The herald., 1897-01-07
IN THE HOUSE.
The Loud Bill to Reform the Postal Ser
vice Passed.

lSt L etsTN -
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 l44 to 100 The opposition to the
bill made a strong fight against it. The
statements made on the step as to lis
effect in certain particulars We're very
conflicting. The most important pro-
vision of the bill denies the serial publ
cations admission to the mails at one
cent per pound rates. 1t is as follows:
That nothing herein contained shall
be so construed as to admit to the
second class rate publications purport-
ing to be issued periodically and to sub
scribers, 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 puiport 10 be premiums
or supplements or parts of regular news
papers or periodicals.
The bill also denies to newspapers
the sample copy" privilege and the
privilege enjoyed by news dealers of
returning unsoid publications at the
second class rate.
The only other important change in
the present law provides that publish
ers whose publications are admitted
as second class matter shall be required.
before depositing such mail matter in
the postoffice. to separate the same
into United States mail sacks or bun
dies by states. cities. towns and coun-
ties, as the postmaster general shall di-
rect.
Grosvenor of Ohio Republican. ere
ated slight furry al the opening of
the session of the house today by Sc
curing the adoption as a question of
privilege, of resolution calling on the
several departments for statements as
to why they failed to comply with a
former resolution the house passed at
his instance on June s. requesting infor-
,nation of the several departments rela-
tive to the administration of the civil
service law He made sarcastic COM
ments on the matter.
Terry of Arka Usas, Democrat. showed
a disposition IL contest the point as to
whether the resolution involved CUES
tion of privilege, but when he ascer-
taiEed that it related t. the civil ser-
vice he acquiesced with seeming alac-
rity.
If there is anything you can find out
about the civil service" he said, Il shall
be very glad to have You discover it,"
The resolution calIg for information
as to the number nt employees in each
department who have Died, resigned
or been removed since March 4. 1893;
ti-C iQiilDCA dppbilkSu uiItET lf.t CIVIL
service rules, and the number not ap-
pointed under such rules who are now
covered by the extension of the civil
service rules.
The general debate on the Loud bill
to amend the law relating to second
class mail matter was then resumed
Messrs. Milliken. Republican of Maine
Wagner, Republican of Pennsylvania,
Tracey. Republican Of Missouri, Morse
Republican of Massachusetts. and Mr.
Bingham. Republican of Pennsylvania
made brief speeches against the bill the
latter calling attention to the vast sums
expended by the goVernnle Mt for the gem
eral welfare, the thousands of tons of
mail matter carried free under franks
for the informa ton of The people the
millions of acres and dollars expended
for the development of commerce, the
vast sums expended at the centennial
wrold's fair and other eXpositions for
the enlightenment of the people. Cheap
rates for books ware, he argued, a part
and 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 arguments made against the bill
and closed with an earnest appeal for
ITS passage. The bill was then read for
amendment under the fve-mnute rule
Tracy, Republican of Missouri. offer
ed an amendment the purpose of which
was to permit the transmission as sec
ond-class matter of serial publications
and books when sent as part of regular
newspapers
Mr.. Loud said the amendment would
defeat the purpose of the bill.
Mr.. Moody. Republican of Massachu-
setts, made a very bitter attack on the
opposition to the bill. lie charged that
the return privilege" row enjoved by
neWsdea!ers was IN the interest of a large
news company and that the country
newspapers, which were protesting
against the bin, We're being made cats
paws of by this company and the pub
fishers of serial publications.
The Tracy amendments were with
drawn when the committee rose at 4
o'clock and the vote was taken on the
engrossment and third reading of the
bill.
This was test vote on the bill The
motion was carried. 144 to 105. The on
position 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.