The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-03-10
AN INFAMOUS BILL.
Senator Buffers Protest Against
the Loud Postal Bill,
1t Would Create a Newspaper Trust-Would
Rob the People Along Star Routes of Half
the Benefits They Now Receive From
the Postal System.

From Congressional Record, Feb. e. !
AMENDMENT OF POSTAL LAWS.
Mr. Chandler / ask permission to
make a report, which ought to- be made
tonight.
The Presiding Officer. II there be no
objection, the report will be received.
Mr. Chandler l report from the COM
nittee on postoffices and post roads witt,
amendments the bill Oh. r. 4566) to
the postal laws relating to second-class
mail matter 1t is the bill known as the
Loud bill. | submit written report,
which is brief, and which | ask, therefore,
may be printed in the Record The
Senator from North Carolina (AIr. But
ler) will submit tomorrow a supplement
tai report. | also submit the testimony
which accompanies the report.
Mr. Butler. | desire to correct a state
ment of the Senator from New Hamp-
shire (NIr Chandler).
The Senator from New Hampshire, in
making the report, stated that | would
file supplementary report. | wish to
correct that statement U am sure it was
an oversight on the part of the Senator
from New hampshire by saying that
will file minority report, for | do not
concur at all in the report OF the commit
tee and am opposed to reporting the bill
l am opposed to the report made.
Mr.. Chandler | did not say what
kind OF report it would be-
Mr.. Butler. | want to have it under
stood distinctly that it is minority re-
port and in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. President, l would not detain the
Senate now, at this late hour, were il
not that this majority report has come
tip from the post office committee, O.
which l am member. | am opposed
! to this bill. | do not concur in the re
port made by majority OF the commit
tee. | am preparing a minority report
| Ii that report were ready and could &C
into the Record on the same day with tn.
majority report | would be content tc
wait till this bill should be taken up fo1
action. The minority report will not b,
ready before tomorrow | canont allow
the majority report to go into the Rec
ord today without stating briefly som,
OF my objections to this mischievou
measure.
The real purposes OF this measure dc
not appear on its lace. Its real purposes
or at least its effects If it should becom,
a law. are iar-reaching and dangerous
The gold ring. the monopolies, anC
trusts already control the avenues anc
agencies OF rapid communication anc
intelligence. They filter and control tn
news that appears i'll the daily press eacl
morning. They now seek through th
bill to close up as far as possible th
only other avenue left free and open
This bill is seeking to run the gauntle
OF Congress under false pretenses
The friends OF this bill. known as tn
Loud postal, bill. come to Congress TN
der the guise of reform and econom
and ask you to pass bill. A bill tha
will do what? A bill that will cut out 0
the mails large part OF the literatur
that the people today receive, desir
to receive through the mails at second
class rates. A bill to do what? A bill
to deprive the people who live along til
star routes Of one-half OF the privilege
which they today receive from the posta
system of this country: bill intended
if not intended, that would be the resu
to cut out from the mails all standar
works now published in cheap form Wit
paper covers: that is, the works of Dick
ems, Scott, Hawthorn, Washington II
wing. and hundreds OF others which ar
now being published in cheap form an
are going through the mails at second
class rates. Even Webster S unabridge
Dictionary today goes to people out i
the country in cheap form with pape
cover.
Coins Financial School and books {
that kind have gone through the mail
to possibly every post Office in Americ;
and more are going. This bill cuts a
these books out OF the mails. Is thu
the purpose of those who favor this bill
The man who lives in city can bl
them at news stand The man VIII
lives in the country and who relies o
the postal system to bring him in touc
with civilization is dependent upon til
mails to give him the benefits that tn
man who lives i'll a city or who ride
frequently upon train is not SO depend
ent upon. The professed reason for tn
bill is reform and economy, but thos
who come and ask you to pass it in til
interest OF economy are those who vot
for more subsidies, those who vote t
take more millions out OF the treasury
the government than any other class
men in the Senate and in the HOus
And yet. in the name of reform and
the name Of economy, they come here an
ask you to pass bill that robs the pee
pie of half the benefits they today g
from the postal system.
Mr. President, the bill would be inf;
nous in its results if it should pass.
the people of this country knew what
in the bill, there would be such indign;
ton from ocean to ocean as has not bee
seen for twenty years. The America
people will never tolerate such mcasul
when they know what is in it and VIII
will be its results.
l will present a minority report tt
morrow, and if those who profess
want reform mean reform in the inte
ests of the general public, if those WI
profess to want to stop the deficit in Il
postoffice department mean that in goc
faith, can point them to way to a
complsh that result. l can show no
the postoffice department can save fro
$Io,ooo,o 900 to $I2 900 year. and II
deficit now is but $4,000 You CT