Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-06

WASHINGTON. January 5.-The House
entered upon its work Immediately after
reassembling to-day 10y taking up the
Loud bill to amend the laws relating TO
second-class mail matter. The whole day
was devoted to general debate on the
measure under special order which VIII
bring the bill to a vote tomorrow after
noon at o'clock.
Mr.. Loud, of California, the author OF
the bill. Is its champion on the floor and
9Ir. Quigg Of New York, has charge OF
the opposition. Those who took part in
the debate to-day were Messrs. Kyle
Dem, NIss.), Burton CRep.. Ohio, Brom-
well Rep.. Ohio) and Ogden CDem., La.)
in favor of the bill, and Messrs Quigg
Rep.. N.Y.. Johnson Rep., Cala) and
Cummings Dem. n. W against IT.
The bill amends the present law in sever
al particulars, the principal ones of which
deny to newspapers the sample copy
privilege" and deny TO books sent through
the mails as serials the newspaper pound
rates Mr.. Loud having already made
the opening argument, Mr. Quigg took
the floor to reply.
Mr.. Quigg directed his argument chiefly
against the provisions Of the bill which
cut off serial publications and newspaper
sample copies from the mails, denying
emphatically that the transmission or
books as serial publications was an abuse
of the present law. He argued that II was
impossible TO approximate the saving TO
the government involved In the bill. The
friends of the bill claimed it would effect
a caving of $SOO0.000 and upwards. while
ex-Postmaster General Wanamakar esti-
mated the saving at only s2,0OO000.
Mr.. Johnson CRep.. Cala.) said the cheap
distribution of the English classics would
outweigh all the injury that could be done
by the dissemination of bad books. II peo-
pie wanted bad books they would get
them. He did not care. he said, If it did
cost s1& TO send a letter TO Alaska. IL
there was an American citizen in Alaska
the government should get his mail to
him at any cost. He said that every
country newspaper and every cheap mag
azine in the country was opposed 10 tho
pending bill.
At this point the commit ee ress and
the House at 4:4O p m. adjourned.
The Senate to-day passed the House bill
abolishing the death penalty in a large
number of cases. The measure is in the
line Of recent State laws abolishing capital
punishment and applies the same prin-
ci pie TO federal offenses, although the
change is not extended to total abolition
of the death penalty The present laws.
which have come down from colonial
times, have a sanguinary aspect and pre-
scribe death for sixty offenses of various
these offenses TO five-treason, rape mur-
der and two offenses applicable 10 tho
army and navy. In all other offenses
hard labor for life is substituted as the
maximum punishment. and even In case
of murder and rape hard labor may be
dict without capital punishment" As
the bill has passed the house after a long
crusade by Representative Curtis. Of New
York. and is amended but slightly by the
Senate. 1t IS likely 10 go to the President
when the minor dsagreements are agreed
to in conference.
During this day Mr. Call Dem. Fia)
introduced resolutions calling for informa-
ton as TO the condemnation of julio sam
gully at Havana to life Imprisonment
and also directing the Secretary Of Stats
to demand Sanguily's immediate release.
Mr.. PETER Pop Kas) delivered speech
i'm support of his resolution for nalonal
monetary commission, and at 2:25 the Sem
ate adjourned.