The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-07
HOUSE PUBLICITY BILL UP IN SENATE Representative Mccall Urges Its Presentation in Order to
 Secure Immediate
 Legislation. SITUATION MUCH MUUDLED Crmmpacker Amendment Likely to Be Fatal 10 Action al This Session
 Owing to Democratic
 Opposition.
SITUATION MUCH MUUDlED

Washington, Dec. 6.-With the statement to-day that it would go a long way towards the passage of the publicity bill, which now depends up- on the action of the senate, and that the publicity organization would con tinue, whenever necessary, to urge it's consideration by that body, Perry Bel mont made public the following letter from Representative Mccall of Mass chusetts
 Hon. Perry Belmont President Ma
 tional Publicity Law Organization: My Dear Mir. Belmont:
 In reply to your inquiry concerning the status of the publicity bill which was unanimously reported at the last session hy the house committee hav- | ing it in charge, l would say t was called up by Mir. Crumpacker of In- diana who moved to suspend the rule and pass the bill with an amendment. The house adopted Mir. Crumpacker' s amendment and then passed the pub licity bill sending it to the senate. The result of incorporating the so- l called Crumpacker amendment was 10 bring 10 the measure the opposition of very large number of the mem bers Of the house, most of whom were ! democrats, who would have been in l favor of the publicity bill alone, but were not in favor of the amendment. i If persisted in, the amendment will, 1 in my opinion, undoubtedly have the effect of killing the bill at this ses- sion, If 1t Is maintained as a part of l it.
 The propositions are entirely indn- l pendent, and there is no reason whN | those in favor of the principle of the amendment may not continue to advo. cate them in the future as they have in ! the past But the publicity bin relat. ing to the publication of election ey. 1 penses had the support of both parties upon the house committee. and also re. ] eeived the approval of Mir. Taft ant 1 MT Bryan, who were subsequently | nominated by their respective partle. | for the presidency, It Is striking circumstance that the national com. i mitlee of the two parties have since the election published reports of th, | receipts and expenses in connection with the last election practically aS ii'N "'uln IltNF hbUf IT lut HunllflIA hil had been law. AS the bill has gone from the house to the senate Il would he necessary 10 begin over agar in the house. 10 reintroduce it, have Il referred to tho commltte and reported | by 1t and considered again in th' house, something lt would be hope less to accomplish at a short session.
 Under the circumstances the nor, certain procedure would be to havt the senate deal with the house bill passing it, lf possible, az 1t was origin. ally reported by the house committee.
 "The bill would then return to thu house, ITO into conference and possess a privilege which would undoubtedl' enable both houses to act upon it al th' short session. The matter, so far a this congress is concerned, rests witt the senate,
 "Tn this connection it Is well to re call the letter of President Elect Taf to Senator Burroughs, the chairman Of the senate committee having the bl in charge, in which he strongly statet the case in favor of this legislation,
 sincerely yours
 "s W. MCAt.L"