New-York tribune., 1911-02-16
PUBLISHERS UP IN ARMS
Deny "ErroneouS and Malicious
Iy False Statements"
SAY PLAN DISCRIMINATES
Statement from Periodical Asso.
citation Declares It Will
Cripple Magazines.

The following statement was issued last
light by +. G. !. Tessaro, manager of the
Periodical Publishers Association, for that
organization;
We wish tn emphatically deny one Of the
many erroneous and maliciousy false
statements emdnetins from certain quar-
ters IN Washington. The Periodical Pub
tShers Association Of America is not nor
has II ever been, a trust or combine of any
nature whatsoever furthermore il has new
eT been accused of doing anything in viola
ton of the antitrust laws. The report is
apparently inspired I'm an endeavor 10 dis
credit our efforts I'm frustrating the Post
master Generals attempt TO have passed
the iniquitouS increase of the present pos
tai rate Our association is merely trade
body very similar TO the American News-
paper Publishers Association, the Mer-
chants Association or the Chamber Of
Commerce, organized FOR mutual protec-
ton against just such attacks M are now
being made upon the periodical press Of
tho country.
In connection with one of our principal
conlcntions that the proposed amendment
is discriminatory legislation, in that it OK
empts from it's proviso all periodicals weigh
ing less than four thousand pounds an
Issue, we wish 10 call attention to the fact
that the Postmaster General himself IL at
least frank enough to admit that II is dis
criminatory-that is. on the very day the
Senate Postoffice Committee was consider
ing the amendment increasing the rate and
making the above exemption tFehruhrN ~
Mr.. Hitchcock wrote to Mr.. Penrose. chair
man Of the committee. protesting against
the admission TO second class mail privi-
leges periodicals issued by or under the
auspices Of benevolent and fraternal socie-
ties and orders and institutions of learning
or by trade unions giving, among others,
his reasons for thus excluding this class OF
periodicals land the following is verbatim
report:
"It favors one class of publishers at the
expense of others
1T discriminates against individuals In
favor OF members of certain organizations
1T creates inequalities in publishers
mailing privileges.
1T necesstates the application of one
rule TO the publications affected and the
opposite rule TO those not within Its
terms"
Just imagine the insincerity. the animus.
the inconsistency, TO say the least, OF II ALL
Here YOU see Mr. Hitchcock excluding
from the second class privileges certain
classes of periodicals on the ground that
II Is discriminatory. and at the same time
advocating an amendment which makes
flesh of one and fowl Of another inCreas-
Ing the opo postal rate on the so-ca,1d ;,,d
fellows with less than 1900 pounds per
issue of circulation.
If, as Mr.. Hitchcock so truly states, il IS
another. why is it not equally discrimina-
tory in our case? Are not the cases abso-
lutely parallel?
Just another incontrovertible fact: In 1850
the postal deficit was Slo.65e, ,5i3. for the
present year IL is only $j.s4Sj66 yet the
postage rate i'm 1850 was more than five
times what If is now. Though there were
s.oooo00 pounds increase of second class
matter In 1910 over 1899. Yet the deficit Is
sl1 631, ,204 Il less. whats the reason" We
all ask. The public is entitled 10 know.
not by statements emanatng from the
Postmaster General or from the publish
ers. not through acrimonious discussion.
but we feel confident proper investigation
will show what the trouble is
knowing the publishers of this country
TO be about the most fair-minGed class. |
feel sure the members Of this association
and all others would readily assent TO
abide by properly determined decision in
the matter but any attempt 10 arbitrarily
cripple an industry such as tho periodical
press Of this country will continue to be
met with consistent and persistent oppo-
sition by all the many interests concerned.
and. I feel confident bv the usually fair
minded and discriminating public.