The Washington herald., 1911-02-12

The political and sectional storm which
broke over the Senate on Friday night
was succeeded by a storm OF an entirely
different character yesterday. and one
which was discussed in the cloakrooms,
the corridors, and over the luncheon
table. Every Senator was met at the
door of the Senate with a bundle .of tele-
grams, imploring entreating command
ing and demanding that he oppose the
amendment, now a rider on the appro-
priation bill, increasing the rate on sec
ond-class mail.
Senator Bristow had a number of these
! kilograms read, and Senator kean, Of
New Jersey, presented one of the many
he received which told him for Gods
sake to stop the amendment" This
created a great deal of amusement but it
did not entirely relieve the seriousness
Of the situation. There were too many
kilograms from unexpected sources. from
periodicals which are not muckrakers
from farm journals and trade publica-
tions, which show that these publishers
may be placed in sore straits if the
amendment is passed and the real muck
rakers punished which is said TO be the
| object Of the increase.
What the TeIegrams Mean.
The hundreds of kilograms showed that
the publishers have organized a protest
which is now countrywide. and that the
publishers all over the country beIiete
that the proposed increase will mean
confscation.
Progressive politicians from all over the
country wired to the progressive Sena-
tors and others protesting that the in
creased rate was intended to retard the
progressive movement Protests were
not only made against the amendment
but also against the manner in which
it was jammed through the Senate COM
mittee, with the Postmaster General pres
ent and without giving the publishers an
opportunity to present their side of the
case.
The publishers are now encouraged to
hope that the amendment will not pass.
1t would appear that Senators are in
Clined to follow the lines of least re-
siStance.' but they are having some diff
fculty in determining just what are the
lines. On one side is the President and
Postmaster General, with the bread bas-
ket of patronage and party pressure,
and on the other the demand Of pub
fishing houses throughout the country
and the people who will have to pay
higher prices for such publications as
can live under the new rate.
what Is Periodical.
The power which the Postmaster Cen
eral will be able to exercise over many
publications is another feature of the
situation which developed yesterday. No
one has ever been able to determine
just what is meant by periodical. The
Supreme Court once defined ii to mean
anything that was published. including
a daily newspaper. II is a joke in the
Post-ofice Department, but in case the
increase rider is adopted it will be in
the power OF the Postmaster General to
say what is a periodical and what a
newspaper. Already several weekly pub
lications are claiming newspaper char
acter, in view of the possible increase
There are many farm journals which
may be classified either way, as some are
periodical in form and others, like a
newspaper, or some newspapers, though
both contain the same general matter
Trade journals are also greatly eXer-
cised over this subject
Senator Carter, of Montana, who has
given great deal of attention to pos
tai matters. introduced in the present
Congress a bill to codify and revise
the postal laws and reorganize the
Post-offce Department in accordance
with the finding of the postal commits
sion, of which he and Senator Penrose
were members. The commission found
that it could not determine a just and
equitable rate on second-class matter,
and therefore left the rate in the bill
as at present. The Carter-Week bill
has been before Congress during one
whole session, but no time has been