The Green Forest tribune., 1908-03-27
Discussed by the Third Assist
 ant Postmaster General
SUBSCRIBERS ID NEWSPAPERS
Compelled to Settle for Arear-
 ages of More Than Year

4O llSL 11Olll OlAS HI A 1AOSAOS0AAO V Postmaster General giving us ull information as to the recent rul- ing of the Post Office Department concerning second- class matter, by which publishers of weekly newspapers are prohibited from mailing papers to subscribers who are more than year in arrearages at the second class, or cent pound, postage rate.
 The order was promulgated Dec. f, 1907, to take effect Jan. 1, 1908, but before the date arrived, the time was extended to April 1, 1908, in order that publishers might have time to apprise delin- quents of the new regulation and collect up.
 If you are more than year behind with The Tribune and have been receiving the paper since Jan. 1, you have been benefited by the extension of time for the enforcement of the new rule.
 The Department assures country publishers that it is not it's intention to be hard on ligi- mate publications and will give them no trouble where they show good faith in trying to conform to the regulation, but confidently adds that as rule country pub fishers are strict observers of the regulations governing their publications and no trouble is expected.
 In the course of his discussion of the new regulation and it's effects the Third Assistant Post master General, who made the order, says:
 The legitimate publisher is rec ognized as public servant in the best sense of the term. He often does a vast amount of real work for his com munity, for which he receives little or no reward. This fact appears to have been taken into consideration by Con- gress when 1t fixed his postal status in the law governing second-class mail matter, which confers special privilege upon the legitimate publish That privilege is the enjoyment of rate of postage for his product not ac corded to any other citizen or class of citizens, or to any other indus try-a a general rate of cent per pound and a free rate within the county unie r prescribed conditions. The next lowest rate of postage is that granted to the general public on mailing of news papers and other periodicals which have been admitted to the second class at the rate of cent for each 1 ounces or fraction thereof. The next cheapest rate is that on books and other printed matter, of 1 cent for each ounces or fraction thereof.
 Discussing this special privilege the Third Assistant Postmaster General calls attention to the fact that it costs not less than 2 1-2 cents a pound to transport mails coming under the head of second- class matter, while the relation it bears to the whole amount of mail handled is 67 per cent. The other 33 per cent covers the amount in pounds of other mail of every description. He goes on to show that retrenchment must come in somewhere, or else publishers will have to pay a higher rate, which would, of course, eventually come off the subscribers in the shape of an in- creased subscription rate.
 While the Department recog- nizes the value to the publishers of having subscriptions paid in advance it is not it's purpose to require it, nor would it limit the time credit can be extended to subscribers on certain conditions, which are described in the fol- lowing extract from the letter re- ferred to:
 When publisher extends credit up- on the express request of the subscriber for definate period of time, combined with promise to pay at specified time, it will be held that copies in fulfillment of such renewal can be continued to be sent as to subscribers, except in cases where it appears that the practice i5 not indulged in good faith, but for tho If nvacinn Tn ci1Ol, it would be an abuse not to be tolerated.
 The Tribune has given the above for the benefit that 1t may be to our subscribers. We do not wish to- infringe upon the regulations of Department. If you are behind on subscription and will write us letter conform : ing to the idea set forth in the above paragraph, giving date to which you wish your paper ex- tended and the time you expect to be able to pay, we will cheer fully grant you the time, but after giving you what we consider a reasonable time" to do this or settle up your account, or at least put your date within less than a year behind, we will stop your paper and place the account for collection.
 Now, dear subscriber. look at your "tag" and if you are more than a year behind be honest and courteous enough to help us out in this matter. If you ever ex- pect to show us special favor