AMERICAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 57

AMERICAN NEWS.

AFFAIRS IN THE REPUBLIC. (From Our Special Correspondent.) NEW YORK. August 5. Just as an illustration of the "freeness” that exists in this "free” country let me cite an instance that came under my notice recently of the "freedom” of the press. So far as the mails are concerned, this freedom consists in being permitted to send papers at the rate of one cent per pound to domestic points, if admitted as "second class” matter. That innocent looking little "if” is the rnb. Incidentally it may be remarked that newsappers in Canada are delivered by mail free within a radius of twenty miles of the publishing office, and at one cent per pound beyond that, the amount being approximated every montii or quarter, while the "retail” rate is one cent for fonr ounces, the same as in the United States, excepting'that here, if a paper does not enjoy the second-class privilege the rate is one cent per two ounces. There was a weekly paper here, started in November, 1902, and admitted as second-class matter in May, 1903. In March, 1904, it ciianged owners and did not have the name of the publisher or proprietor specified upon it after that, but no questions were asked, and it did not cease to enjoy its previous full privileges until June 1, 1905. At that time a change in style of heading was adopted. The engraver's print of the new heading was submitted to a post office official in the department in charge, and he "passed” it, laughingly saying it was none of their business how the title was printed,, but it would be necessary to receive the formal sanction of his superiors; that, however, would be a mere matter of form—so the change was made. A couple of weeks later, after the change had to the satisfaction of the paper's proprietors been effected, came to them a letter from the post office stating that the style of title was unsatisfactory, in that some of the words were not in as large type as others—that all words of the titlo must be in equally legible print or it could not be admitted; that the paper would have 'to revert to its old style of heading or change its name and obtain re-entry as second-class matter. Tlie newspaper people put tlie matter before their lawyer; they had spent considerable time in getting up that heading, had selected the design from competitive ones submitted by several artists, and been at trouble and expense in getting just about Avliat they wanted. The lawyer said that as a matter of equity they were right; if they took the matter to the Courts they could probably, in the course of two or three years, obtain judgment in their favour and compel the P.O. Department to admit their style of heading. But meantime, he said, the P.O. authorities were autocratic, and could do as they chose. The only thing to do was to change the name, and this was done with the assurance that there would be no trouble in re-enter-ing the publication. Then, however, came the rub. The post office people produced tlieir forms which had to be filled in and sworn to. About this time also they discovered that the name of the publisher did not appear on the paper. That was demanded immediately, and the editor's name was made also that of publisher. But the POST OFFICE AUTOCRATS proclaimed that publisher implied essentially proprietor, and that the names of proprietors must appear as publishers. It was represented to them —without avail—that a man might be a lessee and publisher, yet not proprietor; you can't argue with an autocrat any more than with an autocar —it may only tend to make him nearer an explosion. The proprietors formed a company, the name of which was printed on the paper; then sought to perfect their application. Meantime, the paper being under a new name, the second-class privilege enjoyed under the old title had lapsed and first-class retail postage, prepaid by stamps, became necessary. The paper as a publication had become larger, better and of greater repute than ever before in its history, but no matter of form would be accepted to obtain a renewal of its privilege. The application had to be not only filled out in detail, but documentary proof of every statement was demanded. The bookkeeper took his cash-book and ledger to prove the amount of sales' of papers, but that would not he accepted unless orders for the sales and specifications as to whom made, could be shown. The application in this kind of thing, it may be stated, does not refer merely to papers sent through the mails. The post office demands to know how many papers are printed and exactly what is the nature of the distribution in every respect, number of subscribers who paid themselves —show tlieir letters or written orders ; also subscription books and how they stand; number of subscribers paid for by others, number of copies sold to newsdealers with return privilege, ditto without return privilege, number sold by newsboys, number sent as exchanges, number sold in bulk and to whom, and -why, number sent as sample copies, and Avhero. the names are' obtained for sending such copies. All these and other questions must be not only aiiSAvered and sAVorn to, but the statements supported by documentary evidence. It may be fairly asked perhaps, Avhat business it is of the post office department if copies are not sent through the mails at the publishers' rates, but such questions cannot be asked-of an autocrat. Tlie department demands that at least 50 per cent, of the total number of copies of a paper must be sent to legitimate subscribers before it can enjoy second-class privileges, whether delivery is made through the mails or not. Such is the freedom of the press in this great and glorious free country Avhen the autocrats choose to move. The question is Avhethor in all cases the application is made equally severe or Avhether the autocrats am sometimes open to persuasion

