Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-03-04

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circulate the reports, shall We decline
to take the census because it will cost
something to distribute it among the
people: For whom is the information
gathered up if not for them?
1t is no argument to say that if the
law provides for distributing documents
too many will be printed. 1t is the
business of Congress to see that too
many are not printed. There is no diff
Guilty in making the limitation. l will
go as far as any man to cut off worth
less publications, but I can find no
reason in the fear that one duty will
be neglected for disregarding the just
claims Of another.
Nor do [ see much force in the
claim the Government ought not to
publish any reports because it cannot
publish enough tr give every citizens
one. If this argument is worth any
!hing, it would preclude the publish
ing of all reports, and render the people
of the country dependent on irrespon-
sible, inaccurate, and conflicting news
paper reports for all information con-
corning the different departments of
the Government. You might as we'll
abolish the mails because one-half of
the people never use them, or because
some use them much more than others.
Besides, sir, it must be remember.
ed that the contents of book are not
confined to the party who receives it.
The Agricultural Reports, for instance,
pass from hand to hand. They are
read and discussed at club meetings !;
they are deposited in neighborhood and
school-district libraries, and their con-
tents spread broadcast throu ghout the
farming sections of the country.
Mr.. Speaker, another proposition
has been made to which I wish to ad-
vert for a moment. 1t is that the
Government sell the reports to those
who want to buy them for cost. I can
not assent to such proposition. 1 see
no reason why this Government should
resolve itself into book agency of the
Cheap-John order, and sell the reports
of its different Bureaus and Depart.
ments to the people. cannot agree
to that. If these reports are called
for a; all, it is because they are of
valu, and interest to the people.
There is no other view upon which
you can justify their publication for
moment. Certainly not for the gratif-
cation of the heads Of these Bureaus
and Departments, whose rights do not
seem. to me to be hi CHER than those of
the people or their representatives.
If you are to continue tho publica-
ton Of the. messages and accompanying
documents, the reports, and the agri-
cultural reports, you must do so because
and only because, the people Of the
country are interested in them, and
because their PRONUNCIATION is a matter
of public concern.
The moment you determine that
they are not published ON this
ground, and that you will interpose a
condition on which the people may
procure them; in other words, that
they are not for the people but for
those who can pay for them, you es-
tablish totallay new theory for the
printing of documents.
[ do not want to see the Government
put itselfir the attitude of saying to the
parties WHO apply for these reports,
"Gentlemen, these reports cost fifty or
sixty cents per volume, and you can
have them at that price. It loo ks to
me like two penny business for
great Government like ours. 1t in
wolves wrong principle, aud ought
not to be endorsed. l would much
rather vote to abolish the printing al
together
This bill, Mr.. Speaker. has another
important provision which l heartily
approve. 1t provides for the free cir
culation of newspapers in the counties
where published and free exchange
list. This is but the restoration of
law which ought never to have been
repealed, and seems to me eminently
wise aud proper.
Regarding this measure as on the
whole judicious one, I shall very
cordially do what [ can for its passage.