The herald., 1896-12-16
IN THE HOUSE
Consideration Begun of the Rights of the
Serial Novel

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The house
Loud bill to amend the law relating to
the transmission of second-class mail
matter. The bill has been widely dis
cussed in the public press and has met
with the most intense opposition from
certain quarters. 1t denies the right of
serial novels to admission to the mails
at the newspaper rate of 1 cent per
pound, denies to newspapers the sample
copy privilege, prohibits the return of
unsold publications at the pound rates
and makes some other changes in the
present law designed to correct existing
abuses. A change in this second-class
mail matter law has been repeatedly
urged by successive postmasters gen.
eral. 1t is estimated that abuses of the
law had cost the government $240, ,000,0 900
in the last ten years.
Mr.. Loud of California, the author of
the measure, brought it forward today
quite Unexpectedly to a majority of the
members of the house The opposition,
led by Mr. Quigg of New York. inaug
urated fiibuster and attempted to pre-
vent its consideration by adjourning.
but the house stood by Mr.. Loud in two
votes, defeating the opposition, 134-142
and 141-S3. The opposition. however, is
it is put upon it's final passage.
Mr. Loud made an opening speech on
the measure, during which he declared
the bill would save the government S20.
000,0 900 annually. He also said that it
had received the Endorsement of the
Newspaper Publishers Association, and
was only opposed by those who partici-
pated in the bounty obtained under the
present law. The exact status of the
bill is questionable. Tomorrow the ap-
preparations bill will be brought forward
to delay it.
Before this bill was brought up bill
to reorganiZe the Atlantic and Pacific
railroad company was called up and was
passed with some amendments, after an
hours debate. The bill, as passed, gives
to the purchasers under foreclosure sale
all the rights of the old company under
its government charter, but it provides
that it shall assume all the debts and OBJ
legations of the old company and that
the lands unearned July 6, 1896. along the
then uncompleted portions of the road
shall, as a condition precedent to reor-
ganization, be relnquished in writing
by the purchasers.
Mr.. McRae (Ark., Dem.) attacked the
bill on the ground that it did not suffi-
GENTLY protect the interests of the gov
ernment, the settlers and the creditors
of the company. He proposed a subst!-
tute for it which was defeated, 70-163.
Mr.. McRae then declared that the his
tory of Me Atlantic and Pacific railway
showed it had violated its pledges and
obligations and that therefore all obli-
cations the new corporation was to as
sumo should be nominated in the bond.
Several minor amendments wera
adopted. One of them offered by Mr..
Mitchell On. Y, Rep), provided that the
new corporation should assume all the
legal obligations of the old company.
Mr.. Prince of Illinois, Republican.
proposed an amendment providing that
as condition precedent to the reorgani-
zation of the road, the purchasers should
in writing relinquish all claim to land
granted by the government adjacent to
those portions of the road uncompleted
July 6, 1896. He explained that this
amendment would simply forfeit to the
government all unearned lands.
Mr.. Powers said a suit was pending
for the forfeiture of these lands and
this amendment would be practically
blackmail The amendment was adopt
ed and the bill passed without division.
Representative Woodman of Illinois
introduced a joint resolution directing
the president to intervene in Cuban af-
fairs. The resolution, after reciting
Maceo's assassination and Spanish cruel
ties in Cuba, says the president failed to
carry out the WlsheS OF the people, SO
that the honor of the United States is
at stake and history gives no precedent
on which to base a hope tnat the Spanish
operations will change in compliance
with civilized warfare. The president is
directed to express severe condemnation
of Spanish methods of warfare, especial
ly in the murder of Maceo. recognize the
independence of Cuba and demand of
Spain her withdrawal of all troops from
Cuban SOIL He is also directed to take
proper steps to see this demand is car
ried out
The house adjourned at 1882 pm.