The Portland daily press., 1900-03-23
THE LOUD BILL.
Measure Considered by
House This Week.
The Third Attempt Of Mr.. Loud to
Pass 1t.
False Ideas of Many as
to Measure.
Full Text of Proposed Law as
Presented.
rsPEcrAL TO THE rREss.i

Washington, March 22.-The HouEe
has Just finished consideration
of the famous Loud bill which
has arc used 90 much discussion both
within and without the House in years
past. When the bill was defeated In the
last Congress Mr.. Loud practically decided
not to press IL again. The publishing
houses that would be intsrfered with
made a most discuraging kind of fight
on the bill. By means OF n widespread
organizs ton they allied nearly all the
newspapers against the bill, although
In reality 1t was not harmful, and proba-
bly, would have been absolutely beneficial,
to the legitimate newspaper publications
In the country. This year there has been
the same outcry against the bill. and not
only the pc ople who would be affected BY
II, bus many who have been made 90 be-
lieve that they would be affected have
been deluging Congress with protests.
Mr.. Loud, In opening the debate on Tues
day, spent long time In showing the
mistakes, some Off them humorous, Of
people who had protested against the
bill.
Mr.. Loud In his speech made the re-
markable statement that the loss Of the
government on account of the abuss OF
the second olasI mail privileges was
forty-tvs millions of dollars year. So
weight and one-third OF the number Of
pieces OF mail mattsr handled yields .
revenue of tut three and half millions
of dollars yearly.
Mr.. Loud showed very foroibly that
SO long as this abuse existed one cent pos
taee wouldS never be possible In this
country. The few are now absor bling the
POSTAL facilities which should belong to
tas many.
The last time the bill was before the
House 10 was defeated largely through
the free silver and populist Influences,
which feared that 1t might interfere with
some Of their campaign publications.
The full text of the bill 10 a. follows:
To amend the postal laws relating 70
second GLASS mail matter.
Bs IL enacted by the Senate and Houss
of Representatives Of the United States
Of America In Congress- assembled, That
mAilAble matter Of the second class shall
en- brace all newspapers and other periodi-
cal publications which are issued ct
stated intervals, and as frequently rs
four times year, and are within the
conditions named in this Act: Provided,
That nothing herein contained shall 20
SO construed as to admit TO the seoonu.
class rate publications purporting to be
issued periodically and to subscribers,
but which are merely books, or reprints
Of books, whether they be Issued COM
plets or In parts, whether they be bound
or unbound, whether they be sold by sub
soription or otherwise, or whether they
purport to be premiums or supplements
or parts OF regular newspapers or periodi-
calls.
SEC. Q. That publications Of the
second class, except as provided in sec-
ton twenty-five of the Act Of Ma rob
third. eighteen hundred and seventy mine,
when sent by the publiSher thereof, and
from the office OF publication, excluding
sample copies. except as hereinafter pro-
yided, or when sent from o news agency
to actual subscribers thereto, or to other
news agents. shall be entitled to trans
mission through the malls at one cent
a pound or fraction thereof. such postage
to be prepaid az now provided by law:
Provided, nevertheless, That news agents
shall not be allowed to return to news
agents or publishers at the pound rate
uusold periodical publications, but shall
pay postage on the same at the rate of
one cant for four ounces.
SEC. 3. That after the formal admis.
sion to the mails rs second .class matter
Of any newspaper or periodical under the
conditions prescribed by section five Of
this Act, sample copies Of any issue there
Of, not differing In any respect from the
copies sent to regular subscribers. may be
mailed at the Recond.class rate a number
not in excess Of fifty per centum OF the
bona tide subscription list OF said news
paper, magazine, or other periodical:
Provided. That in no case shall the num-
Der OF sample copies so mailed exceed i've
hundred copies Of any one issue; And
provided further. That all sample copies
Of any sscond-class publication mailed In
excess OF the number allowed herein at
second-olas rates shall be paid for at q
postage charge of half a cent for every
two ounces or fraction thereof dispatched
to one address payable by stamps. to be
attached.
SEC. 4. That all periodical publica-
tions regularly issued from q known
place Of publication at stated intervals
az frequently as four times year, by or
under the auspicea of benevolent or fra
ternal societies, trade unions, or orders
organized under the lodge system. and
having a bona nds mem bership OF not
less than one thousand persons, shall bs
entitled to the privilege OF second-class
mail N latter: Provided, That such matter
shall be originated and published to fur
Their the objects and purposes Of such
society OF order.
SEQ. g. That the conditions upon
which a publication shall be admitted to
the second GLASS are as follows:
First. 1t must regularly be issued at
stated intervals as frequently as four
Tins year. bear date OF issue, and be
numbered consecutively.
Second. II must be issued from q
known office OF publication, which shall
be shown by the publication itself.
Third 1t must be formed Eof printed
paper Sheets without board. cloth, leath-
or. or other substantial bindlng such rs
distinguish printed books for preserva-
tion from periodical publications.
Fourth. IL must be oriRinated and pub
nshed fer the dissemination of informA-
tiOn Ct a public character, or devoted to