The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-02
IN THE HOUSE.
COnside ration of the Loud Bill Re.
sumed.

CONFEDERATION of the Loud Bill Re-
WASHINGTON, D. c.. March 2-Rev. J.
S. Dolliver, the father Of Representative
Dolliver, of Iowa, delivered the invocation
in the house yesterday.
The house then entertained upon the
special order which set apart today tomor-
row and Thursday for the consideration
Of the Loud bill relating to second-class
mail matter.
passed the house about a year ago. It
excludes from classification second-class
mail matter which pays postage at the rate
of one cent per pound books and reprints
Of books printed in special form sample
copies of newspapers or periodicals. un-
sealed copies returned from agents and
all publications designated primarily for
advertising purposes. All such publica-
tions, by it's terms would go into the third
class, which pays eight cents per pound.
Second class mail matter, oy the bill, is
restricted to newspapers and periodicals
issued at least four times year from a
known office Of publication, and publica
tions issued under the auspices Of benevo.
lent or fraternal organizations. trades
unions orders having a membership of
not less than one thousand. All publishers
whose publications are admitted as second
class mail matter in the postoffce NAV
separate it into United States mail sacks
or bundles states, cities towns and coun
ties as the postmaster general may direct.
Mr.. Loud, chairman of the pOstoffice
committee, who had charge of the bill. ex
planned 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 peri
odicals not in excess of ten per cent of
their bona fide circulation. He yielded the
floor to Mr.. Hinrichsen (Dem., ND who
presented some resolutions adopted by the
Illinois Press association, indorsing the DILL
with the amendment of which Mr., Loud
had given notice He read letter from
Mr.. Day, of the National Editorial asso-
ciation. who declared that with this
amendment the bill would work no hard
ship to the newspapers, and met with the
approval oil the press association of Hi.
ncis, Indiana and Michigan.
Mr.. Loud then took the floor and submit
ted to a general argument in favor of The
saving the bill would effect annually The
deficiency in the postal revenues was
steadily increasing. In 1896 1T was So, ,OOO, ,00O
last year it was $12.O00OOO; this year it
would be a million and a half more-all
because it cost the government $43 OOO. 300
to transmit the second class mail matter OF
the country which yielded to the govern
ment a revenue of but 5000, 600.
He charged that much of the opposition
to this measure in the country press has
been reused by the publishing houses Of
New York. and was i'll founded in fact
1t has been charged, Mr.. Loud said that
this bill was in the irtssests Of the ex-
press companies.
IF we don't get this. :ssiness,, said he,
I'VE don't care who gets it,
Mr.. Loud displayed to the house q great
amount of literature with which congress
hp hoo tod hvy+ hn
bill, and he produced evidence that most
of 1T had been inspired directly by pub
fishers who were the beneficiaries of what
he termed the governments bounty
Mr.. Loud was besieged with questions
towards the close of his remarks He
spoke for about two hours.
Mr.. Moon Dem, Tenn followed in oppo-
sition to the bill. He declared that con-
gress should discharge its duty, not to the
press of the country, but to the people
He conceded that there had been an abuse
Of the second class mail matter privilege.
Advertising papers should be excluded
from this privilege But he contended that
in striking down the evil this bill Destroy ed
much of the good. If the existing law and
its construction cost the government $2O,-
600 eco annually, the people were the direct
beneficiaries.
Mr.. Perkins Rep., Ia.) supported the BILL
He had been inclined as a newspaper pub
ment proposed by Mr.. Loud had been Of
fe-ed. Now he felt that this amendment
would remove any objection any legitimate
newspaper could have to it.
Mr.. Kitchen (Dem., N. c. 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 5 p. M the house adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The Senate
passed the Bacon resolution for the erec-
ton in some suitable place in the capitol
of a bronze memorial tablet commemora-
tive of the officers and sailors who lost
their lives in the Maine disaster. Before
the resolution was passed Senator Per-
kins OF California made an eloquent speech
in it's support and in eulogy of the Ameri-
can navy. Senator HOar endeavored to
have a conference committee appointed on
the bankruptcy bill, but Senator Stewart
talked the time out until o CLOCK Wnen
the Alaskan right of way and homestead
bill came up under the regular order.
Mr.. Stewart said he was opposed to an
involuntary bankruptcy bill at such a time
as this, and he wished. before the measure
was sent to conference, to present some
Information upon the subject that would
be valuable to the conferees. THE house
bill assumes" Mr.. Stewart began, that
any man who cannot pay his debts is a
criminal"
1T is the most atrocicus bill that could
be framed in the present condition of the
country
Mr.. Hoar said he thought the senate
conferees might be trusted properly to rep
resent the senate on this bill, and he ap-
pealed to Mr.. Stewart to permit the meas
ure to go to conference without further
debate.
mo appeal to me need be made in behalf
of this diabolical bill" exclaimed Mr.. Stew
art. II propose to discuss this matter fully.
in order that not only the conferees but
the country may know what the bill
means"
Mr.. Stewart spoke until o'clock, when
the Alaska homestead and right of way
bill was laid before the senate, Mr. Stew
art announcing that he would continue his
address today.
ho ~ fha Too II