The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-08-14
with Rep. John Henderson
Muck Merchants

Although it has received little
fanfare, one of the pieces of
legislation offering peace of mind
to American families considered
during these closing days of the
session, involves stronger legis-
lation for the prosecution of
persons and companies using the
mails to transmit obscene litera-
ture. The sending of unsolicited
Shut to mailing lists procured BY
devious means has become
thriving business for fly-by might
operators who disappear in one
locality only to reappear in
another. This pernicious business
is all the more deplorable since
its operators often obtain the
names of children to prey upon.
Families of the 18th District
have written me about receiving
this kind of filth. One father
showed me the stream of trash
his seven-year-old daughter re-
ceived from companies in South
ern California after her name
had somehow gotten onto mail
ing list. The Post Office Depart
ment has been vigorous in its
efforts to halt operators of such
businesses. However, they are
difficult to track down and the
legal obstacles are formidable.
In the bill passed recently by
the House of Representatives,
such persons could be prosecuted
in Federal Court either in the
district where the mailing occurs
or in the district where the mail
is delivered. In addition, prosecu-
ton could occur at any point in
transit. This last provision is to
satisfy the legal principle where
in the offense could be shown
as a continuous one. At the pre-
sent time, prosecution may occur
only at the point of the mailing.
The Senate's action on the bill
is at variance with the version
of the House. The measure is
now in conference and prospects
for a final bill which will offer
better possibilities for controlling
these muck merchants seem good
even though the date of adjourn
ment looms near.
Rural Service
Persons living on rural mail
routes throughout the nation
have been far less fortunate than
their city cousins in the matter
| of mail delivery. In he past,
remote locations of farm houses,
bad roads, and the cost of rural
delivery have often meant in
convenient mail service. This in
| convenience has caused particu-
| lar hardship on older persons
| residing on farms.
For several years, | have been
urging the Post Office Depart
ment to re-evaluate its standards
for rural delivery and revise its
regulations to permit the most
convenient service that it is
feasible to provide. In this, /
have been joined by many of my
colleagues. Last week, after
months of detailed study. the
Department issued its new reg
ulations. They provide for the
extension of rural routes for i'm
| proved delivery when two fam
lilies can be served for each ad-
ditional mile the carrier must
travel. II is estimated that this
will include better service for
100000 families and will surely
benefit many areas of the 18th
| District.
The recent action of the De-
partment is noteworthy because
| it marks a relaxation of a re-
uuirement of four families pei
mile in 1853 to the new require.
| ment of two families pei mile
1t might be well, however, to
point out that the mile that the
Post Office Department uses il
applying the rule is the mile the
carrier travels, which includes
turr-arounds and retraceS Which
the geography may require.
| Although this will by no means
bring mail to the door of every
farmer of southeastern Ohio ye'
in terrain such as ours where
families live some distance apart
on their large farms, those who
| fit into the new requirement will
in time, find their service con
siderably improved.