Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-23
56TH CONGRESS-.
Loud Postal Bill Given Death
Blow in House.
Recommitted After Three Days Debate,
by Vote Of l48 to 96.
Loud Says Third Time and OUT So Far As
He Is Concerned.

spirited discussion extending over three
days the Loud bill relating to second
class mail matter, was recommitted by
the House, today, to the committee on
post offices. The majority in favor Of
cisive that it is regarded as unlikely
that the measure will appear again
during the present Congress Mr.
Loud, after the vote was announced,
said that this was the third time and
out, so far as he was concerned. The
vote on the motion was AS t. 90, with
Is present and not voting.
In the House the special ordcr-the
Loud bill-was taken up Immediately
after the reading of the journal. This
is the concluding day of debate on the
measure. Moon. Tenn, opened the dis
cusson for the opposition. Moody,
Mass, will close the debate for the
support Of the bill in an hours speech.
Moon discussed at length the hand
ling ana transportation Of mail mat
ter maintaining there could be no evil
effect from permitting second class
matter the privilege it now has. H
made i strong plea for tn retention
~ sccond-class matter If the literature
which H. said was 50 valuable t. the
people and such a means of iIStruc-
ton and education.
Moon declared that the education Of
the people was more important than a
small bit Of revenue to the govern
mcrt. He said the express companies
would have a monopoly of the carry
ing of the cheap literature If this bill
should pass.
Talbcrt, :. g.. in opposing the bill
said h. believed the present law sutIi-
ciently covered the subjects touched
upon by the bill. lie declared the
country editors would ~ the heaviest
sufferers ~ the passage ~ tn bill.
cummings, y. Y. said this was the
fourth time the pending measure hIi
been before the House and every time
M had opposed it in the interest Of cv-
ery man who wanted cheap literature,
every typesetter ana every bookbinder
in the city Of New York. The city of
New York. he said. paid S. 600 900 every
year to the post Office department for
second-class postage ana by the en-
actment of the pending bill would take
work from every man interested in
the printing trade.
Moody. Mass, closed the general de-
bate in support OF the bill. He care
fully analysed the provisions of the bill
presenting, as he proceeded, argu-
ments in favor of each provision. The
weight of his early argument was in
support Of the bill. because it would
save to the government an enormous
sum of money per annum.
With the money which the govern
ment had lost on secOnd-class mail
matter during the past 10 years, Moody
declared. it could have constructed the
isthmian canal or a fleet of modern
battleships. He maintained that the
only men who We're benefited by the
mail matter were those who We're
plundering the treasury and gripping
the operation of the post office depart
ment. In conclusion, Moody made Il
strong appeal for the passage of the
bill. as a measure ION the side of the
people and against the special and sell
fish interests
The diplomatic and consular appro-
priation bill was sent to conference
with Hit, Adams and Dinsmore as
conferees.
Ridgeley. Kan, declared that rail-
road companies We're, today, telegraph
ing members to support the Loud bill.
The fight. he said, would never end
until government ownership of rail
roads had become fact.
A telegram from the ohio Farmer"
saying: "Our 100000 subscribers ask
VA IA l.. I
scented by Burton. Ohio. In a vigorous
speech. Burton declared that it was
high time special classes which had
grown up in the country should be
forced to pay their way as other peo-
Pile did.
Cowherd. Mo. in support of the bill,
said every official who had Investigated
the subject had given his approval to the
measure Cowherd held to the view Of
the House specimens of literature which
could ana could not at present 20 through
the mails as second-class matter He held
aloft copy of The Velvet Hand. or the
Life Of lnjun Dick" paper-bound. which
he said was entitled to second-class rates.
while a cloth-bound copy of Rob Roy,
which he had purchased for five cents,
could not be sent as second-class matter.
His argument ELECTED much applause.
Clark. Mo, proposed an amendment
when ne Sald was IN the interest OF inc
editor, allowing sample copies up
to 100 per cent. of the subscription list
and moi exceeding 200 sample copies, in
place of the committee provision OF 80 per
cent. of the subscription list and a limit
of 500 sample copies. The amendment OF
clark was agreed To without division
Snodgrass, Tenn. offered substitute
for Section ,. doing away with all limta-
tions of sample copies. Lost, % to -.
ON motion If Ray y. y. an amendment
admitting college and school papers and
periodicals ana the periodicals Of student
fraternties not to exceed 2oo copies 70
The mails mt secOnd-class rates was
adopted. after Hall had added a provi-
sion favoring publications from business
and commercial colleges.
IIeatwuIe MINI. offered an amendment
providing that All publications which by
/ Ms act are admitted as secOnd-class mail
matter having a subscription list eX-
ceeding 5000 copies shan separate the
same by states, cities, towns and coun-
ties Agreed to, ll6 to u
Morris. MINI, offered An amendment 70
Section 1 including in the periodicals adj
mitted by the bill as second-class mail
CONTINUED on page %