Evening star., 1900-03-22
THE HOUSE.

In the House today the special order-the
Loud bill-was taken up Immediately after
the reading of the journal. This is the con-
Guiding day of debate on the measure. Mr..
Moon fTenn) opened the discussion for the
opposition. Mr.. Loud in charge of the bill
announcing that Mr.. Moody (Mass) would
close the debate for the supporters of the
bill in an hours speech.
Mr.. Moon discussed at length the handling
and transportation of mail matter main
tanning there could be no evil effect from
permitting SeCond-class matter the privi-
leges it has now. He made strong plea
for the retention as second-class matter of
the literature which he said was so val
uabie to the people and such means Of
instruction and education to the people.
Mr.. Moon declared that the children, the
middle aged and the old, throughout this
republic, the scientific organiza tions aud
every branch of learning, demanded of the
House that 1t should not look to the mere
acquisition of revenue. The education of
the people was more important than a
small bit of revenue to the government.
In conclusion he said the express COM
p&nies would have monopoly of the carry
ing OF the cheap literature if this bill should
pass.
Mr.. Talbert Is. CT declared in opposing
the bill that the House seemed to have a
mania for new legislation or for re-enacting
old legislation. He believed the present
law sufficiently covered the subjects touch
ed upon by the bill. He quoted Mr.. Grigss
tGaD as saying the pending bill did not
change existing law.
Mr.. Griggs entered denial of this state-
ment, and Mr.. .Talbert retorted that the
Georgian'S ground and lofty tumbling had
made it impossible for even himself to tell
what he meant by his speech. In conclu-
sion Mr.. Talbert declared the country edi-
tors would be the heaviest sufferers by the
passage of the bill.
Mr.. Cummings' Opposition.
Mr.. Cummings On. " in characteristic
speech said this was the fourth time the
pending measure had been before the House
and every time he had opposed it in the in
terest of every man who wants cheap litera-
ture every typesetter and every bookbinder
in the city of New York. The city of New
York. he said, paid S5e0o. 600 every year to
the Post Office Department for the second
class postage and by the enactment of the
pending bill Congress would take work
trade.
Mr. Moody (Mass) closed the general de-
bate in support of the bill. He frankly and
carefully analysed its provisions, presenting
as he proceeded arguments in favorIof each
provision. The weight of his early argu-
rlent was i'll supportDf the bill, because it
would save the government enormous
sum of money per annum.
With the money which the government
had lost on second-class mail matter during
the past ten years, Mr.. Moody declared 1t
COGiI ave Soiioti ucNSn int iSeiii1idA 1aHdi
fleet of modern battle ships.
In reply to an inquiry Of Mr.. Otey (Va.)
Mr. Moody maintained that the only men
who were benefited by the present situa-
tion as to second-cl2ss mail matter were
those who are p.undering the treasury ami
Gripping TO an extent the operation of the
Post Office Department.
In conclusion Mr.. Moody made a strong
appeal for the passage of the bill as a
measure ''on the side of the people and
against the special and selfish interests.
Conference on Diplomatic Bill.
The Senate amendments to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill We're non
concurred in by the House, and the bill
sent to conference with Messrs. Hit,
Adams and Dinsmore as conferees