The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-09-20
ANOTHER FREAK LAW.

The Scranton Tribune-Republica
voice our sentiments in the matter
of the new periodical law which is
effective October 1st. 1t said on
Wednesday:
Postmaster General Frank Hitch
cock has placed himself on record in
a way that will undoubtedly secure
the friendship of newspaper publish
ers generally in giving his opinion of
another strange kink in the postal
appropriation bill. The Sunday gen.
eral delivery closing edict, which has
proved a great annoyance to many,
does not appear to contain as many
obnoxious features as another clause
which probably NEEDLES with the
business of newspaper publishers to
a greater extent than any legislation
heretofore enacted for the apparent
purpose of harassing the editor.
The provisions of the law which re-
quire correct figures in the matter of
circulation and other features of
this nature will cause no concern
among honest publishers. No news
paper owner who is giving his pat
rons a square deal will care about
the clause evidently aimed at cir
culation liars. But the following
paragraph seems to place the gag on
the newspaper more effectually than
the most strenuous methods advo-
Gated by former Governor Penny
packer when he attempted to regu-
late the press of Pennsylvania with
strange libel laws:
That all editorial or other
reading matter, published in any
such newspaper, magazine, or
periodical, for the publication
of which money or other valu-
able consideration is paid, ac-
cepted or promised, shall be
plainly marked advertisement
Any editor or publisher printing
editorial or other reading mat
ter for which compensation is
paid, accepted or promised,
without so marking the same,
shall upon conviction in any
court having jurisdiction, be
fined not less than fifty dollars,
nor more than five hundred
dollars"
1t is not true that many editors
sell their editorial columns. No
publisher fit to be a publisher can
be persuaded to sacrifice his princi-
pies in the manner intimated by the
paragraph above, but it seems to us
that every publisher should have the
privilege to do so if he sees fit, with
out let or hindrance from the gov
ernment. The man who builds a
house can rent the house for a
stable If he sees fit, even though it
is on the leading residential street
of the town, and unless he is violat-
ing some sanitary ordinance, con-
gress would not think of interfering.
1t would be an unwarranted abridge-
ment of his rights. Does not the
clause which DEGREES that a man may
not dispose of his own merchandise
as he sees fit, providing he is not en-
croaching upon the right OF others,
come pretty near the limit in the
way of insane legislation? 1t isn't
up to lot of resentful congressional
meddlers to write the Ten Command
ments of journalism.
In discussing the foregoing in a
letter to Senator Bourne, of the com
mittee on post Offices and post roads,
Mr.. Hitchcock says:
l also call your attention to that
portion of the bill beginning on page
SS, line 19, which requires the inser-
tion in newspapers and periodicals OF
the name of the owner or owners and
the managing editor or managing
editors, and also that matter for the
insertion of which a charge is made