New-York tribune., 1875-02-17
THE PRESS GAG LAW.

THE LAW NOT DEEMED OBNOXIOUS TO CRITICISMS
NO POWER CONFERRED BY 1T IN RESPECT TO
LIBEL TO BRING ANYBODY INTO OR SEND HIM
OUT OF THE DIsTRICT-ITs OBJECT TO PREVENT
THE DISTRICT BECOMING AN ASYLUM FOR
OFFENDERS
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 16.-The following Ia
the report on the so-called "Press-Gag Law" sub
mltted to the Senate to-day and signed by Senators
Edmunds Conkling Frelinghuysen, Wright Thur
man and Stevenson:
The CommitteeHon the Judiciary respectfully report
that on the 18th Of December 1874 the Senate adopted
the following resolution:
Resored, That the Committee the Judiciary be in
sructed TO inquire into the extent and meaning OF the
act June a. 1874 entitled Act conierrlng urisdic
ton pom the Criminal Court OF the District Of Couui-
bia and for other purposes and particularly whcther
uuder or by ts provisions persons charged Win or IN
Columbia be brought from State or other place
answer therefor and also whether said has any ap
pcaton prosecution indictment for the crime OF
libel in any and report thereon.
In obedience to this resolution the Committee have
carefully examined the subject. The net of June ~,
. court Of the psirct OF couH6ia and for
other purposes" is in tho following words:
BE the Senate and House Of Representatives. OF the
United States Of A|.,e. in Csnsrss T ,s, the M S%n.
Court Coz o. n sm%,d IL aid Dse. rot lswfSy sbe N
other which required BY Law to be prosecuted bv in
ssc Thai provision. the sd section Of the JUdesrv act
Of 1889 shall apply courts created BY the act Of Congress in the
IL having been considered that the provisions OF the
act OF June II, 1870 establishing police court In the
District of Columbia, which conferred exclusive urs
diction upou 1t of "al oHenees against the United
statss pot deemed capital otherwise Infamous, and
which did not provide Tor trial by jury, IN viola
ton of that clause OF the Constitution which declares
thar the trial OF all crimes except In cases OF
Snpe eachment shall be by jury. The first
section OF the act above quoted was passed
In order TO prevent failure OF justice IN respect ~
large class of committed IN the District by CIV
ing the criminal court, with It's jury, Jurisdiction oi
such OF them under the Constitution could not Tor the
reason lawfully be tried IN the police court.
BY the and only other part OF the act III ques
ton declared that the provisions or the S3i sec
ton OF the judiciary act Of 1889 shall apply to courts
created of Congress IN toe District or Columbia
The s3d section OF 1859 referred to In the
folio wing words: 1890
And that crime odenst Aen the
United States the offender bT justice or adse OF the Uhd
States BY justice Of The ether magistrate oi any 81 me
United be be found sgeAby 10 tue u,u mode
process against offenders such OF the Of the United
States arrested and mpnosed bsd the ease NAY be- o
the Uned Ses by this OF
the oaense ss be sDvJ
Ofse Of together with the isne.s
for their testify tue ieh reSE
whom sbs be
and such commitment OF the onsnders
thsn which the efepse
10 be tired shall be the Of the judge OF that district where
tbe same district Tor the removal Of The ofedsr
and the Witnessed either OF them, the
be ts she diunst which the trial had. And spon
Al aes in criminal cases hail shall be admitted, when The
death which ha sot be admitted bat By
Cres Cos bs Jasiiss Of es bunfsss CSsn