New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-18


decd afer al, he believed thaito some extent that
estimate was the correct ore, l4sugbier.l Bu;,
valuable or yAluelsee popsense, Their con,
stiiuents had right 10 know what they Tere saying
and what they were doing. Gentlemen were greatly
mistaken il they supposed that while debandng
The Official corps OF reporters they would thus keep
from the knowledge Of tier constituents what they
ssid and what they cid upon that floor There was
volunteer stat above their heads 10 the gallery ~ho
would send TO the pubic and the country full know
ledge OF every thing that oceurre 10 the House. He
asked whehert they would prefer to be reported by r-
respopsib reporters, by the official aud responsible
reporters of the House For one, / AN not willing
that 1t should be no. am willing and glad TO ses vol
unieer reporters SEEDING forth 70 the country their YER
sons OF what oere but the Official record Ia that
to which members could all appeal whenever misrePre-
sented
Sir. MAYNARD Is. Opp., Tenu.l thought the TWEEN.
~ tour copies Of The Globe inadequate to disseminate
such kro Wedge throughout the districts.
Mr.. BRANCH-If the gentleman would do what
some Of them old, that number would be sufficient TO
give to large portion Of their constituents kno Wedge
Of wba, was going on in the House. He did not dis
tribute The Congressional Globe professionally, bat
be deposited il in the Court Houses Of tho coduty to
of his district for the of the people, At least he
wac reserviug them for that purpose.
MIR. STEVENS (Rep., Of Pa. $50 far as he was
concerned there societies all through his county
with libraries, by which neans the rural population
had access tn them.
Mr. BRANCH confessed that he did not read TIE
Congressional Globe and he did not suppose that any
person who knew how The Congressional Globe Was
made up read IT, or that any person who mad once
undertaken TO read 1t would read IT az am Laughter
But still il valuable book for refereuce In his
udRment the ~ stem OF reporting which prevails IN the
House and ia the SeUate one of tue worlds won
deTs He feared that If they abolished the present
system the reporting would fall into tue hands OF those
who )uld not care TO do them justices and Tor him.
self While he occupied seat upon the door, he wanted
his reputation TO remain iii the keeping OF the official
reporters who were responsible TO the House for any
misrepresentation they might make, or any wrong they
might 90 ne mbeIe
Mr. CURRY Dem, Ala, in condemning the present
system of reporting the debates of tue House, said:
look upon 1t as an unmixed evil. l have not a word
cay against the reporters. The question rs between
a Shocked press aud free press. The question ls
Whether Congress shall appropriate money to publish
speeches which made, or TO publish speeches
which are never made. IL is well known that the
speeches which published in The GLOBE are not the
speeches which are delivered upon this floor; but,
the contrary the whole reports OF our proceedings
are perveTsions OF what really takes place
here. do not charge this upon the reporters, be-
cause as far az know, they report what Is sad and
what done with marvellous accuracy and hdeiliy But
every boGy knows who il familiar with their proceed
ipgs thst members constantly GO and strike out what
they like ana put III ost hat peases them on second
consideration, 20 that in the morning cannot tel
from The Globe the speech Of any gentleman though
he nav have been attentiyey liste ned TO when dev
eIiBR it the floor myself have been presented at
times in most ridiculous attitudes have gone myself
or in replying 10 one, but in the morning would ind
that somebody else had gone too and stricken out from
their speech the very part that had called forn my re-
marks, that when they would appear IN the GIobe
they were without meaning of any kind. The country
is taxed and the treasury compelled to pay for these
reports which are faithful correct records OF the
proceedings OF this House. They not the reports
of what is said IN this House, bat az they may have
been aferwaId corrected III the reporters room in The
GloJe Office. In my Judgment the whole system is a
nuisance fungus an excTescenee on the body polite,
and increasing the expenses of the Government year
BIZ year The whole system is at war with the til sorry
of the Government and Iii my judgment 1t does more
70 destroy gtu ste bate than any other thing. IL
does more 10 prevent the enlightenment OF the Honse
by the discussion of questions before than anything
else connected with the Parliamentary system. Thus
syttsm does not prevail in England nor any where else
not even in our Sste Legislatures. We do not OBJ
eet to voluntary reports OF tue proceedings OF Con-
gTess The only thing we object 10 If, the treasurys
being sadded with the expense OF printing those docu-
menis which are not ordinarily for the enlightenment
of the people. The whole system is a milestone, ii not
a tsx upon the intellect of the country.
Mr. MILLSON Dem, Va The suggestion of my
friend from North Carolina might be very useful If any
reporeIs could present biu and accurate reports OF
the transactions in this House. But, Sir, no human
skill achieve the miracle OF reporting the speakers
on the debates here prec sey they express Jnem-
selves. Perhaps from an 1nffmity which cauuot
overcome my own styl of speaking IL usually slow
and yet have revised the reports OF my o Tn
remarks without detecting numerous and sometimes
the moot ridiculous and grotesque And Sir,
ANYBODY who knows the mode in which our reporter
takes down the debates must 1t is absolutely m-
possible 10 avoid mistakes. few days ago, in
few remarks i made here which l did not correct,
ard which have gone into The Congressional Globe
uncorIeeted, L was made to say things which not
only never uttered but which would have been ride
ulous for ANYBODY to utter here If it were possible
TO write down accurately all that ie said should Gu
trely agree with the suggestion that taere should be
no revision of the reports of the speeches. but mis-
tes are unavoidable with the beet reporters and IL 10
not desirable that they should remain in TIE DAILY
and be perpetuated in The Congressional Gto6e. No
honorable member would 30 cOuec; his remarks as to
change wholly what he rays and therefore mast leave
il TO the discretion Of members themselves to revise
their own remarks they think fit. think our re,
poTteys are as faithful aud accurate as any, aud II had
any complaint 10 make il is that they are TOO faithful
The inieIiectioDs made by menoers without the
recognition of the chair, or the leave Of the member
interrupted, ought no more to be reported than the
private conversations going round the hail.
Mr.. SHERMAN rep, Ohio said the Committee OF
WAYS and Means have under consideration measure
calculated 70 prevent this abuse.
Among other smeDdmsuts adopted was an approprl-
alton of 50 GOO for delegate 70 the International Sta
tistical Congress in London in July next.
The Comm ittee rose snd without final action on the
bill, the House adjourned.