The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-21

Il
Mr.. CHASE. | was stating when I yield
ed to the suggestion Of Senators 70 90 into tx
ecutiye session, that the number of six thousand
and odd subscribers would be considered pref
ty large subscription list for an ordinary papcr
and that this subscription list is afforded by the
action Of Congress to the Globe do not d0ub:
at all, sir that if you will hold out the same
uducement TO the public generally you will
find private enterprise undertaking the task
OF reporting the proceedings Of both Homes
Of Congress, and reporting those proceed Dg5
in full, without any additional compensa ion
whatever. And yet as | have stated to tho
Senate, under the resolution offered by the Sen.
ator from New Hampshire, Mr. NORRIS, We
not only give this large subscription list 10 tho
Globe, but also pay them at the rate Of $3.50
per column for all the proceedings and debates
published in the paper. The subscription
amounts to some S3sOl6 for the long SEES iOn,
and $40 008 for the short session exclusive Of
the special Sessions-making for the amount of
subscription alone for each Congress, exclusive
OF the special sessions S57,O24 In addition 10
this, there has been paid to the Globe, under
the resolution of the Senator from New Hamp-
shire, which was adopted on the goth January,
1852, the sum of S23423S S; making for 1t
tie more than a year, over 500, 900 for the pUb-
IChLOn OF the Reports IN ttht paper
This is not oil for the House of Representa-
tives, following the example of the Senate, by
q resolution directed their proce edings and de
bates to lie published in the Globe. | find in
the appropriation acts of August, 1882, that
there was appropriated the sum of S2i 900 to
pay for tho proceedings there, and S649 so for
a balance; and then, in the deficiency act of the
last session Of Congress we appropriated So 375
10 pay for a deficieney-makng about $40 600
| for the reporting in the House of Representa-
tyes alone. This business of reporting is a very
costly business | do not believe that il i'm
! proves the character of the debates, or adds
anything to the consideration with which Ell
Their branch OF Congress is held by the country.
| refer to this paid system, which makes it the
duty OF the reporter to catch every word which
Is uttered here, no matter how trivial or unim-
portant or ill-consdered, and to write it out,
and send it abroad over the country through
these paid channels of transportation.
If we wish to adopt this system why should
we adopt it for more than one paper! Does
it not cost enough for ono paperi Is it not
enough to pay S3s, 900 for the subscription for
q long session, and $50 900 for publishing the
debates, to one paper? Why should we 60
any further? | am not one of those who object
to sustaining a party press by giving 1t the
public printing when that is given in the ordi-
nary and legitimate course Of business. | am
one of those who believe in sustaining those
who agree with me in political opinion; but !
would not 60, for that purpose, any further
than q just regard for the public interest would
warrant. | would not give an extra price to a
political friend, rather than legitimate price
to political opponent Wear trustees OF the
public, and we are bound to take into consid-
! ...ta a., e
of the public moneys intrusted to our charge.
We are bound to observe economy. | have
shown, think, beyond all controversy, that 20
reason Of party nature exists for the publica-
ton of the debates even in tho Union much
less does any reason exist for their publication
in the Intelligencer. So far from being willing
to extend the system beyond its present limits;
so far from being willing, after having substl-
tuted payment to the Globe for payment to the
lntelligencer, now to adopt the lntelligencer,
and thus to add third corps OF reporters,
would discontinue the system as to the Union ];
OF, am free to say, would discontinue it al
together and leave tho whole business of re-
porting here to private enterprise. have no
doubt that would be very sufficient and ade-
quate substitute for thispaid system of report g
What is the object of publishing these de-
bates in the National lntellgencerl We have
had them once published in the Globe. We
have given the Globe every facility of circ,da-
ton that can possibly be extended to any ne VS.
paper. We have given it large subscription
list and circulated it under the franks of NOM
bers of Congress; and then we have given it
) what no other paper in the whole country 81
joys-the right of free transportation in the
public mails-which gives it great advantage
over every other paper in its subscription 1t
can hold out the iDducement of free receipt
in any section of the country, no matter how
remote, for subscription, in preference to any
other paper. The lnteiligenccr has made its
selection. Ii has published such speeches as it
thought fit TO publish and such speeches, | dare
say, of political adversares--for | have not q
word to say in disparagement of the conduct of
that paper-as it judged to possess intrineic
merit and therefore to be deserving of circ,Ia-
ton such speeches us would add, by their pub
lication, to the character of the paper such
speeches as proper regard for fairness in the
conducting of the paper required it to publish.
That was the whole duty OF the paper. 1t is
all we ought to ask of it. Now, why extend
this Is it to obtain little additional Gil Gu
linton for few speeches which have not IN pit
enough to secure to them a circulation in the
ordinary channels? That certainly is not
proper reason for the action proposed
Mr.. SEWARD, GnterposiDg) IL the hon.
orable Senator will excuse me, | may perhaps
save him the necessity of continuing his Ie-
marks.
Mr.. CHASE. prefer to 90 through with
il, now that have commenced 1t is said, in
addition, Mr. President, as | understand, that
this would not DO n valuable employment to
the National lntelligcncer, but that the amount
which would be paid to them for printing these
reports would not compensate them for the ex-
pence which they would necessarily incur. 1t
IL, therefore, placing it in that point Of view,
a gratuity to the Senate. And what will be
the consequence Of this gratuity? Why sir,
Mt the next session you will be called uTon,
having established the National intelligence
rs printer Of the reports Of the debates and
proceedings of the last session and of the spe-
cial session, to pay it then the ordinary ratio Of
81 so per column. urn not willing to lay tho
foundation for this at all. If gentlemen wish
q circulation Of their speeches if they with to
have the largest possible number Of readers,
and to have those readers Of everything that is
| said hore scattered most widely over this coun-
try, and in Europe too ! would suggest that 1t
would be great deal better to employ the Ma
tional Era. Publishing our speeches in the Ia
telligencer wond give us perhaps Thousand
or two Of additional readers. Publishing them
in the National Era would give $4,000 add
tional readers. That is to say if the readers
of tho respective papers should choose to read
tho reports; for apprehend that there are
very few persons who would feel inclined to go
through the reports of the proceedings and de-
bates Of either House Of Congress, published in
my paper, no matter where they found them.
But II the object is to place the reports before
the greatest number Of eyes the National Fra
is the proper paper in which they should le
published, for that paper would furnish by far
the largest number Of readers. | do not 70 too
far when say that that paper has at this mo-
ment larger subscription list than all tho
other papers in the city combined. 1t has be-