The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-02

stricted to newspapers and periodicals q.
SIZED at least four times year from
known office of publication and puhlica
tons issued under the auspices of benevo-
lent or fraterrlal organizations trads.
unions or orders having q membership ~
not less than one thousand. Ali publisners
whose publications are admitted as ssco,a
class mail matter are required by the biIi
before dep0slting such mail matter in ths
postoffice, to separate it into United Stotes
mail sacks or bundles by States. cities
towns and counties as the postmaster zen.
eral may direct.
Mr. Loud chairman of the postofflce coro-
mittee, who had charge of the bin ex-
planned before the debate opened that tina
committee would offer an amendment ~
the proper time to allow the transmission
of sample copies by newspapers and periodi-
Gals not in excess of 10 per cent. of their
bonafide circulation.
Mr.. Loud yielded, before taking the foor
to MIR. Hinrichsen CDem., ND. who pre'
scented some resolutions adopted by the M
nois Press Association Endorsing the bill
with the amendment of which Mr. Loud
had given notice lie read letter from
Mr.. Day, of the National Editorial Asso
citation, which declared that with this
amendment the bill would work no hardship
to the newspapers and met with the am
prevail Of the press associations Of Illinois
Indiana and Michigan.
Mr.. Loud then took the floor and SUBJ
mitted general argument In favor of the
bill, dwelling particularly on the vast saw.
ing the bill would effect annually The de
ficiency in the. postal revenues was steadily
year 1t was S12, Coz. 900; this year ii would be
81, 10000 more-all because 1t cost the gov
eminent 900 to transmit the second
class mail matter of the country which
yielded to the government a revenue of bur
So 000, 600. He charged that much Of the on
position to this measure in the country
houses of New York. and was ill-founded
in fact. 1t had been charged Mr. Loud
said, that this bill was in the interest of the
express companies If we don't get this
it," Mr.. Loud displayed to the House a
vast amount of the htera ture with which
Congress has been flooded by the opposition
to the bill, and he produced evidence that
most OF it had been inspired directly by
publishers who were the benetciaries II
what he termed the governments buun-
ty." Mr.. Loud was besieged with questions
towards, the close of his remarks. lie spoke
for about two hours.
Mr. Moon (Dem., Temp followed in oppo-
sition TO the bill. He declared that Con-
gresS should discharge its duty. not to the
press of the country but 10 the people. He
conceded that there had been an abuse ot
the second-class mail matter privilege. Adj
vertising papers should be- excluded from
this privilege. But he eontended that in
striking down the evil this bill destroyed
much of the good. If the existing law and
100000 annually the people were the direct
beneficiaries.
Mr.. Perkins (Rep., Ia) supported the bill.
He had been inclined, as n newspaper pub
Usher to support the bill before the amend
ment proposed by Mr. Loud had been Of
fered. Now he felt that this amendment
would remove any objection any legitimate
newspaper could have to it.
Mr. Ketcham Dem., n. CO attempted to
make a general political speech, but was
called to order by the speaker, who an
nounced that hereafter he proposed TO hold
members strictly to the subject under con-
sideration by the House. The rule, he said,
should be enforced impartially against both
sides.
Mr. McMillin Dem., TENN suggested
that the enforcement of this rule which
he considered a departure from the prac-
tice of the House, might lead to the denial
of the right of speech.
The speaker said that during his twenty
years service in the House he had never
seen any danger of such contingency.
At d. m. the House adjourned.