The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-02
MUZZLE ON CHURCH
PRESS is OPPOSED
Three Measures in Congress IL
Exclude Six Papers From
Mails Denounced.

WAsHINGToN, Feb. IA lively hear
ing was held before the Hosue Commit
tee on Post Offices to-day on three bills
designed to exclude from tue mails Ger
tain publications that are making az
lacks on the Roman Catholic Church.
The bills under consideration were
one offered by Representative Fitzgerald
Of New York and two presented by Rep
resentative Gallivan Of Massachusetts.
The opposition to the measures was
represented by the Rev Randolph "
MCkim rector OF the Church of tho
Epiphany OF this city the Rev. G.. A
Williams, a clerical writer Of this city
s y. Horton, secretary Of the Columbia
Religious Liberty Association, and W.
l.. Duegan, who appeared for tho Sew
enth Day Adventists.
Arguments were made in support OF
the bill by Representative Fitzgerald
and Gallivan and by Representative
Maher of New York. Before the dis
cussion came to an end it partook Of the
appearance Of religious controversy
and on two OF three occasions the chair
man OF the committee, Representative
Moon. had to call tho disputants TO
order.
At the beginning Of the hearing Rep
resentative Fitzgerald made the state
ment that certain publications were
y y
acter. but that under existing laws the
Postmaster-G eneral was poweriess TO
correct what Mr.. Fitzgerald said war
an abuse.
Representative Finley, a member OF
the committee tried to ascertain what
prompted the Introduction OF the bills
Mr. Fitzgerald replied that tho Post
Offce Department could furnish ex.
hibits of printed matter that hal
aroused the resentment Of a large ele.
ment of the United States
Representative Mahrr told the com
mittee that the Catholics Of his district
are anxious to curb six publications
which are making attacks upon the
church. OF these publica atoms Mr.
Maher mentioned only two. the Mcndc,-
and the Yeiloic Jacket
There is no man I'm the country who
believes in the criticism of religion in
coarse and scandalous language" said
Mr.. Gallivan. 81 want to call attention
to the fact that distribution OF that sort
OF literal ure through the mails in the
recent campaign resulted in the defeat OF
fOrty-eight Democrats. either at tn.
primaries or 1T the elections. Il IN tin,.-
something was done"
THE Catholics want protection
from these slanderous libels circulated
through the mails" exclaimed Rcprcscu-
tatve Maher.
IN opposing the bills the Rev. DR..
Mckim said that he spoke for 300
Protestant clergymen of Washington
This proposed legislation Is inconss.
tent with the principles Of American
liberty and represents an attack on the
freedom of the press" said the witness.
81 have no desire to defend the sour
rilous, lihellous and filthy publications,
and would 10 God there were none, but
we should not get at them by striking at
the liberty Of the press. would rather
Sc" the press free than clean II to clean
IL we had to assail liberty"
Mr.. Mckim said that persons thai
were libelled could find redress in the
courts.
"The bills are unconstitutional" added
DR. Mckim. THE Postmaster General
Is not responsible to the people and
should not have dictatorial powers"
Similar arguments werc made by
Secretary Horton Of the Columbian Re
ligious Liberty Association and by the
Rev DR.. Williams. Mr.. Buegan. repre-
senting the Seventh Day Adventists, said
that thousands of his coreligionists were
opposed to the Fitzgerald and Galliyan
bills upon the ground that II enacted into
law and enforced they would destroy III,
freedom Of the press
Further hearings on the Fitzgerald
and Gallivan bills will be held later in
the session, Members of the committee
say that no action will be taken on the
measures a this session.