New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-30
The Reporting and Printing Of Debates IN


The Reporting and Printing Of Debates IN
Congress.
Although " have Sad little on the subject our
readers are doubtless aware OF our opposition 20
any project to pay newspapers tor reporting and
printing the Debates Do Congress. Our general
objections are briefly these We think that
Speeches which newspapers must be paid for pub
fishing their subscribers may very fairly expect
pay for reading aud 10 default thereo. may very
naturally refuse % DO their share Of the duty
We think that reporting everything sand ia Con
gress tends to stimulate the appetite for much
speaking which is one of the sorr0ws of this volu-
BILE sge. We think that 81 newspapers are lett to
report only what they deem important their read
ers WI. presume that only so much Of the Debates
are given as are deemed worthy Of their attention
and in that faith viii read much as they can
fad time for. And We verify believe that Wash
ineton Journal which would give fair and spirited
reports Of what is said Ia either House worth re
cordng and reading emitting so much as belongs
10 the mere detail OF business or is Of no interest
except to claimants aud other limited classes
would be very well remunerated therefor By sub
scriptons without making any draft upon the
Treasury. For these and like reasons. we con
denim the payment by the Senate of fifteen dol
lars per column for the reporting and printing OF
rs Debates and Proceedings IN The JasoH aud
National IHteligencer as an improper and unne-
cessarv expenditure Of the Public Money and
we shall resist every attempt to starve or coax
the House into like expenditure. The aggre-
gate expense for both Houses may seem small
we think II would exceed 900 Tor a short and
$4,000 for a long Session-but If Congress may
disburse money tor such uses We can hardly see
where limit to expenditure might be set up.
w admit the great importance OF pubnshlng the
Proceedings Of Congress fully, especially the
measures proposed and the Yeas and Nays there
on we are willing TO have each House pay for
reporting its Debates fully and accurately leaving
every Journal free to copy and print so much
thereof as it shall see fit but drawing upon the
Treasury to pay newspapers for printing such re-
ports as not in accordance with our settled con.
yictons.
The leading journals in Washington of course
take different view OF the matter, and The In
tellgeacer recently presented the argument for an
official and compensated publication in an article
Of great length ingenuity and plaus bility. twas
the best that has been or can be offered on that
side OF the question. The Union copied The In
telligencer's article and attempted some Edito.
rial improvement thereon, but very maladroitly
The following is the most essential statement
by a contract framed in pursuance OF that resou-
ton we should be bound az remuneration Of seven
and half dollars per column, 20 publish Ia our daily
snd triweeky editions the full reports Of the House,
by contract with the Sensie We now publish In
.ka 90 Ar.Hr~ do
and retain IN those editions sny sdequste space for ed
ions and miscellaneous matter ana advertisements,
sh0gld be obliged % change our ineskiy paper into
daily or failing Of this % issue 20 AL tri-weeky
readers one OF more supplemental sieefs erry rek
So % issue these shafts % present large aud
Increasing let OF subscribers for our triWeeky edition
would subject Us % IN expenditure for paper al0He
which our receipts from the House ~ and half
dollars Der column deducng the prime cost Of report
NJ and putting IN type would By means repay Our
contract with the Senate binds % send is debates
and proceedings 10 full 70 all daily and tri-weeky
subscribers uneuding, Of course, our large LIST Of
change papers and this We have thus far managed %
do without issuing tra siees OF those editions But in
addition what Is required Of by that contract and
acting believe In the proper spirit Of public
Journal We send 20 al the subscribers 70 cur weekly
edition-beiug much more than half - our whole sub
scnyu0n h-t-a Weekly Congressional Supplement,
extra containing 10 fg ell our reports Of Congressional
proceedings, both in the Senate snd in the House"
The Union, you see, Is perfectly willing 70 sup
ply all It's subscribers with an extra sheet Of Con-
gressional matter weekly, provided it shall be
paid for cat OF the Treasury. Very likely there
are others who would be equally generous aud
patriotic upon Ike temptation. But here are Two
OF ine tour or i've journals IN Washington. 10 say
nothing c! tao thousand elsewhere, each Of which
would doubtless be glad 70 supply It's subscribers
with ar extra sheet per week d Congress would
pay the cost out OF tie Treasury and would even
make It up OF Debates in Congress rather than lot
finger the money. Csn any one give good reason
ior supplying the subscribers OF the Intelisc ucer
aad Union with these stalled Extras Ia prefer
eDce - al other citizens