Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-09-19
ANOTHER DRIVE AT the
NEWSPAPERS.
Sworn Statements AS TO Own
ership, What Is Paid Matter,
and Circulation. Required.

and Circulation. Required.
Postmaster General Hitchcock issued
instructions Monday of this week for car
rying into effect the new newspaper and
periodical law, first returns under which
must be made by October LIST.
The law requires that publishers shall
file on the first days of April and October
of each year, both with the Postmaster
General and with the lccal postmaster,
under penalty of denial Of the u" OF the
mails, a sworn statement of the names
and addresses of the owners, publishers,
editors, managing editors and business
manager of their newspapers and pei Cd
icals. Religious, flaternal, temperance
and scientific publications are excepted.
For corporation (The Clarion Publishing
Company for instance) the names Of the
holders of more than per cent Of the
stocks, bonds, or other securities must
be given, and in case of daily newspapers
statement of the average paid circula-
ton for the preceding six months is re-
quired.
All editorial or other reading matter
appearing in newspaper or magazine
for the publication of which pay is ac-
cepted or promised must be marked lad
vertisement, under penalty of fine Of
not less than $50 or more than $500.
although this law was not favored by
the Postoffice Department, says POST
master-General Hitchcock, "it will be ad-
mnistered faithfully and impartially. In
framing the act Congress doubtless had
in mind the leading daily newspapers,
but it will affect also nearly Is, 900 week.
lies.
"In my judgement-and | so expressed
it to Congress provision will be
harmful, as it will require the continuous
use of valuable space in the publications
and at the same time be resented as
censorship on the press. One OF the
greatest difficulties now encountered IN
the enforcement of the law relating to
the second-class mai privilegeis that the
PostofIice Department Is compelled by
law to make inquiry into so many poets
of the private business OF publlehers.
Nv judgement is that it should be the
constant aim not only OF Congress but OF
The Postoilice Department to lessen the
necessity for supervision of the press IN
the enactment and administration Of the
postal laws.
The above article, headlines excepted,
is taken from the Baltimore Sun.
In the matter of knowing the private
affairs of a company, doubtless. the news
paper publisher is harrassed to greater
extent than the manager or owner OF any
other business, the State and National
Government sharing in the facts about
equally.
TO the State Tax Commissioner We are
compelled annually, for the purpose tax
ing, to state the name, place and busl-
ness of the company; the name OF each
person owning stock and how much, the
amount of capital stock authorized, the
par value, the value last year and at the
present time, receipts, expenditures, div
idends paid past and present year, and
the amount in bank or anywhere else be-
longing to the company.
At the same time of year comes notice
from the U. S. Internal Revenue depart
ment to make return of the net income
of the company for the fiscal year. The
amount of stock outstanding must be
given, amount of Indebtedness shown,
amount of dividends received from other
companies in which you may be interest
ed, and all this preamble in order to learn
if the amount of business done during
wear amounted to more than $4,000 so that
a little more may be added to the tax
bill.
The law enacted a year or more ago
relating to newspapers requires state"
nents to be sent to the Postmaster-Gen-
eral, the first call being made July LIST.
of this year. 1t refers particularly to
subscribers, and the questions asked were
as follows:
"How many copies of - issue did
you print?
"How many copies were mailed as to
subscribers?
Glow many were sold by news agent,
delivered by carrier or sold over counter?
What disposition was made of the re-
manning copies?
How many sample copies were sent
out?
Of the number of copies mailed as to
subscribers, how many were sent to per-
sons whose subscriptions at the time of
mailing this issue were in arrears more
than one year and had not beer express
ly renewed?"
This law almost says subscriber must
pay for his paper cash in advance. 1t
also causes the publisher to go over his
books or cards every week, and notify
subscribers that their subscription has
expired.
Just what the various departments will
require next is difficult to predict, but
the little note invariably printed on the
blank forms sent out saying "fne 500
to $1,000, generally caused all possible
information to be given.
Game Laws Are Ready Again.
The new edition of the Government
compilation of the Game Laws of the