The herald., 1898-02-16
SIXTEEN
MEASURES
Yesterdays Good Grist in
the House Mill
THE LOUD PoSToFFIcE BILL
SET FOR CONSIDERATION ON THE
FIRST OF MARCH
THE LOUD PosToFFlcE BILL
Senators Ask Information Concerning
the Kansas Pacific Railroad Sale.
Tillman Opposes Annexation
associated Press Special wire


Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON Feb. 15.--The house
put in busy day. The time was de-
voted to the consideration of bills and
joint resolutions presented under the
call of committees, and sixteen of more
or less public Importance were passed.
An order was entered for the considera-
tion Of the Loud bill relating to second
class mail matter on March I, and 3,
and the order for the consideration Of
the bankruptcy bill, which begins to-
morrow, was modified so that the final
vote shall be taken on Saturday instead
OF OH Monday, as was arranged last
week.
Payne of New York, Republican, chair
man of the committee on merchant ma
rine, called up the bill to amend the
navigation laws of the United States.
Payne explained that the bill had been
prepared by the treasury department
and was designed to protect our sea-
coast trade along the Pacific coast, with
Alaska.
Torrey of Arkansas, Democrat. said
the bill had q much broader scope than
appeared at first. 1t related to the en-
tire coastwise trade of the United States.
He believed that this trade belonged to
the United States. Our shipping laws
We're all antiquated, but there should
be general revision, not special laws.
Special. laws. in his opinion. simply fos-
tered the shipping trust. So long as
American owners were unable to place
the American flag over a foreign-b built
vessel, he was opposed to such bills as
the pending measure.
Dingley said the pending bill was de-
signed to carry out the traditional pol
Icy Of the government, of reconstruct
ing our coastwise carrying trade to
American vessels.
The bill was passed without division.
The committees were then called.
Updegraff of Iowa, from the commit
tee on judiciary, called up the bill to
amend the act of 1887 relating to the
fees of United States officers, so as to
correct some existing abuses, and 1t was
passed.
Cox of Tennessee, Democrat, from the
committee on banking and currency,
called up the bill to "better control and
promote the safety of national banks
The bill provided that no national bank
shall make loan to the president or any
other officer or employe of the bank un-
til such officer or employe had submitted
the proposition for the loan, in writing
to the directors, and it had been ap-
proved by majority of them, and in
No ct, 1a Iao = 4.
permitted by law. The report Of the
controller, Cox said. showed that 80
per cent of the failures of national banks
was due to the absorption of the banks
funds by its officers.
Considerable discussion arose over the
committee amendment striking out the
word directors The directors, as we'll
as the officers, were subject to the re-
strictions of the measure in its original
form. but the committee recommended
that directors" be stricken out.
Johnson of Indiana. Republican, Fitz-
gerald of Massachusetts, Democrat, Cox
and others thought the directors of a
bank, in regard to loans and overdrafts,
should be on the same footing with off,
GERS. The word directors" was retained
in the bill, and it was passed, 65 to 2S.
Loud of California, Republican. from
the committee on postoffices and post
roads, called up the bill to make it law
full to transmit through the mails private
postal cards with 1-cent stamp affixed.
The bill was passed.
Loud then stated that it was very
important that the house should act
on the bill relating to a division of the
law relating to second-class mail mat
ter, as the postofflce appropriation bill
was being held up pending the decision
of the house on that measure. He asked
that March / and be devoted to it's
consideration.
Williams of Mississippi, Democrat,
suggested that the debate be extended
until March g. The suggestion was ac-
cepted, and the order was entered.
Loud then called up bill reported by
his committee requiring prepayment of
postage on all first-class mail matter,
but, after brief debate, 1t was recon-
mitted.
Dalzell of Pennsylvania. Republican,
asked for a modification of the order for
the consideration of the bankruptcy bill
(Which begins tomorrow), by which the
final vote should be taken on Saturday
instead of on Monday. as originally or
dered, with the understanding that Mon
day should be private bill day. The
modification of the order was agreed to.
A bill was passed empowering regis
ters and receivers of general land Of
fees to issue subpenas and compel at
tendance.
A bill was passed repeating the statute
recurring Affirmative proof of loyalty by
the holders of bounty or land warrants.
At o'clock the house adjourned.
I'M THE SENATE