The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-16

Washington December l5.--Tho house
today entered upon the consideration of the
Loud bill to amend the law relating to the
transmission Of second class mail matter
The bill has been widely discussed in the
public press and has met with the most
intense opposition from certain quarters.
II denies the right of serial novels TO ad-
mission TO the mails at the newspaper rate
OF cent per pound denies the newspapers
the sample copy privilege; prohibits the re-
turn Of dnsold publications at pound rates
and makes some other changes in the pres
ent law designed 10 correct existing abuses
change IN the second class matter law
mas been repeatedly urged by successive
postmasters general II was estimated that
the abuses of the law had cost the govern
ment s2i coo 000 in the last ten years
Mr.. Loud of California. the author of the
measure, brought It forward today quite
Unexpectedly to majority Of the members
OF the house. The opposition, led 10y MIR
Quigg Of New York, inauguratcd fill
buster and attempted to prevent it's con
sidoration by adjourning the house. bnt the
house stood by Mr.. Loud in two votes. de-
featlnG the oppositon-l3S to l02 ana Ill
to 49, The opposition, however, are hope
full of defeating the measure when It is put
on its final passage.
Mr. Loud made an opening speech On the
measure, during which he declared ta,t the
bill would save the government so 600 010
annually. lie also said that It has received
the Endorsement of the Newspaper Pub
fishers association and was only opposed
by those who participated in the Bounty OBJ
tanned under the present law. The c.act
status of the bill is questionable Towcr-
row the appropriation bills will he brought
forward TO dlsplace IL.
Before this bill was brought up the bill
to reorranile the Atlantic and Pacific mil
road company was called up and IussOd
with some amendments, after an hours de-
bate. The bill as passed gives TO the lur-
chasers under foreclosure sale all the rights
Of the old company under It's government
charter but il provides that 1t hall as
sumo all the debts and obligations OF the
old company. and with lands unearnad July
g. 1856. the then uncompleted portions of
the road, shall, as n condition precedent to
reorganization, be relinquished in writing
by purchasers.
Mr. McRae Dem. }. Of Arkansas. attack
ed the bill on the ground that it did not
sufficiently protect the interests OF the
government, the settlers and tho cfcd
tors of the company. He proposcu sui.
sttutc for Il, which VAS drrelte1. i0-lb3.
Mr.. McRae declared the history of the At.
antic and Pacific showed 1t had violat Fl
its pledges and obligations and that there
fore all the obligations the new corpora
| tloi WIS 10 ASSUME snoulu no uOled 1T
| the bond.
Several minor amendments were adoj ted
One ol tn m offered by Mr.. Mitchell fRe:,
of New York provided that the neg cor
| roration should assume all the legal OBJ
| legations Of the old company.
Mr.. Prince CRep1. of Illinois, proposed
! an amendment providing as condition
| precedent to the reorganization of tn,
road the purchasers should in writing re.
linquish all claim to land granted by the
| government adjacent to those portions ~
the road uncompleted July &. 1885. lie cx.
planned that this amendment would simply
forfeit to the government all unearnod
| lands.
Mr.. Powers said that suit was pend
ing for the forfeiture of those lands an,
this amendment would be practically
blackmail The amendment was adopted
and the bill passed without division.
The house adjourned at 49, p. nj.