The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-17
THE HOUSE.

adjourned. .Yur
VI" THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 15.-The house to
day entered upon the consideration of tn,
Loud bill to amend the law relating t
the transmission of second class mail mat
ter. The bill has been widely discussed
in the press and has met with intense
mics the right of serial novels to admis
sion to the mails at the newspaper 1 cen
per pound rates; denies to newspapers thu
sample copy privilege; prohibits the ne
turn of unsold publications at pount
rates and makes some other changes II
the present law designed 70 correct ex
listing abuses % A change in the second
class matter law has been repeatedly
urged by successive postmaster generals
TWAS estimated that abuses of the law
had cost the government $240, 900, 900 in
the last ten years. ,'p 'r p.
Mr.. Loud of California, the author OF
the measure, brought it forward today
quite UNEXPECTEDLY to majority of the
members. The opposition, led by Mr.
QHigg of New York inaugurated a fiji.
buster and attempted to prevent its con
sidetation by an adjournment but the
house stood by Mr.. Loud, defeating the
opposition, 118 to 102 and III to 1903
Tht opposition, however. are hopeful OF
defeating the measure when it is put on
hhal passage f''lHa.N Tt 10 tt2i
MI. loud made an opening speech on
the measure during which he declared
the bill would save the government $50
COG, 600 annually. He also said that II
had received the endorsement of the
Newspaper Publishers association and
WAS opposed only by those who partici-
pated in the boutey claimed under the
present law. 1 j hE - Y'f Ea
Tomorrow the appropriation bills will
be- brought forward to dsplace it.
Before this bill was brought up the bill
to- reorganize the Atlantic and Pacific
railroad was brought up and passed with
some amendments. The bill gives to pur-
,iIasers under foreclosure sale all the
rights of the old company under its gov
eminent charter, but IL provides that it
shall assume all the debts and oblssa-
tiohs of the old company, and that the
lands unearned July 6, 1886, along the
nnsompleted portions of the road shall
as d condition precedent to reorganiza-
ton, be relinguished In writing by the
Purchasers. ~. ,.. ..l .
Mr.. McRae DEM of Arkansas attack
ed the bill on the ground that it did not
sufficiently protect the interests Of the
seyernment, the settlers and promoters
Of the company He proposed n substi-
tute for 1t, which was defeated. .
Several minor amendments were adopt
I'd One of them, offered by Mr.. Mitch
Ell Fep) Of New York, provides that the
rev corporation should assume all the
legal obligations of the old company. Mr..
Ryjnse (rep) of Illinois proposed an
anendment providing that as a condition
precedent to the reorganization of the
road the purchasers should. in writing,
relinquish all claim to land granted by
the government adjacent to those portions
Of the road unconlpleted July @, 1886.
IN explained that this amendment would
sipPDly forfeit to the government all un-
canned lands. Il, ito r.,,ot ir,,g t.
Mr.. Powers said that a suit was pend
ing for the forfeiture of those lands and
thh amendment would be practically
hlaekmail, The amendment was adopted
and the bill passed without division.
The house adjourned at 1882 p. m.
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