The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-09

NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF CoNoREss.-We under
stand that both houses Of Congress have appointed
Joint committee, composed on the part of the
Senate of Messrs Benton, Rusk, and Clayton; and
on the part of the House of Messrs. Ashmun,
Mckay, and Duncan, for the purpose of devsing
some new plan or system OF reporting perbatlm
the debates in both houses of Congress, and
publishing them on the day after they are de-
hvered. This committee is composed of men
who are very intelligent on general matters,
embracing also the making and unmaking of
Presidents; but we doubt whether they possess
competent knowledge on newspapers and news
paper reporting or any thing connected with Jour-
nalism, in particular or in general If they mean
TO acquire facts on which to form an accurate
opinion on such subject, II is very easy for them
TO get information from persons competent to give
it-persons who have been during their whole
lives connected with newspapers, either in New
York or Washington. They have had we are
told, Mr.. Gales, of the Mteuigenco, printer,
from the office of the Union, and Mr.. Rlves,
before them, for the purpose of examining
them as to the best method of reporting
daily, and giving extensive circulation to the
debates of Congress- Now, with all due de-
ference to the intelligence of the persons exam
med, we doubt whether the whole of their know.
ledge put together, is sufficient TO enlghten such
committee on such a subject, in this age of the
world II is said that Mr.. Benton, who formerly
had an interest in the Globe, wishes to resuscitate
that concern, in order that he may be enabled to
recover the advances which he made to it on
former occasion. This, however, we suppose is
SANDER, put forth by another portion of the COM
mlttee, on their particular side of the question.
AS far the committee have gone, we learn
that they have almost come TO the conclusion to
employ both the Union and the Intelligencer dur
ing every session of Congress, and pay them at the
rate of ten dollars per column for Congressional
reports. According to calculations, based on such
data, it is probable that the aggregate expense of
such system would be nearly as follows -
Long session of months ........ $4,000
Snort session. $4,000
$4,000
Here is a sum of eighty thousand dollars to be
gwen TO he Union and AateAigencer, making an
aggregate of eighty thousand dollars for reporting
the debates of two sessions of Congress, in two
journals which have daily circulation not equal
to three thousand issues. The daily circulation of
the Union is about eight hundred that of the In
tdligencer about fifteen hundred, and those they
circulate merely among few politicians IN some
of the principal towns of the United States. Such
proposition, if proposed to Congress- and adopted
by both branches, would be one of the most Infa-
nous and atrocious jobs ever attempted, or that
ever succeeded In that body. We will venture to
say that we would give nearly ten times the circu-
ation, with better reports of the debates of both
houses, in the columns of the Herald for one
fourth or fifth of the amount which this system
proposes to give. Our circulation Is now nearly
twenty-five thousand per day. Our establish
ment is complete. We have recently expended
nearly fifty thousand dollars IN constructing
most excellent rotary presses, each ca
pable, for we have two of them, of throw
ing off from ten to twelve thousand sheets
per hour. Our journal is circulated over the
whole Union-over all Europe more than any
other journal, and in every part OF the world.
For forty or fifty thousand dollars, to pay the add-
tional expenses, we could issue a double sheet
every morning, containing full debates OF Con-
gress, as perfectly and completely as the London
Times issues the reports OF Parliament The dis
lance between Washington and New York, which
might be considered bar to the employment of
The Herald by Congress, is annihilated in these
days of steam and electricity. Washington, IN
act, is no place at all. Ii has central mlnd-no
central lntellect-no communlty-no public opln-
on New York is the metropolis OF the United
States: and although Congress sits at Washington,
yet New York should be the centre from which
should issue all their proceedings, their acts, and
their dongs; because, from this centre they would
radlaie all over the Union, and the whole civil
LIKED world.
What will the committee say TO the proposition
which we have now made to them Will they
dare to recommend to Congress miserable Job,
that would cost four times as much for less
amount of services than we can perform them tor,
and to a much better advantage and wider ex-
tent!
THE KENTUCKY ELEcTIoN.-The first returns
from the recent State election in Kentucky, appear
gloomy as regards the prospects OF the wings In
that State, and in the West generally. MIR. Crit
tenden has heretofore been supposed to be one OF
the most popular men in that State. If by any
change of public opinion, or any dissatisfaction in
the public mind, arising from any canse, Mr. Crit
tenden's majority be reduced to mere escape from
l.