sos subscribers must
either pay or not receive the paper.
Whether or not it is good law re-
mains to be seen. One thing is GER
tain, people cannot take paper for
five, ten, or 20 years without paying
for it. On the other hand it will be q
great relief to many whoSreceive pap.
ers they do not want and yet are ex-
pected to pay for them. Often papers
are sent when not ordered and the
subscriber cannot stop. them. Here
after the government will see to it that
the paper is stoppedsafter short peri
cd of time.
So many copies of such papers as
Comfort, Grit, and others will not
come as in the past and no doubt peo-
pie who read papers will appreciate all
the more the ones they pay for.
The Why of 1t.
It is said there are several reasons for
the new ruling:
l. 1t is desired to get the postoffice
on business paying
basis.
2. It is the intention to reduce the
of such papers as those de-
voted to stories and advertising.
8. 1t is the intention to prevent
from being burdened with
papers they do not want.
All this means that subscribers must
pay for their papers practically in ad-
vance. The ruling is not intended to
affect legitimate newspapers, but those
which food the mails and are sent out
only for the advertising.
Besides the above the number of
sample copies is now limited to ten per
cent of publishers circulation in
stead of 100 per cent.
It is said that some of the eastern
papers sent cut sample copies by the
million. This has already stopped.
The effect has been to reduce the num-
Der of clerks in the postoffices where
the story-advertising sheets are pub
lished, to lay off the employees in the
publication offices and stop the presses.
The government claims it hauls news
papers sent long distance at a loss,
and reducing the volume means less
expense.
It requires 100000 cords of timber
each year to make the paper for print
ed matter such as newspapers. This
will be reduced and may again cheap
en- the cost of paper.
The new ruling came to the news
papers without notice and there is
nothing to do but obey, unless the rul
ing is changed. Some newspaper
men want the ruling enforced, and
some do not. A few people are inclined
TO think the new order of things is the
work of publishers, but by asking any
postmaster this idea can be set Alright.
The new arrangement goes into effect
soon, and all who are behind pay
nents TO any newspaper should send
oyful letter forward and "make their
titles clear"