Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-01
LEGISLAzITB AND CONGRESSIONAL PRO


Prior to the recess Of the Gs eral Assembly, a com-
m't,ee Was appointed in tue Hous5 OF Delegates 10
fer with the publishers o. the city dsies in regarl to
the publication Of uer reports OF tie proceedings Of
Ii body Tla Their, Ea3 sppa-ent ressOnableness in
& complaint against the bssyity Of those reports the
publishers have all conceded; but, At ths time,
t,ey have convinced the compairants believe, that
the cause Of TIA, trsviiy rremediAbe a. this time
To the rs, place. al eIpensescf cen ucting news
pApsr have been largely increased without correspond
ing increase in from subscriptions and sdseT
ti5sments Secondly, the hall sheet Published will
MT contain more lhin certain quantity Of matter,
which mus, embrace the usual v-risty render the
paper acceptable to lie TeldsIs. Thirdly, reporters
qualified b. experience or skill except the limited num-
Der nov employed on he city 5ailes, in Congressional
aud Legislative reporting and other dates either in
the army or in other enployme-t, sH1rdi0g aie
qusts necmss than Newspaper To fishers afford to
pay. Members Of the House Of Delegates must per
csye that the pors Of the prose dUgs Of that bOsy
ard CT she Safe Senate casno. be materially smpied
without enc Oschipg urOn to spec aro;tsd TO Con-
gres'Ona procee5sgS geusr! news, editorials, etc.
We DO the best ~ csu sits tie ans aud facilities
our command and Ju,; Wi. the return Of peace be-
fore We can promise 10 give them ard readers the
seue6t Of fuller ard moJe comprehensive reports.
We devote more space to the Congressional reports
than tbe prOceed ugs o. the S.te Leg stature for the
obvious reason that ls former se important and
interest lugsr number OF readers We regret shat
cannot make IN 5oger reports Of TIE proceedings
Of Congress. aud es-ec-iy Of lhe dsbaes Ou,rtport
ers are inst uot5d ys he sPIi Of these DEBATES ard
have generally succeeded in 5Oipg DOub:ICss some
b the Members Of Congress would prefer fuller sketches,
or pc hsps verbatim reports, trt der existing ereum
stances it would be impossible 70 publish them.
AGte last 5, saou OF Congress, Committee was APP
pointed in the Se-ale with Instructors to ascertain if
any arrangements could be ma ie fer securing full re-
pJsts # the pIocesSrgs ofCorgrsss What conclusion
If any, that mDtICe arrived a., ae have 10. learned
% no relOrt TIA, aware Of has besn submitted
We are unable 70 perceive any Ee;hod 10, securing the
publication Of these reP1ft uaes Congress vii osssb-
Ksh Jour al similar 10 the "Ccrgresliona Globe" at
Washington, or contract On so NJ person for the en-
ployneut Of reSorers aud "a; pl0icaiOa o. sreh a
ahees under ;us-a ~ II prote' ion against lasl-
msy be that more, Ct neerssa ~ ofOurety pub
shers would con EFT ths surrender Of thee four
solUuns daily, to verbatim r ports, .Or reasonable
cOnpsnsaon per eounu Ia in sh5rt time the debates
would get so far behind that the men bars would be-
come dissatisfied with the arrangement
The fact is aad need roi be disguised hat the news
paper interests o. the Coafe5eraoy, very much
bAuassed bJ the scarcity Of sbor d ma.srss, and it
becomes those who fisady 20 the maintenance ola
free press 20 see hat these interests sudsr further
dehinrnt lee. they he urde 10 sucCuHbtO The pressure
Of adverse ercuustan-es.