CRIME IN CHICAGO. If injustice and lack of square dealing are sometimes evidenced in high places in New York, there seems at present to be quite an epidemic of outlawry among the masses in Chicago. Since January 1 in that enterprising city there have been, no fewer than sixty-five cold-blooded murders, Avhile the police also report 131 assault®, 274 hold-ups and 182 burglaries, Avhich record is believed to be not more than one-fourth the actual number. A 1 striking contrast is found across the border in Canada, Avhere police efficiency is as marked a© in any other portion of the British dominions. With 146,000 immigrants in the past fiscal year, Canada continues to boom. Inauguration of the neAv province of Alberta Avill take place at Edmonton on September 1, and of the new province of Saskatchewan at Regina on September 4th. " PANAMA CANAL. The Panama Canal work from which a flood of yellow fever has overrun New: Orleans, continues to excite public interest. Round blame was attached to Mr Wallace for throAving up his position of chief engineer, but Mr Wallace is one of those men who can afford to let people talk. It is stated that his new position Avill be Avorth 65,000d0Ls per year, and right in civilisation, without any yellow fever. The project, it is understood, is the deA T elopment of electric railway lines, in opposition to the old steam roads, backed by such people as the Westinghouse Air Brake Co. "LUNCH WAGGONS.” An interesting business that developed' advantageously in Boston in recent years Avas that of night’ lunch waggons. _ One proprietor of these Avaggons is said to have been clearing 8000dols to 10,000dols per year from them. People Avaiting for cars late at night accorded him a rushing business. But very lately the police commissioners have stopped the business, ordering the vwtggons off the streets, and compelling the proprietors to either obtain locations on private property or. abandon the work. A NEW ZEALANDER ABROAD. This interesting report appears In a St. John, N. 8., neAvspaper: — Mr J. McMena. men, a sheep-farmer of Wellington, New Zealand, is staying at the Clifton. He is here on" a pleasure trip and to see the country. He left NeAV Zealand on March 17th, and landed in San Francisco about „ the middle of April. Since then, he has visited the Grand Canon, and the petrified forest in Arizona, and has been as far north as SkagAvav and the White* Horse Pass. From Vancouver he travelled by Canadian-Pacific Raihvay through the mountains, stopping each night, and taking side trips here and there. He thinks that part of Canada Avill be a magnificent country some day. He nexi found his Avay Tup to New York, where, during the recent terrific heat spell, h< made up his mind to come to St. John t« "cool off.” Talking of New Zealand and its legislation, he said the system of ol< age pensions Avorked better than a good many people had expected. At first were' cases of imposture, but these were soon weeded out and punished. Mr McMenamen remarked that the more he travelled the more lie liked the New Zealand system. There, he said, the State owns all the land, and fixes the area each: settler may hold at 640 acres of firstclass or 2000 acres of second-class land. The Government has also the right to redeem land of Avhich the tenant is not making the best use, and cutting it up in sections to reallot to bona fide settlers. Speaking of the sheep-farming in New Zealand, Mr McMenamen said that it was a very profitable occupation. NeAv Zealand mutton, he said, Avas superior t£: Australian in flavour, and more juicy, but strange to say, the avool is inferior to Australian fleece, Avhich commands the highest prices of any avool in the world: on the London market. Mr McMenamen's plans are not definitely settled yet. He has to be back m NeAv Zealand by, August 31st, and he intends to take in the Portland (Ore.) exposition, but he has nofc yet made up his mind where to go after leaving here. He Avill be here a few, days. TRADE. An interesting announcement as affecting the Cape Horn trade, has been made to the effect that the American Hawaiian Steamship Company, AA r hich has been maintaining a line of freight steamers betAveen New York and Honolulu, has closed a contract for a term of years Avith the Tehuantepec National Railroad Company of Mexico by means of Avhich it is agreed that all of the business of the steamship company betAveen Atlantic and Pacific ports shall pass over the Tehuantepec railroad as soon next year as that line is completed. The distance from ocean to ocean at Tehuantepec is less than 150 miles. The route taken by the railroad from the harbour of Coafzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico to the port of Salina Cruz on the Pacific is in excess of 150, but less than 200 miles. The Pacific port lies in about the same latitude as the HaAvaiian islands, while the port on the Gulf of Mexico can be reached from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, to say nothing of NeAv Orleans, by a steamship run of a few days. Until the Panama Canal is completed*, it is eAudently the intention of the promoters of the Tehuantepec railroad to take an active share in trade betAveen the Atlantic and the Pacific. A large amount of merchandise, even from Hawaii, is iioav landed on our Pacific coast, and then taken across the Continent by rail. A very considerable business in transportation is carried on by the Southern Pacific railroad, which at Noav Orleans puts upon its line of steamers far Avestern goods intended for the Atlantic seaboard, or at that place puts upon its trains eastern products intended for the Pacific coast that have been brought to the mouth of the Mississippi river by its steamship line. The cost of rail transportation is far greater than of transportation by steamer, hence, if at Tehuantepec, the distance can be cut down, say, from more than 2000 miles to 2j>o, a competition will be established in freight, and perhaps in passengers, which may cause serious modifications in car present basis of transcontinental railway rale*