The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-10


creditable system-practised too frequently by re-
porers of some of the starveling journals Of this
city, and by few unattached individuals who are
employed from time to time by such papers--it has
grown to be a recognized fact among politicians,
contractors, monopolists, hotel keepers and Others
who have any scheme foot, that reporters are all
purchasable, and that by paying them Eve or ten
dollars, they be got to give such description Of
matters suits the wishes and interests of the
party paying, in violation of truth and fair dealing
Sometimes, too, this can be done at less expenses
and economical gentlemen try to influence the re-
porters by treating them to wine and segars, 10 q
liberal and condescendng manner
For the honor of the profession be it said, that
such attempts, though generally successful among
the unprincped attaches of such journals do not
pay their reporters anything more than starvation
wages, are Indignantly rejected by the men whose
labor and talents are properly remunerated 1t is
on their behalf that we repudiate and denounce
such custom, tending as it does, to bring discredit
uIon them, and expose them to the humiliating
offers which, from time to time, are made to them
Those who properly discharge the arduous duties
Of reporters to the public press must necessarily be
gentlemen Of good education, who have character
to sustain, and who will not thus barter their repu
tation and their honor by stopping to such unworthy
practices 1t may, therefore, be taken as general
rule that those reporters who eagerly snatch at the
offer made to them, and promise to do whatever
is required Of them, are not worth the bait with
which they are caught. Such fellows belong to the
class Of oyster house critics.
But word also to the men who adopt this mode
fdeceiving the public 1t appears that the system
Of bribery and corruption, Of which hear so much
in connection with the Common Council, is openly
and undisguisedly practsed by all classes of men
in this city who have any political or personal end
o attain. One party only tries to counterfeit the
other at the same game. The capitalists, and prop
erty holders, and omnibus proprietors, who league
to defeat railroad in Broadway, endeavor to bride
the reporters to magnify the influence of their move
ment and the other party Of monopolists, who seek
to carry out the measure would doubtless resort to
the same mode Of corrupting the members Of the
press, as it is charged they have done the members
Of the Common Council. In politics the game is
Just the same, and il requires but little discernment
to see that those who are so easily purchased, on
both sides cannot be Of much availas far at least
as affects public opinion-to either.
Il is this facility Of influencing some insignificant
writer's on equally Insignificant papers, that has
given rise to the general opinion in the community
that reporters can very easily be swayed to misre-
present occurrences. From this, too, proceeds the
vulgar idea of the black mailing practised by jour
nails The sy stem Of attempting to bride reporters,
and thereby deceive the public, is attended with
very dubious benefit to the party practising it, since
their opponents resort, with equal facility to the
same mode But it tends to reflect on the general
reputation Of the reporters, and, therefore, de-
noupce the custom injurious and insulting TO the
high minded members Of that profession, and unjust
toward the public, who must depend the truth
and accuracy Of the reporters Let the practice be
fiewned down.