The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-12-30
POSTAL SYSTEM
CHANGE In SIGHT
Abuses of Second Class Mail
Privileges.
Court OF Appeals Provided 10 Settle
Disputes Involving
Publications.
THE TALK COMMISSION PLAN

once department. IlueStlOuS dIlslhs
from abuses of the second-class mai
privilege bill will also be considered
The Joint commission for the re-
form of the methods of the postoffice
department has brought these sub
ljects to the front. This commission
has made its report, and 1t is no,
friendly to the present system of ad-
ministration. 1t has submitted bill
lalong with its report, and in this bill
lproyides for a commission of appeals,
whose duty IL shall be to pass on all
disputes concerning mail matter, in
cluding fraud orders and second-class
privileges.
This question of fraud orders and
the administration of the second
class mail matters have aroused no
end of difficulty in the last few years.
Much feeling has been stirred be
cause of allegations that the post
Office department was arbitrarily ex-
eluding concerns from the mails.
Congress has not been entirely
asleep over the matter. Representa-
tive Crumpacker Of Indiana, last
session sought to get legislation
Through that would provide some
remedy, but failed. His interest as
well as that OF many other members.
was aroused by the agitation in the
Lewis Publishing company cases.
Unfair Treatment Charged.
The Postal commission found a
number of defects in the postal serv-
ice, and it bore hard on the present
practice with respect TO fraud orders
and seconi-class matter.
n Many publishers have felt that the
second-class privileges was not dis
posed of II as 1t should be. and many
concerns barred from the mails have
felt they were unfairly treated. The
lack Of opportunity for redress is the
feature of the administration of
these two matters that has been at
tackled as unjust and un-American.
The Postal commission In its re-
port alluded to the combination in
the same officer of the dual functions
Of prosecutor and judge in respect
+, TO matters such as the classifications
Of periodicals and the issuance of
Z fraud orders. directly affecting the
irighls OF individuals not connected
iwiih the postal service.
1 The report said that the classifi-
cation of newspapers and periodicals.
although apparently a mere matter of
rates, might mean the continuance
or obstruction of immense business
|, enterprises.
Important Point Involved.
It is pointed out that second-class
privilege involved the right of the
citizen to use of the mails. and add
ed: The principle that the property
rights of the person affected shall not
be taken away without a hearing is
recognized in the law by express
statute in respect of newspapers and
periodicals and by implication in re-
speet to the issuance of fraud orders.
Under the present organization the
hearing thus created by law loses
much of its characteristic quality by
the fact that 1t must be held befor,
the same person who has in fact in
stituted and prepared the case upon
which he must decide"
The commission has prepared a
bill dealing with these matters, ana
there is no doub, = will attract wide
notice from pVA fishers and from all
parties concer Led In the fraud order
question, WHO will insist that con-
gress take some action. The bill is
for commission Of appeals 10 pass
on all disputes relative to mail mat,
ter, including fraud orders and ques-
tons relating to second-class rights.
Coul1 Pass ON Rights.
This commission could determine.
on appeal from the assistant director
of mail matter, whether the applica.
tion of any periodical for admission
to the second-class should be granted
or denied, whether the second-class
privilege once granted to a publica-
ton should be revoked, and should
pass upon the issue of fraud orders
against persons alleged to be con.
Iducting schemes to defraud, such as
lotteries and the like.
II is provided by the bill that
cases OF the kind specified. in which
there are appeals to the proposed
commission shall be duly submitted
! by the assistant attorney general.
Under the new arrangement the as
sistant attorney general would be a.
prosecutor, but he would in no
sense be a judge. Those who have
been contending for the passage of
la bill for court review of fraud or
ders do not think the commission of
appeals goes far enough. but at the
same time recognize IL as a great
improvement over the present sys-
tenn. The commission OF appeals
would be composed of high salaried
and well-qualiied men, each holding
office for six years. One would be
lawyer OF prominence. The COM
mission would have three members,
one to be named every two years.
Counting your blessings discounts
your burdens