The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-03
MR.. HoAR Will. NOT SERVE.
HOUSE.


WASHINGTON, February 2.-Mr. Blount.
of Georgia, chairman of the Committee
on Postoffices and Post Roads, called up
for consideration the bill amending the
statutes so as to provide that no publica-
tions that are but books, or reprints OF
books, whether they be issued complete
or in parts, bound or unbound or IN
series, or whether sold by subscription
or otherwise, shall be admitted to the
mails as second class matter.
SECOND AND THIRD CLASS MATTER.
The object of the bill, as explained by
Mr.. Blount, was to prevent evasion OF
the law which designates what shall
constitute second and third class mail
matter. Under the law books must pass
through the mails as second class mat
ter. but an abuse had sprung up and the
law had been evaded by publishers print
ing books at stated intervals and passing
them through the mails as third class
matter ON the ground that they were
periodicals. While the Bible and educa-
tional books had to pay eight cents per
pound, yellow cover novel could go
through the mails for one cent pound.
Mr. Cannon, of illinois, opposed the
measure, and stated his recollection to
be that prior to 1879 legislation was had
allowing this cheap class of literature
to go through the mails at two cents
pound, on the ground that the dissent
nation of sound and desirable literature
should be encouraged.
Mr. Farquhar, of New York, thought
that trashy novels, dirty reprints and
dirtier medical treatises should not be
allowed to pass through the mails for
one cent pound, while the Bible-God's
word-was charged eight cents.
Mr. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, stated
that the only class of mail matter which
the Government carried at a loss was
second class matter, and he did not
think that there should be carried in that
class matter which was never contem-
plated at the time Congress reduced the
rate from two cents to one cent a pound.
Mr.. Cannon moved to recommit the
| bill with instructions to the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads to report
back provision for the transmission
through the mails of all books, bound or
unbound, up to the limit of weight al
| lowed by law at the rate of one cent a
pound. Lost-yeas, 119: nays, 149.
The bill was passed-yeas, 145: nays,
116.
THE INDIANA CONTESTED CASE.
Mr.. Criggs, chairman of the Commit
tee on Elections, called up the contested
election case of Lowry against White,
from the Twelfth District of Indiana.
An arrangement was made that the dis
cussion should continue for eight hours
but the Republicans declined to accede
to the proposition that at the end of thai
time the previous question should bt
considered as ordered upon the majority
and minority resolutions of the commit
tee.
Mr.. Barry, of Mississippi, took the foo
with an argument In advocacy of TIN
majority resolution declaring the sea
vacant. 1t was conceded. he said, tina
the contestee received large majorit,
| of the votes cast at the Congressiona
election, and the only question whicl
, the House was called upon to decide wa
as to the eligibility of the sitting mem
. Der. He argued that the only fina
proof of naturalization was the produC
ton of the court records and that
could not be proven by oral testimony {
witnesses.
Mr.. Cooper, of Ohio, sustained I'll
claim of the contestee. The records {
Allen Courty had been proven to |
wholly unreliable, while the contest'
had thoroughly established the truth
his assertion that he had been natura
lied twenty years previous to the ele
ton of 1886. The honor of America
citizenship could not be taken from
:, man by the negligence of court WI
failed to perform a merely min 'steri
duty.
The matter then went over till
morrow.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
e.
an Mr.. Grain. from the Committee
=, Presidential Election, reported the joi
n resolution proposing a constitution
m amendment providing that Congr'
nv shall hold its annual meetings on
,es first Monday in january. Placed on
,,.+ House calendar.
nd Inc nouse at +'4'' adJoufheo.