Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-06-26
(From the Cincinnati Gazette )
THE SENATE

The Press has offended United States Scna-
tors and that this is fcl, by those gentlemen is
evident from some bills which pa ssed that bod v
within the last few Javs. Under the lead of
Mat Carpenter, supported by that enemy
nf Western interests, Mr. Ruscee Conklng, the
Senate passed bill aimed At the rress but
which really affects the business interests of
the country, giving The District Court Of Wash
tngton CITY jurisdiction in all cases where nm
agent may be found in that City. Thus John
Shillito, if one of his agents should visit Wash
thgtnn, might be sued in that city or the GA
zETrE, because 1t maintains ;wo correspondents
there, might be sued for an act Committed her @.
Wherever an emplove may be travelling or STAY
ing, there the principle may be sued. Tie
bill VIII not pass the Huuse. but its passage
through the senate shows the anmus Uf ma
jnrity Of that body
The next movement against the press was led
Oy JChn sherman. There are several griev-
ances. The franking privilege was repealed
largely through the influence. the District ring,
the pet OF many Senators, was exposed and
demolished, aud, through the vigilance of the
press, II has been bad year for jobs generally,
The press must be punished. Sherman saw
an opening to hit the press. aud he was prompt
to strike. The Postullice Committee reported
IN favor OF requiring newspaper publishers to
prepay postage nt the rate of LISc. per ID to
take effect Jan. [ lST5. This would relieve
the Pust flee Department Of the great labor
ande eNpenss Of collecting the postage of sub
sefiOers, and'the rate proposed would yield a
greater revenue than is realized under the pres
ent law. Publishers would add this to the
pTioe OF publication having six months notice
of tile change, and il would make little dif-
ference to either publishers or subscribers, but
ltwOnld save money to the department. Sher-
man, however, wanted to hit the press, and lie
promptly moved to make the rate foar cent. pey
d., and to have the law take effect on the 30lh
inst. The injustice of this will be seen when
we state that the great bulk Of the snbscrip-
tons to weekly papers are made n bout the first
" tire year. Consequently publishers, if The
sherman proposition should prevail, would be
compelled to pay six months postage out Of
their own pockets, as it would be impossible To
COLI ct II Of subscribers. This fact was made
known TO Mr. Sherman, but it made him all the
mnre anxious to press the measure by which he
hoped to hurt the press. He finally carried bis
blli through the Senate, though with an amend
ment that must have seemed to Mr. Sherman q To
shi the measure of all its force as piece Of
revenge. Well, even If the bill should become
law, the press will survive, and it will uut
cease to oppose salary grabs, Credit Mobilier
swindles, trankinR abuses, District rings. and
jobs OF all kinds and il will tak5 care tn see
that many seats in the United States Senate
that are now disRraced will be filled by better
men when the time comes.
Let those Senators who are smlrling under
past exposures do their worst. The press can
not be eowed by threats or legislation discrim-
mating unjustly against it. Nor can its silence
De purchased as Senators are often bought,