Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-07
sEcoND-CLAss MAIL MATTER.
Loud's RiII PASSES the House by
vote of IA TO 1O5.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The Loud bill to
amend the law relating to second-class mail
matter was passed by the house today
after two days debate by a vote of 14i to
1O5. The opposition to the bill made strong
fight against it. The statements made on
the floor as to its effect in certain particu-
lars were very conflicting. The mcst inn
portant provision of the bill denies the serial
publications admission to the mails at one
cent per pound rates. 1t is as follows:
THAT nothing herein contained shall be so
construed to admit to the second-class
rate publications purporting to be issued
periodically and to subscribers, but which
are merely books or reprints of books,
whether they be issued complete or in parts,
whether they be bound or unbound, whether
they be sold by subscription or otherwise,
or whether they purport to be premiums or
supplements or parts of regular newspapers
or periodicals."
The bill also denies to newspapers the
sample copy privilege and the privilege
enjoyed by newsdealers of returning un-
sold publications at the second-claes rate.
The only other important change in the
present law provides that publishers whose
publications are admitted as second-class
matter shall be required before depositing
such matter in the postotfice, to separate
the same into United States mail sacks or
nies as the postmaster general shall direct.
Mr.. Grosvenor, republican OF Ohio, created
a slight furry at the opening of tha session
Of the house today by securing the adoption,
as a question of privilege, OF a resolution
calling on the several departments for state
ments as to why they had failed to comply
with a former resolution the house had
passed at his instance on June requesting
information of the several departments rela-
tive to the administration of civil service
law. He made sarcastic comments on the
matter.
Mr.. Terry, democrat of Arkansas, showed
disposition to contest the point as to
whether the resolution involved question of
privilege but when he asceTtained that II
related to the civil service he acquiesced
with seeming alacrity.
The resolution calls for information as to
the number OF employees in each department
who have died resigned or been removed
since March 4, 1898, the number appointed
under the civil service rules and the num-
ber not appointed under such rules who are
now covered by the extension OF the civil
service rules.
LOUD BILL DEBATED.
The general debate on the Loud bill to
amend the law relating to second-class mail
matter was then resumed. Messrs. Millken,
republican of Maine. Wagner. republican of
Pennsylvania, Tracy, republican OF Missouri,
Morse republican OF Massachusetts, and
Bingham, republican OF Pennsylvania, made
brief speeches against the bill, the latter
calling attention to the vast sums expended
by the government for the general welfare,
the thousands OF tons of mail matter car
ried free under franks for the information
OF the people, the millions OF acres and dol
lars expended for the development of COM
merce, the vast sums expended at the Cen
tennial. Worlds fair and other expostlons
for the enlightenment Of the people. Cheap
rates for books were, he argued. a part and
a necessary part of the governments general
scheme for the education of the people.
Mr. Loud closed the general debate in
advocacy of his measure. He replied to
many of the arguments advanced against
the bill and closed with an earnest appeal
for its passage. The bill was then read for
amendment under the five minute rule.
Mr. Tracy, republican of Missouri, offered
an amendment, the purpose of which was to
permit the transmission as second-cass
matter of serial publications and books
when sent as parts of regular newspapers,
Mr. Loud said the amendment would de-
feat the purpose of the bill
Mr. Moody, republican of Massachusetts,,
made a very bitter attack in opposition to
the bill. He charged that the return priv
ilege" now enjoyed by newsdealers. was
in the interest of a large news company
and that the country newspapers which were
protesting against the bill were being made
cats-paws of by this company and the pub
fishers OF serial publications.
The Tracy amendments were withdrawn
when the committee rose at o'clock and
the vote was taken on the engrOssment
and third reading of the bill. This was
test on the bill. The motion was carried
144 to 105. The opposition made no further
effort in the face OF this defeat. The bill
was passed without division and at 4:30 D.
m. the house adjourned