The Saint Paul globe., 1897-01-07
CERTAIN SERIAL PUBLICATIONS
EXCLUDED FROM sECOND-CLAss
POSTAL RATE.
STRONG FIGHT AGAINST 1T.
STATEMENTS AS TO THE EFFECT
OF THE ACT VERY CONFLICT
ING.
GROsVENOR CREATED A FLURRy
BY a Resolution Calling the Depart-
ments TO Account for an Alleged
Neglect of Duty.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The Loud
bill to amend the law relating to sec
ond-clasS mail matter was passed by
the house today, after two days of de-
bate, by vote of 144 to los. The op-
position to the bill made a strong
fight against it. The statements made
on the floor as to it's effect on certain
particulars were very conflicting. The
most important provision of the bill
denies the serial publications admis-
sion 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 purporting to be issued
periodically and to subscribers, 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 purport to be premiums or supplements
or parts OF regular newspapers or period
icals
The bill also denies to newspapers
the sample copy" privilege and the
privilege enjoyed by news dealers of
returning unsold publications at the
second-class rate. The only other i'm
portant change in the present law pro-
vides that publishers whose publica-
tions are admitted as second-class mat
ter shall be required before depositing
such mail matter in the postoffice to
separate the same into United States
mail sacks or bundles by states. cities.
towns and counties, as the postmaste
general shall direct.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio) created a.
slight furry at the opening of the ses-
sion Of the house today by securing the
adoption, as a question Of privilege. of
q resolution calling on the several de-
partments for statements as to why
they had failed to comply with a for
mer resolution the house had passed
at its instance on June 5, requesting in
formation Of the several departments
relative to the administration of the
civil service law. He made sarcastic
comments on the matter.
Mr.. Terry Dem.. Ark.) showed a dis
position to contest the point as to
whether the resolution involved a
question Of privilege but when he
ascertained that it related to the civil
service he acQuiesced with seeming
alacrity. IF there is anything you
can find out about the civil service
said he, II. shall be very glad to have
you discover it,
The resolution calls for information
as to the number of employees in each
department who have died, resigned or
been removed since March T. 1893. the
number appointed under the civil SER
vice 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
was then resumed. Messrs. Mflliken
Rep., Maine); Wagner (Rep., Pa);
Tracy, (Rep., Mo-; Morse (Rep., Mass.)
and Mr.. Bingham (Rep., Pa.) made
brief speeches against the BILL the lat
ter calling attention to the vast sums
expended by the government for the
general welfare, for the thousands of
franks of the information of the
people, the millions of acres and dollars
expended for the development of COM
merce, the vast sums expended at the
Centennial, Worlds Fair and other ex.
positions for the enlightenment of the
people. Cheap rates for books were, ne
argued, a part and a 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 re-
piled to many of the arguments ad-
vanced against the bill, and closed
with an earnest appeal for it's passage
The bill was then read for amendment
under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Tracy Rep., MOI offered an
amendment, the purpose of which was
to permit the transmission as second
class matter of seriali publications and
books when sent as parts of regular
newspapers. Mr.. Loud said the amend
ment would defeat the purpose Of the
bill. - .ffT
Mr.. Moody Rep., Mass.) made very
bitter attack on the opposition to the
bill. He charged that L'the return
privilege" now enjoyed by news dealers
was in the interest of a. large news
company, and that the country newspa-
pers which were protesting against the
bill were being made cats paws Of by
this company and the publishers Of
serial publications. The Tracy amend
ment was withdrawn when the COM
mittee rose at o'clock, and the vote
was taken on the engrossment and
third reading of the bill. This was a.
test vote on the bill. The motion was
carried, 144-1O5. The opposition made
no further effort in the face of this