The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
LOUD'S POSTAL Bill.
Friends and Opponents of the Measure
Are G!yen a Hearing Before the
Senate Committee

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 30.-A
hearing was given this morning by the
Senate Committee on Postoffices and Post
roads to persons interested in what has
come to be known as The Loud bill, re
Gently passed by the House OF Represen-
tatives and applying to the postage on
second-class MALL matter.
| Ten O. clock was the hour fixed for the
hearing but the only member OF the COM
mittee then or for the next ha;f hour pres
ent was Mr.. Chandler, acting chairman in
the absence of Mr., WoIcott.
| Governor Cleaves addressed the commit
tee. The act, he said, would affect many
of the interests and would withdraw many
OF the great privileges now enjoyed by the
people.
Fl. n. Wheeler said the proposed act
would grant subsidies to the express con-.
panies. In seme of his remarks he came
in conflict with Representative Loud. who
was present, and who questioned some OF
| Wheeler's statements.
| Patrick Farrell of New York, represent
ing the American News Company, urged
| Senator Chandler not to insist on his first
amendment striking out the words ''oT
when sent from a news agency, or from
other news agents" ana he also suggested
such an amendment OF the bill as would
allow newsdealers the return privilege
on unsold copies,
Finley Acker of Philadelphia, chairman
of the postal committee of the National
Board of Trade, presented resolutions OF
that organization in favor OF the Loud
bill.
Replying to questions, Mr.. Acker said
the National Board of Trade favored
penny postage, but had no desire to carry
1t until some of the abuses were eiimi-
mated from the second. class matter. The
Postotfice Department, he SAID, was nearer
| to the people than any branch OF the Gcv-
ernment. The poor people recognized the
| United States Postoffice Department as
| the branch to which they gave their ale
glance. Great benefits had been conferred
upon them in carrying to them since 1z9S
their mail practically postage free-carry-
ing to them good books, good magazine:
and good newspapers.
These privileges were near to the com
mon school system. 1t was said, however
that bad books and bad publications were
going through the mails, exercising cor
ruptlng and debauchlng influence on the
youth of the country, ana that thai
should be stopped. If that were so, Con
gress had the power to correct these
abuses under the present law, withou
revoiutionizine the whole postal system
and destroying the whole fabric because
there were one or two rotten timbers
found in the structure.
Governor Cleaves said there was nc
doubt that Congress had the power to re-
peal this law at any lime but there were
equitable rights which should be respected
A liberal construction of the postal laws
he believed. would meet the approval anC
commendation of the whole American
people.
Senator Chandler remarked that he had
offered an amendment to the Loud bill fol
one cent postage for the purpose of sug-
gesting the question whether it would moi
be better to carry letters at cost than tc
carry second-class matter at less thar
cost
John Elderkin OF the committee of New
York publishers opposing the bill, made 6
remark as to the National Board of Trade
which he spoke of as a 'one- horse affair. ,
| Secretary Bryant of the American
Newspaper Publishers Association stateo
that the association had unanimously
adopted resolution indorsing the Loud
bill and that there had been no dissent t6
that resolution since.
The meeting was closed with brief ad.
dress by Mr.. William Of the Iron Age in
support of the bill and with the presenta.
ton of some statistics in opposition to it,
Senator Chandler stated that there
would be no further hearings on the sub
ject unless by order of a majority of the
committee.