The Portland daily press., 1897-02-01
CLEAVES ON LOUD BILL.
Names Ex-Governor Before the Sen
ate Committee.
GIVES HIS REASONS FOR OPPOS-
ING THE MEASURE.
Says Public Appreciates Privileges OF Sec
ond Glass Mail Matter-Congress Has
Power to Repeal Law But Equitable
Rights Should Be Respected.

O---S' '----~
Power to Repeal Law But Equitable
Rights Should Be Respected.
Washington, January 30.-A hearing
was given this morning by the Senate
committee on post office and post roads
to persons interested in what has come to
be known as the Loud bill, recently
passed by the House Of Representatives
and applying to the postage on second
class matter.
Ten O'Clock was the hour fixed for the
hearing, but the only member of the COM
mittes then, or for the next half hour.
present WAS Mr.. Chandler, acting chair
man in the absence of Mr.. .Wolcott.
Senator Hale, not member of the
committee, said that several gentlemen
deeply interested in the bill had come
from New York, Maine and other places
and desired to be heard even if there was
no quorum present. Governor Cleaves OF
Maine, he added, had been selected to
present the matter first.
Senator Chandler said that Senator
Hill was sick and unable to attend, but
chat other members Of the committee
would probably present themselves. In
the meantime Governor Cleayes and
other gentlemen might make their state
ments as they would be recorded by the
stenographer.
Governor Cleaves then addressed the
committee. The act, Governor Cleaves
said, would affect ihany interests and
would withdraw many of the great priv
ileges now enjoyed by the people. The
post office department. was nearer to the
people than any other branch of the pub
lilo service. The people recognized the
United States mail as part Of the great
govern to which they owed and
gave allegiance. They recognized the
benefits conferred upon them, carrying to
them since 1779 their mail practically
postage free, carrying to them good
books, good magazines and good news
papers. This privilege was nearly equal
in Importance to the common school sys-
tem 1t was said. however, that bad
books and bad publications were going
through the mails, exercising corrupt
ing and debauchina influence Of the
youth of the country, and that that
should be stopped. Even if that were SO,
Congress had the power to correct those
abuses under the law without revolution
izing the whole postal system aud de-
stroying the whole fabric because there
were one or two rotten tir.bers found in
the structure.
Governor Cleaves Went on to speak of
existing contracts with newspapers and
periodicals which would be affected by
the proposed ait. The distribution of
good literature and good newspapers
throughout the country give to the peo-
pie advantages which they appreciate and
which they should have, even though the
government might not get a profit on
second class mail.
Governor Cleaves said there was no
doubt Congress had the power to repeal
this law at any time, but there were
equitable rights which should be re-
spected He asked the committee to give
the matter q more searching investigation
than it had done yet. The fact had been
ignored by the supporters OF the bill that
newspapers created business, created mail
matter, created letter postage. A liberal
construction of the postal laws he te'
lieyed, would meet the approval and COM
mendation of the whole American peo-
pie.
Mr. H. M. Wheeler. represen ting
Houghton, Miff1in & Co., publishers and
rroprietors of the Riverside Press, Gam
bridge, Mass, was the nextispeaker. He
continued the argument against the bill
which he began at previous meeting of
the committee So far as subsidies are
concerned, he declared, TIE proposed act
wouldEgranG subsidies to the express
companies. In some of his remarks be
came in conflict with Representative
Loud, who was present and who quea-
toned some of Mr.. Wheeler's statements.
Norman @. Colman, of Missouri, ex-
Governor and ex-oommissioner of agri-
ulture, 'a-publisher Of nearly fifty years
experience, having published an agrioul-
tural paper that length of time, said
that from his point of view the passage
Of the bill would be blow to the agri-
cultural press. His principal point was
that the sample cop" privilege must be
maintained.
7 Patrick Farelly of New York, repre-
senting tie American News company,
urged Mr.. Chandler not to insist on his
first amendment, striking out the words
"or when sent from news agency, or
80 other news agents, ''and also suggested
such an amendment asJwould allow news
dealers the 'return privilege" OH unsold
copies.
Finley Acker of Philadelphia, chair
man of the postal committee of the Ma
tional Board of Trade, presented resolu-
lions of that organization In favor of the
Loud bill.
John Elderkin of the committee of New
York publishers opposing the bill, made
a remark as to the National Board of
Trade, which he spoke of as como horse
affair"
Blanchard Randall of Chicago. mem
| t>o~ of +t,o National Roar1 nf Trade oavo