The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-31
HEARINGS ON The LOUD BILL
Concluded Before the Seuate Com mittee on
Postolilces and Post Roads.

Washington, Jan. 30-The senate COM
mittee on postoffices and post roads to-
day concluded its hearings in the Loud
bill repeating certain provisions OF ex-
listing law in regard 10 second-class mail
matter.
Governor Clews OF Maine made the
first argument before the committee to-
day. He appeared in opposition 10 the
bill, saying that il it should become a
law it would injuriously affect many
people. He held that to exclude samples
of copies of newspapers without giving
at least year of grace would invalidate
many advertising contracts which had
been made on the strength of the assur-
ance of the cheap postage contained in
the. present law.
Mr.. Wheeler, OF Houghton, Marlin &,
Co., of Boston, contended that most of
the cheap books distributed as second
class matter under the present law were
of a high character. Mr.. Wheeler con-
tended that nine-tenths of the abuses
were due to non-enforcement of the pres
ent law. He said that one Of two wise
courses was open to the authorities. The
first Of those was TO depend upon the
next postmaster general 70 reverse the
present rulings and the next to amend
matter.
do you think" asked Senator Chand-
Ter, you would find Mr.. Mckinley a
postmaster general with nerve enough to
do that"
81 do" replied Mr. Wheeler" Mr.. VIII
son has indicated that he might under
take it,
Perhaps. then" responded Mr.. Chan
der. sit would be good idea for Mr..
Mckinley to keep Mr.. Wilson and let
him do it,
II wish he would" said Mr.. Wheeler.
Hon. Sherman J. Coleman. ex-secre-
tary of agriculture, antagonized the bill
as antagonistic to the interests OF the
farmers. He contended especially for
the retention of the sample-copy privi-
lege. He characterized the bill as mon
opolisj bill and said it was designed to
promote the interests of trusts.
Patrick Farrelly. of the American
News company, defended his company
against the charges Of being mcnopoiy
and he argued that determinations IN
favor of serial publica tons had begun
with the law OF 1879 II deprived OF this
favor il would be for the first time.
The hearing continued from 10 o'clock
until after o'clock in the afternoon. ana
A large number of persons were allowed
10 express their views, many OF them
covering ground which had already been
covered. Among others who spoke was
Mr.. w. c. Bryant. secretary of the
American Newspaper Publishing asso-
citation, representating 1s3 papers, which,
at a meeting last February. adopted
resolution favorable to the Loud bill.
An effort was made by Senator But
Ter TO show that only the big papers
only those favorable 10 trusts-were
members OF this association. but Mr..
BRYANT said this was not true. He said
the association had declared for the bill
because of Mr.. LIQUIDS representations
as 10 the enormous growth Of second
class mail matter and a matter Of pat
riotism.
Mr.. Butler declared, while Mr.. ]. F.
Hill was talking. that member OF the
postoffice committee mad suggested the
wisdom OF turning the star route service
over 10 the express companies
The fact was brought out in the course
OF a statement by Mr.. T A Vernon OF
New York, that Senator-elect Plat OF
New York. president OF the United
States Express company. had declared
his opposition to the pending bill Fin
lay Acker. OF the National Board OF
Trade, expressed the opinion that but
for the expense occasi0ned the postal
service by the second-class matter psnny
letter postage would have been adopted
long since.