New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17

THE CAUSE or EDN NffAiD-'
THE INTERESTS OF THE FARMER-soME
ARGUMENTS IN ITS FAVOR
washington. Jan IA Subcommittee OF the
ssnate Committee on Postofhces ana foS"o"u'
r,A an interesting hearing this morning on '"e
,oud Postal bill. which. among other thihsS' i"s''
,,,e-iallv the rate OF postage on serial p"o''
-. 4 delegation from Maine against the Dill
nr,sr a misunderstanding that the committee
old not meet today. left the city. bu' WILL oe
heard another time l.,,os
y Root OF the Textile Publishing Compa"', ,
vork. Ernest T. Elert. president OF the hu'"e.
ro-us Of America: Alexander J. WedcerDurh' u
80 National lntelligencer"; Mr Orr. or me Az
..ri.,-al Press League: Mr. Wheeler OF housh-
ION MifHin & Co. publishers. ana w ''o"' - M,
Of the Reform Bureau. who was 'S"'"S. NV
ard declared tina. he represented me PeoP'-'
Mr. Wheeler as th- representative OIL a Pu",'
,r~ house read a paper against the BILL ana al
soros length explained the character Oh INC P
cations sent through the mails "a se'e' ~ ~
largo publishing houses of the tnited ''".'9
cortended that these books were reprints OF s'",o
-. orus or original productions OF 4 high ORDER
"a that only since the law had been passed XIV
,-r access 10 the mails at low rates 10 '"ei w
.ba general public been able 10 secure H'eta'
- c1ass In 1855 one firm had published only
o mn volumes and years later the San7 AZ -
issued over one million volumes tnus s'o"''e ~
-a.-a g., Tho circulation OF good literature anu
re benefits received by the people VINO up ~ -.
time we're not able to get good DOORS 80 NJ
the payment OF high prices for oouhu WI o., -.
,,-heo,sr said Il would be serious Do" ~
a,,.io, ~ the provisions OF the present Ia" were
naolsd The bes; way cure the evil was ~
enforce the existing law against frauuu'e"' p"p''
~ hich encur1bsr the mas. =, 100
Nv Wedderburn opposed the bill because II was
.~,,,s- the interests OF the farmer VINO wa '.''
81. - CO, good literature without the ala OF N'e
uaus - there was a deficit, It should oe cnais''
IN n the cause Of education. SO fa' a. Ni,,0ua
literature was concerned. MI WedderO"' 800
would he sent through the mails at an
less excluded altogether ,..oo
- c.on.ar, vho will address the committee
,,.e- s,onned long enough 10 say that me 81
counts NJ the Postoffce Department "eIe n.y. "
such shape that no information could ne mao No.
He would show this 10 the committee 'd'e w.
he believed that much more Information was "e'O
ed before an intelligent bill could be raineu'
Wilbur = Crafts declared that the existing pos'a.
law uas no,hing but Socialism for the rch' ana
granted large subsidies to certain Industries com
polling the people 20 pay the Dill Inv
law was he said special legislation In behaii OF
the city OF August. Ne He was sorry 10 SEE '7'"
sfo- Hale and Representative Mlken champion
ing the cause OF the Augusta publishers ana inu-
mated that they did 50 solely because 'ne' VIZ
Maine industries. After euogy on the S'a'e Il.
self Mr. Crafts declared that ne ala not want j.
10 be denenden, on The whole United States Inc
nreson, lsv ais, encouraged fraud. SO far as the
literature was concerned. st consisted chiefly OF
novels OF which 90 per cent were p'raied foreign
novels a large majority OF which were fre"o"
works
In response 10 a question by Senator hiIl' MY
Crafts said n would be impossible for Congress 70
draw a biz that would exclude certain classes OF
matter and admit Others. This was denied by Sen
ators Hi and Burrows and Mr. Crafts modned
his statement and said he would be glad TO see
such law ~ u could be drawn.
ding ~
nous profits Of publishers. the Of paper press
work etc when he stopped b. Mr.. Wheeler
Q. Houghton Mifiin Co. who Indignantly re-
tor,ed tina; the speaker did not know what he was
talking about
In closing his remarks Mr. Crafts accused the
American News Company OF being monopoly,
ard SAID II had got unusual privilege in the ex-
isting law through subterfuge that permitted
It 10 use the mails at pound rates ana denied IL 10
publishers
This statement brought Patrick Farrelly. man
sger Of the American News Company. to his feet
with vigorous protest. He denied there had been
any subterfuge on the contrary. he had urged that
provision be- inserted in the bill giving 10 pub
fishers equal privileges OF sending and having their
Publications returned from dealers, through the
mails The news company was not monopoly. as
M Crafts had said. He talking on subject !
about which ne knew nothing and Mr.. Farrelly as
serted tina, such statements made before commit
ZEE were improper and an act OF injustice
MI. Vernon. Of yernol Brothers & Co. OF New, |
VII
majority Of novels were Of the French order The
oloks made in this country. No law would
stop the circulation OF French novels II people
wanted them but The proposed bill would stop the
publication of good books at low prices Very re-
leious people objected TO some books. bur the
iaet remained that at least 20 per cent OF the goods
The s .rsTTn Of " T. Com Hsrvey Of Chicago
brought humorous references - the recent
campaign and a d!sgusit!On on economic questions
As practical business proposition II would not be
al Reductions in postage. There could be no trusts
IN thoughts and books. Trusts could control the /
metropolitan newspapers for II took enormous capt.
al 20 publish such paper: the pampheteer
rec lolars The French novel had been condemned;
- Vas not more trashy than the average Sunday
newspaper.
Mr. Harvey spoke Of cheap postage being large
eevcr IN the education OF the people They able
,.stldy economic questions in which they in !
cond he referred 10 the circulation OF 100000
s,s on ina; possibly could have been attained
~ " higher postage He warned the committee that
cf ,Sie entering upon times that threatened the life
NJ 90 senator Chandler
pohii t,arVey proceeding tell OF the Of
css, hhihg Coins Financial School" and what II |
ms,raha ne purchaser. when Mr. Chandler again
EDt.s On yes. bought for % cents and I |
sot . cents worth out Of IT,
ihs, sVcioped that this book made Of series
pound ppsared quarterly thereby giving the cent-a-
Thsrr' a'es 10 Il, whereat Senator Was remarked:
pe:ra.,s no doubt the present lay permits the per-
conrec,a OF fraud, and some Of the AFFIDAVIT IN
scutnv' ~. WIN these publications will stand the
ns ma vev contended that the Government paid /
ptd - 90 much Cor carrying the mails
hall r -" year. and this might he said be |
6n "a The rate paid was equivalent 10 800 a |
Mich was more than was psH Tar freight and |