Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-02
LOUD BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN THE HOUSE.
THE SAMPLE COPY PRIVILEGE
MIR. LOUD CONSENTS NOT TO CUT 1T
OFF ALTOGETHER.
Bill Shuts Out of the Second Class
Books Printed In Serial Form
Second Class Mail Now the
Source of Immense
Loss.

Washington March 1.-The house to-day
entered upon the consideration of the Loud
BILL relating to second class mail matter
The bill is identical with the bill passed
by the last congress. but Mr. Loud. us
author, gave notice of an amendment per-
hitting the transmission at pound rates Of
sample copies up to 10 per cent of the bona
;ide circulation of newspaper periodicals.
This amendment removes much opposition
10 the dill. Only three speeches were de-
Evered to-day. Mr.. Loud made an eN-
haustive speech in its favor, claiming that
the government practically paid subsidy
of $4,000. 600 to the proprietors OF publica-
tions which now got access to the mails at
pound rates, as the cost OF transporting
mail and its handling averaged cents per
pound. Mr.. Moon, Democrat. of Tennessee,
spoke in opposition to the bill. and MIR.
Perkins. Republican. OF Iowa. In favor OF IT,
The debate will continue until Thursday,
when the vote will be taken at o'clock.
The Loud bill excludes from classification
as second class mail matter. which pays
postage at the rate Of l cent per pound.
| books and reprints of books printed In
serial form, Sample copies of newspapers
or periodicals, unsold copies returned from
agents, and all publications designed pri-
marily for advertising purposes. All such
publications, by its terms. would go into
the third class, which pays cents per
pound.
Second class mail matter. by the bill, is
restricted to newspapers and periodicals Is
sued at least four times year from a
known office of publication. and pubiica-
tions issued under the auspices OF beneVo-
lent or fraternal organizations. trades un-
| ions or others having membership not
less than 1000.
All publishers whose publications are ad-
mitted as second class mail matter are re-
quired by the bill, before depositins such
| mail matter in the postoftice. to separate
1t into United States mail sacks or bundles
| for states. cities. towns and counties, as
| the postmaster general may direct
Mr. Loud, chairman of the postoftice COM
mittee. who had charge Of the bill. explain
ed before the debate opened that the COM
mittee would offer an amendment at the
proper time to allow the transmission OF
| sample copies by newspapers and periodi-
| Gals not in excess of 10 per cent of their
bona fide circulation. He yielded, before
| taking the floor. to Mr.. Henderson. Demo
| crat, of Illinois. who presented some reso-
| lutions adopted by the Illinois Press Asso-
| citation, indorsing the bill, with the emend-
ment of which Mr.. Loud had given notice.
He read 4 letter from Mr.. Day. of the
National Editorial Association, which de-
| clared that. with this statement. the bill
| and met with the approval of the press as
| sociations of Illinois. Indiana and Michi-
| gan.
| Mr.. Loud then took the floor and SUBJ
| mitted general argument in favor of the
bill, dwelling particularly upon the vast
saving the bill would effect annually. The
deficiency in the postal revenues was
| steadily increasing. In 1886, it was So. 900.
| 90; last year it was Sl2.OOO.oOO; this year it
would be million and half more-all be-
| cause it cost the government $430Oo.00O to
! transport the second class mail matter OF
the country, which yielded to the govern
ment revenue OF but 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, Mr.. Loud said, that
| this bill was in the interest Of the eX-
| press companies.
IF we don't get this business" said he.
Il don't care who gets it."
Mr.. Loud displayed to the house great
amount of literature with which congress
| had been flooded by the opposition to the
| bill, and he produced evidence that most
| of it had been inspired directly by pub
fishers who We're the benefic!aries of what
Mr.. Loud was besieged with questions
| toward the close of his remarks. He spoke
| for about two hours.
| Mr.. Moon, Democrat. of Tennessee, fol
lowed in opposition to the bill. He de-
| clared that the congress 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 privileges. Advertising papers
should be excluded from this privilege. Blu,
| 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 600 annually, the
| people were the direct beneficiaries.
Mr.. Perkins. Republican, of Iowa, sup.
ported the bill. He had been inclined, as
| newspaper publisher. to support the bill
| before the amendment proposed by Mr.
| Loud had been offered. Now he felt thai
this amendment would remove any objec.
tion any legitimate newspaper could have
| to 1t.
Mr.. Kitchen. Democrat. OF North Caro-
| lima. attempted to make a general poiitica
| speech, but was called to order by the
| speaker, who announced that hereafter he
| proposed to hold members strictly to the
| subject under consideration by the house
The rule. he said. should be enforced i'm
partially against both sides.
| Mr. McMillin, Democrat, of Tennessee
| suggested that the enforcement of this
rule, which he considered a departure from
the practice of the house. might lead tc
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 a contingency.