New-York tribune., 1875-02-22

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Police Ccsr, has ju'dcon of bo n oaca.e no. lnf,aeu.
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tea Of h. court .sod w, have conc & 70 we % ssa,sn Sn
the pen.v eoatsos, .dcaae - -. oasa. aud %.
That COM, cannot pun d by imprisonment In The pepsns
for period longer h.s one year ths . Tnsrs
% Sfsxs in q. ecu,, s,lss and 1s pc. does reside
Congress- BY act OF Feb as 1885, has expressly recog-
mia I'D libel oenso indotaole within tho District
ana provided for admitting truth of tho bsl In ey-
dence the part OF the defendant U Stat oil ls,
p %Sel Bv Section lls OF an aot OF Congress pnssed VI
In force that part OF District Which Was ceded by
States the United States and hy them accepted
for the permanent seat of Government An oense com
mitted within the District Is an o0ense against the
United States, which is the only Sovereignty existing
Ss snd o se Usd
See act OF Congress OF March g. 1901 Sec Stat los
IL provided by act OF Congress lsO $50 TO- for an mis-
demeanors and other ofenSes for whch no other puh
Although libel was not an pnense against the United
States in 1882 because the District Of Columbia had not
sss. sSt%s SEgSs
United States which might he created Subsequent 10 he
passage OF that act which might become sdeh y tne
endacceptsnce OF other territory, must DO con
sdered Onses against the United States wthin the
meaning and contemplation oftnst statute IL ~ snoaa M
be conceded that the publication OF ~ libel within tne
District Of Columbia was not ofeDse against tue
United states within the provisions OF the "
neither be decisive nor conrong sp6h haNa GUS
an oense OF which the courts OF snea M
any exception, were made applicable by iaw 70 sucn
section for arrestna and bringing to trial before snch
courts offenders were brought into fu play ns wen o
Vnicb such courts had Jurisdiction, as in regard to
Dtefetng robbng the mails or any other ouehses
created and defined by acts OF Congress: -. ,o,o,
Your Committee are thus brought TO the foli0wlng
conclusions viz That the second section of the oct
T M SGs S9 or to s sDd coar. SGns np OF ,ns
District all persons who have committed oHonses
against the United States witnn sal District wno may
be found in any part OF tho United States That lbs
published within said District Is suoh an ononse against
the United States.
The question remains for consideration whether that
oct shoud be amended as not to Apply to ictnens
or for 6S b, aG a an az WG
the District for trial any hoeler VINO SHOULD puonsn l
to any place wDi% the Uaited States beyond the limits
OF the District The provisions OF tse Federal Const
a person charged with orime who snail foe from the
State where the crime WAS committed q snn M oe iouna
tion, Art Sec. a. When slavery was In existence an
act of Congress was passed making the pross.ns oi
fugitive slaves and fugitlves from Justice whose re-
m0ya from the District was applied 70, to Tue STATE
March 8 Isal U. 8. stat, vol p lle. $50 81 Bat no
:Ssn was & enacted ia S ID the
dment be adopted person outside OF the Dis
@ might se5d H m oe aaS sHa a.. S1ss aS, as @ he
beyond the limits OF the District he could not be ar
rested or brought 10 trial within the District could
he brought TO trial under the Constitution III any
other District than that wherein bis on.use was con-
too. ster papans libel Within the bsirict no mat
ter how aggravated. by printed or written matter ey
Ing an Innocent person up to public odum. ridOule.
haired aud contempt the nbeier could escape beyond
tho limits OF District aud defy all efforts to arrest
him aud BRING him back for trial and punishment
Your Committee cannot recommend such repeal or
modification OF the act OF 1874 So long ~ libel shall re-
main an ndlcable ohense w1lu p5 District they see
no reason WAY lls sAIos legal machinery should not
trial before the courts of the District. as OBJ
taIns in regard 30 other crimes committed within
OF Section as OF the act OF 17s the courts United
Sss1 casS RS s
created within the District OF Columbia, ana c,ethed
with similar criminal Jurisdiction, 4: Is not deemed
have been assumed that 1t TO 10 so interpreted and
nu@srOns cases OF persons VINO nave been @Ttssen
however, the existing law was defective IN THIS
particular 1t ought IN the opinion Of your Co~nlttee
been amended enable the authorities OF
the District 10 bring such offenders 70 trial Within the
District and the act OF 1874 has brought such amend
meut your Committee see no sufficient reason why they
should recommend any repeal or amendment OF thal
Your Committee have also considered two bills
referred 70 them relating TO indctmolts for LIBEL IN the
District Of COlum bia tbs introduced by Mr Poland
aud the other BY Mr. Tremau. Under existing law any
ga ~ S m Se aSd .lg in oa
District n the libel should be sent Into the District By
person beyond its boundaries aud the same should
he received and read In said Dsrct by the person TO
whom II sent this publication within the District
Your Committee however believe IL 10 be the duty OF
Congress 10 ali Just OF complaint withio
their power, although such complaints may proceed
from class of men who havo themselves been guilty OF
misconduct Ia that way they will be deprived OF all
claim to public sympsthy. aud Congress VIII establish
its claim TO public confidence by enseung just laws
for the benefit Of its enemies. Your Committee
have therefore, concluded TO recommend the bill here
with reported 1t Will be that II only applles TO
lbels contained In newspspers regularly issued and
published outside Of the District. and afterwsrd crcu
lated within IT, In all such cases an pdicmept may be
obtained In the State courts of the State where such
paper s published. As to all hbes contaiDed In any
paper, letter, pamphlet, or other mode nan regularly
published newspaper, which are sent into tho DIS
trict, and TO all libois contained In news
pspers printed Within the District, or contained
In apy Other iibelous publication which 10 made
only within the District, tue proposed bill viii
have no effect In the State OF Newfork statute has
existed nearly quarter Of century, restricting In
for ibeis contained in newspapers regularly
published the county where the paper s priued snd
the county where the hbeied party resides and also
requiring the court 60 change the place or trat OF suoh
indictment to the county whore such paper II pun
ushed provided the defendant shali execute boud 70
pay the oompIsinsnts expenses In proceeding 10 the
place trial IA OF conviction. copy OF this law
sttaehed TO this report With these explanations the
OoamttsS submit the accompanying bill