The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-02
A Vote 10 Be Taken on the Measure at 4
O'Clock Tomorrow.
Sneaker Reed Calls to Order a
Member Who Attempts to Make
Political Speech, Announcing
That Hereafter He Proposes to
Hold Members Strictly to the
Subject Under Consideration.

WASHINGTON, Mar 1.-The House
to-day entered upon consideration OF
the Loud bill relating to second-class
mail matter. The bill is Identical to one
passed by the last Congress, but Loud,
its author, gave notice of an amend
ment permitting the TRANSMISSION at
pound rates of sample copies up 10 ~
per cent. of the bona-fide circulation OF
the newspaper periodicals. This amend
1nent removes much opposition TO the
bill. Only three speeches were dellv-
cred TO-DAY. Loud made an exhaus-
tive speech in its favor, claiming that
the Government practically paid
subsidy of $40, 100000 to the proprle-
TORS of publications which now got &C
cess to the mails at pound rates, as the
cost of transporting mails and its han
ding averaged eight cents per pound.
Moon CD of Tennessee spoke in oppo-
sition to the bill, and Perkins (R) Of
Iowa in favor of it. The debate Will
continue tomorrow and Thursday,
when the vote will be taken at O'Clock.
Rev. j. S. Dolliver, the father of
Representative Dolliver of Iowa, dellV-
cred TIE invocation at the opening OF
the House to-day.
The House then entered upon the
special order, which set apart to-day.
to-morrow and Thursday for the con-
sideratfon of the Loud bill, relating TO
second-class mail matter 1t excludes
from classification as second-clasS mail
matter, which pays postage at the rate
of one cent per pound, books and re-
prints of books printed in serial form,
sample copies" of newspapers or pc
Tiodioals, unsold copies returned from
agents. and all publications designed
for advertisement purposes. Such
publications, by its terms. would go
into the third class, which pays eight
cents per pound. Second-class mail
matter by the bill is restricted to news
papers and periodicals issued at least
four times a year from a known office
of publication. and publications issued
under the auspices of benevolent or
fraterral organiZa lions. trades unions
or others having a membership not less
than 1000. All publishers whose pub
locations are admitted as second-class
mail matter are required by the bill
before Gepositing such mail matter in
the Postoffice to separate into United
States mail sacks or bundles States,
cities. towns and counties. as the Post
master-General may direct.
Loud. Chairman of the Postoffice
Committee, who had charge of the
bill, explained before the debate opened
that the committee would offer an
amendment at the proper time to allow
the transmission of sample copies by
newspapers and periodicals not in eX-
cess Of 10 per cent. of their bona-fide
circulation.
He yielded before taking the floor to
I1endrickson Cd of Illinois, who pre-
scented some resolutions adopted by the
Consolidated Illinois Press Association
A., Endorsing the bill, with the amendment
of which Loud had given notice. He
read . letter from Day of the National
Editorial Association. which declared
that with this amendment the bill would
work no hardship to the newspapers,
mad met with the approval of the press
associations of Illinois, Indiana and
Michigan.
Loud then took the floor and submitted
q general argument in favor of the bill,
dwelling particularly upon the vast
saving the bin would effect annually.
The deficiency in the postal revenues
was steadily increasing. In 1896 il was
$4,000 900, last year it was $4,000, 600.
this year is would be a million and a
half more-all because it cost the Gov
eminent S43,000,000 to transport the
second-class mail matter OF the coun-
try. which yielded to the Government a
revenue of but So 100000. He charged
that much of the opposition TO this
measure in the country press had been
aroused by the publishing houses OF
New York. and was ill-founded in fact
1t had been charged. Loud said, that
1his bin was in the interest of the ex-
press companies. IF We don't get this
business" said he, L don't care who
gets IT,"
Loud displayed to the House great
amount Of the literature with which
Congress had been flooded by the oppo-
sition to the bill. and he produced evil
dence that most of il had been inspired
directly by publishers who We're the ben
eficiary of what he termed the Coy
ernments bounty"
Loud was besieged with questions to-
ward the close of his remarks. He spoke
for about two hours.
Moon CD of Tennessee followed in op-
position 10 the bill. He declared that
the Congress should discharge its duty.
rot to the press of the country, but to
the people. He conceded that there had
been abuse of second-class mail matter
privilege. Advertising papers should he
excluded from this privilege. But he
contended that IN striking down the evil
this bill destroyed much of the good If
the existing law and its construction
cost the Government S2Oo00.0eo anu