The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-22
Resented BY Mr.. LENfZ
A Sharp COllOquy in the House Over
the Loud Postal Bill.
Mr. Mcpherson Charges the ohionn
with Bcing the Attorney for the
Lobbyist - The Allegation De-
nounced as FaIsehood-Nr. Rich
nrdson Calls the Iowan to order.

The debate on the Loud Postal bill in
the House yesterday was enlivened by
charge that Representative Lentz Of Ohio
was attorney for the lobbyists against
the bill. It was made by Representative
Mcpherson of Iowa in a speech imme-
diately following one by Mr.. Lentz who
made the strongest argument against the
bill that the debate has yet produced.
In the course Of his remarks he referred
to an art magazine and at the conclusion
Of his speech distributed copies to mem
bers about him and directed pages to
distribute them about the floor. Mr.. Hill
Of Connecticut objected to this as an in
fraction of the rules. but Mr.. Mcpherson,
who had the floor at the time, said he
hoped the lobbying might go on in plain
view of the House and referred 10 Mr..
Lentz as attorney for the lobbyists.
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, leader of
the minority, in the absence Of Mr.. Lentz,
called Mr.. Mcpherson to order. and the
latter withdrew the remark. His manner,
however. did not satisfy Mr. Richardson,
who spoke Of it as humorous, where
upon Mr.. Mcpherson said he would change
from humorous to, serious.
Later Mr.. Lentz, having been Informed
Of Mr.. McPherson's charge, denounced it
as an unmitigated falsehood, and retorted
that the man who said he was attorney
for a lobby was himself the agent of eX-
press companies. For this he was called
to order by Mr.. Payne of New York, and
the incident then closed.
Under the order made by the Speaker
the debate will proceed under the FIVE
minute rule today and vote will be
taken at 4 O'Clock.
The first speaker yesterday was Mr.
Bromwell Of Ohio, who advocated the bill.
He said that the manufactured protests
against the bill conveyed the impression
that the publications affected by it would
be treated like obscene publications and
denied the use of the mails altogether.
It was only proposed that they should be
required to pay higher rate OF postage
than the second class rate. This should
be done for business reasons and Mr..
Bromwell quoted from the report Of Post
masted General Smith to show that but
for the deficiency caused by the handling
of second-class matter the Department
would have a surplus Of many millions.
Mr.. Griggs Of Georgia spoke in advO-
cscy OF the passage of the bill. He said
that two-thlrds OF the votes against the
bill would be cast because Of a lack Of
understanding of the provisions OF the
bill. 1t was. said Mr.. Riggs. the most
misunderstood and maligned measure
ever before the House, and he said he
ventured nothing in the declaration that
two thirds Of those voting against it
would do so because they would not take
the time to investigate and answer objee-
tions by constituents who we're them
Of Tho hill
was in the interests OF the people and he
asserted that If the Democrats would give
him their attention he would convince
them that it was their duty 10 support it.
Opposed by Mr. Lcntz.
Mr.. Lentz. opposing the bill. said that
great mistake would be made if the law
governing the transportation Of second
class matter be changed. He argued. from
the figures Of the Postmaster Generals re
port. that the greater the amount Of secs
ond-class matter. the smaller Yas tine de-
dcit. II the b1I were Uasrea be- said i-
would not reduce the e@Deud Ures OF the
Department one cent The sssouf-cl-ss
matter. Mr. Lentz said was Ieapousibie for
$50 900 On0 o. the receipts from first fh''-,
and fourth classes. il was the Instructor
OF aAH HH. HfaH- lN HlAt ArN 70 ll
uent in Fe.elue $40 for every dollar paid
.ar its sporrstiou These ngures. he
explained. were taken from Che books @. !.
magazine published .u Chicago.
gI-. Lent made aa earnest plea for the
con faur1 dissemination Of good literature
-s at present. and prophesied. in conclud
ing that il the second-class privilege were
curtailed. as proposed in the bill, the de
felt in postal revenues would be greater
than now.
The bill was advocated by Mr. McPher-
son OF Iowa. who expressed his regret that
the attendance upon the session was so
small. Opposition TO the bill, he said. had
been organized and maintained by lobby
which had operated with a persistence and
that had not been equdled
by any lobby 10 fifty years.
While Mr. Mcpherson was talking Mr..
Hill Of Connecticut called attention to The
fact that employees Of the House were dis
tributing advertising matter protesting
against the passage Of the bill. He char
il az violation OF the privileges
OF the floor,
Mr.. Richardson said the publications in
question had been distributed by the gen
tIeman from Ohio yir. LentzD. The pub
Iication in question was an art monthly. on
its title page bearing the words. applica
tion made for entry at the Boston postoiiice
as second class matter
A printed slip was pasted on the cover.
reading. This is the kind OF periodical
that will be shut out Of the second-class
mail by the passage Of the Loud bill, be
cause il Is not original matter. but is a re-
print. The publication Of such matter must
in consequence be stopped
Mr.. Loud explained that the privilege Of
second-class rate had never been granted
10 that publication.
The Speaker pro tempore. Mr. Clark OF
New Hampshire said. 1T makes DO difer-
ence who distributes the matter il 1t be
true as stated, il is a violation Of the
rules
Mr.. Mcpherson asked that the lobbying
might go on; that il might be made plain
10 the House. and to the whole country. and
that the books presented by the attorney
for the lobbyists might be circulated.
Mir. Richardson call the gentleman TO
order. J submit that il is not proper TO
stigmatize the gentleman from Ohio tMr.
Lentzi as attorney for lobbyists.
Mr.. Dalzell OF Pennsylvania Why. he
distributed their literature; what more do
YOU want
Mr.. Richardson ask for a ruling on my
poin; Of order
The Speaker pro tempore-The gentle
man from Ohio will proceed in order
Mr.. Mcpherson continued with a synopsis
of the provisions of the bin. asserting that
they contained nothing that any member
after IN investigation. would not support.
The Ohioan's sharp Reply.
Nj. Len.z replied 20 the assertion by
Mr.. Mcpherson that he was the attorney
for lobbyists. Tie recited the oircum-
stances surrounding this distribution Of
the magazine they had been handed 20
him by a young man in the corridor
whom he Nj not know and would not know
uOw 10 did uOf I.noW the uubli- hers and