Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-11
Cheap Literature by Mail.
DOM PIATT AND LIBRARIAN sPoFFoRD CRITICIZE DE-
MORALIZING NOVELS.

MORALlZlSG NOVELS.
Col. Dom Pfatt and Librarian SpOffOrd appeared
Monday afternoon before the Senate committee
on post-offices and post-roads 10 advocate the
amendment and passage Of the House bill to pro-
hibt the transmission cheap literature by mail
one cent pound. Col. Piatt said they appeared
In behalf VI three separate interests: f1rst, the
poSt-Offices OF the United states. which complain
OF being oyerburdened with mercantile matter;
second, the authors and honest publishers OF the
country. who complain OF unjust freight discrim-
nation; and third the outraged conscience OF the
country. BY the misuse of the word periodicals
in law, the mails had become crowded with
matter, OF which the Seaside Library publications
are an example, To such an extent that our postal
must be changed to freight cars IL IL goes fur
ther The Third Assistant Postmaster-Generai
had authorized MIN TO state this. IL was insult
To intelligence TO call such publication as the
one exhibited IA volume or the Seastde) periodical
All that appealed to the lowest passions OF
In Government in partnership with the pub
fishers, and that under the plea OF disseminating
knowledge They included the novels OF Mrs.
Braddon, which might be called the '.blgamy
class" those OF Ouida, the adultery class, and
the JACK shepard class OF publications. Tne
poison was made just aS attractive great genius
could make IL. The tastes OF the people were not
cultivated. The public schools had turned out
their millions OF readers who have education
not wish 10 excite popular preJudlces, but would
say that that education which teach 5 man 10
think is not the education OF our common Schools
where men are Taught merely how 10 make u liv-
Ing with the result that they are turned out With
the taste for reading, but without the culture that
ought 20 accompany it. Mr.. Plat closed with an
appeal for justice 10 American authors.
Mr. SpOnord the librarian or Congress, said he
appeared ia com liance with a resolution OF the
Association OF Librarians. committee OF that
association had called upon the Postmaster.
General and found that, while he was Ia favor OF
extending any special privileges conferred by the
present law, so as 10 cover books sent OUT by e-
Ultimate libraries 70 their subscribers, yet he did
not approve the law, and was about 70 recommend
a measure tor its repeal. That measure was now
before the COMMITTEES. He (SpOfOrd) Was for fair
play for the greatest good 10 the greatest number
and II the cheap publications we're TO be sent
through the mails at special Rates, the librarians
were unanimously In favor OF having library books
these quasi periodical publications were accorded
not insult the Intelligence OF the committee
BY asking IL complete books published firty or
one hundred years ago are In any sense Of the
term periodicals. The law now Disseminated
against the American authors. In the Lowell
library only 22S were American works out OF a
total OF $40. This law, he said gave fiction an
advantage over fact he read from letter writ
ten by jefferson setting forth, In striking terms
the evils which may result to q people among
whom the taste for nction had become a ruling
trait, and stated, with yehemence, mis- own con-
demnation OF the class OF literature TO which the
country was served sorabundantiy under the pres.
ent condition OF things He cited the bigamy and
adultery Classes OF Braddon and Oulda, and vile
productions OF Dumas, the younger, and the
coarse and brutal works OF Zola, which, he said.
are being scattered broadcast TO the iresides OF
the land.