, 1874-12-15
Ben Butler Appears as the Champion OF
Subsidies and Steals.
4 Mo,rnful Report from the Freedman
Bank Commissioners.
Rcport Of tho Government Directors Of
tllo Union Pacific.

Special DispGtth to 1Hc Chicago 1FfoHhf'
WASHINGTON, D. G., Doc. t4.-Mr. Tromaine'a
bill, which is proposed ns modification OF tho
Polaud gag-1nw, is In substance aB fotlowa IL
docs not repeal tho section Of tue law known ae
tile gag-law. but amends it 40 that In caao OF in
dctn,eut for llpcl in this DlBtriot whom libel ls
printed in papor published outside Of this Dia-
t.ict, but circulated horo, the indicted pcrson
shall havo tho rigus to trial in tho United
statea Court IN tue district or circuit where
tho nowspapor n question Is published ,,n"n
tho execution Of benz aa d., h. ~ aosS ts9
ilor moro than $1,000. The conditions ct this
boud nro, that. In tho eveut Of tho conviction OF
tho defendant, thq plaintiff ahall bo paid 81
reasonable aud necessary travelling expenses 10
going to tho judicial district Of tho place OF pub
iication Of tho newspaper. 1t will bo seen that
tho bill ombodicn spnie of tho v5tal ob1ectionabo
features Of tho po}aud gag.law itbolf It eptab-
lIshes national laY OF libel, anu proceoa6 upon
tho assumption that ,iboi il eonmton wncr-
rides tho t;tuto lan3 Tor uboa and extends THO
jurisdiction OF Federal Courta. Tho bill waa 70.
| fcrrol to tho Judiciary Committee.
William Walter phelps made good hla promise.
md consider Ills bill for the rcpoal Of tho
| Poland gag-law. Tho uouBo refused to at pres.
| opt consider Ills bill. and for tTo very good
reasons, m trho opponents Of tho Republican
majority will not DO alow to fiud tn this action
to1t for general villlncatlon OF tho motives OF
tho Republican nembors. and they will not make
known tho real rensona which controlled
| majority in declining to cnter upon that
quention. The REASONS were these: First.
Judge Polapd, lu ,yiow Of the
universal attack upon himself in connection with
lie alluaion to himself claimed tho right to have
an opportunity on the floor Of tho House to say
something 60 Of tlo real origin Of the lin which
bears his namo, and Of tho reasons which IN
ducod him to introduce it. This courtesy tho
Democrats woro unwilling to accord him, ,and
in their zea1 for sensational popularity, 1naissod
upou rorclug tho bill 10 an immediate yoto with
out my consideration whatever. The Roputi-
| can n,ombera thought tue long term OF service
in insisting upoa tho right to bo hcnra. They
therefore, from Benso Of courtesy and justice,
would not permit tho Democrats to hound him
| iudorso tho polana lnw.
mas that tho fbaps @ ps'p Iii isoIf in the opinion
OF tho best lawyers OF tho House, who my It y
oorse ae a T!1s T. aosr ps'el 3 oofs 81 h es @
sttatt sstato "A that III pfGolps' bill Jag no reior:
J euco whatsoever to criminal andlcslnc.1tt
, civil actions for liGol. Tho grca: objection tt
tho Poland gag-law has been tho jur'Hd!celo,t
which it Ia supposed to gyo to tho courts OF thlI
| piatrct In criminal libel THIS feature 4awFert
like Hoas cai1n that the Phelps bill would moi
= repeal. These lawyers are thcnsolvos aa enrnea
for tho repeal OF tho principle Of tho Poland gag
law as is nIr. Phelps himself. Thoy woro ~
tiuonccd In their votes by dcal Ire to hayo bi!
which would fully accomplish tho
RErEAL OF TILE PRINCIPLE or THR Law.
This tIley Thought could not DO done except b,
= referring tue bill to a committee whero ita pro
visions could he carefully considered aud com
3, pared with tho Poland gag law. Tho6o ~oro 4 y
q real motives which controlled tue votca OF tn
viii DO sent abroal tonight, that tho 1lepub
I. lcan mombers Of tho Lower House rotueed
- act upon tho measure, bccauae they are In fayo
8 Of the censorship Of tho press Of tho country
arc rs ridiculous as they arc unfair.