Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-02

! Is NouSIt lll6u W supervise the press 7
Are We to have a censorship of the press, as
in France? Is Congress to resolve itself into
a general inquisition to ascertain where all
the false reports originate, how a reporter
happens TO mistake q draft OF an intended
report. for an actual report ? Supposing
Mr. IIendee's committee find out how the
mistake was made, who furnished the draft
Of the intended report, and by whom it was
telegraphed-wb Is he, the committee or
Congress gong to DO about it?-Rufiand
| Globe
1t must be great grief to Mr. Hendee, to
discover that nothing that he does plea-es
| the Rutland Globe As sufficient reply to
the ponderous questions by means of which
| the Gio5e strives TO convey the idea that
some terrible assault on the liberties Of the
press has been made by Mr. llendee, we
copy from the Congressional Record the
remarks OF our member, in submitting his
resolution
| Mr.. HeRdee-Mr. Speaker, rise to a privileged
| question. ! designed 10 have presented this mat
ter to the House al the earliest opportunity on
yesterday, but as ] was occupying the chair when
the mot On 70 adjourn made was prevented
from So doing. desire 10 offer preamble and
resolution, but before they are read | will state
that ofer them at the request OF the Committee
A.
quest OF certain employees ui the House who have
charge O, the comm ttee-room. and upon whom re-
Elections have been cast, and from sense Of cuty
on my own part a member Of this House.
The Committee ior the District of Columbia have
been engaged for the last four months cont nuuus-
y in invest cation OF Dstrict affairs The ties
smony which that committee had been taking was
closed A lew days nee and the chairman. Jud se
Buckner. on Saturday last, think. presented t.
the committee his personal views in writing as 10
what he considered the committee should report
in the premises. As there had been no discus
sion or consideration o. the question by the
committee, II was requested and agreed that his
views, which were in the form Of q report should
not in any way be made public or come 10 the pub
lie notice that as they reflected upon the oaic al
conduct OF SIX or seven prominent gentlemen who
were holding public positions In this city, and n
asmuch as II was not report OF thecommi ttee
i should be kept secret but that FOR the benefit o.
the comm. ttee. limited number OF copies should !
be printed al the Government Printin, Office. The
employees OF the committee room were informed of |
the action OF the committee in this regard and the
officers OF the Government Printing Office also
notified. few copies were printed and brought |
IN very carefully sealed packet 10 the room o. |
the committee and placed in the hands Of the |
clerk.
This was on Monday morning last. On Tuesday
morning a FULL abstract Of the views o. Judge |
Buckner appeared In the New York Tribune and
the afternoon OF the same day the EteHfag Sf1r
OF this city, contained 3 complete verbatim copy
Of his views as submitted by him as the report Of
the committee. II is apparent that the views OF
MI buckner or a copy OF them, must have been
taken from the committee room or from the Govern
ment Printing Office in sons clandestine and in
proper manner or that the employees o. the House |
or OF the committee room, or Of the Printing Once
have been guilty Of some .ault, neglect, or ques-
tionable act.
now. inasmuch as that document has been print
ed as he report Of fhs committee and has gone TO
the country through the press az the report OF the
committee, wish to say in justice to the parties
whose official conduct IL criticised in H. and In this
most pubic manner, and In the plalnest language
which can use. that no report OF that comm ttee in
the matter referred to has ever been agreed upon
an one - a lis |
cussion upon the subject In any way, and that not
even the hrsf atom Of report has YET up this trl,
been agreed upon by the committee. For the pur- |
pose OF investigating and ascertanng how that |
document or copy OF it was obtained or taken out
d the committee-Toon, or out Of the Government
printing ONCE or put into the hands Of the news
paper men, / offer the preamble and resolution |
which tend TO the desk. | believe, sir, thesecrets
and papers OF the committee rooms should be kept
IS sacred and secure as the secrets and papers OF
MS House, and that summary and effective meas
Tres should be taken TO this end and TO prevent
IS iar as We may the recurrence Of such event
Is have thus briefly brought 10 the attention Of
he House, trust there will be no objection 10 the
doptiOn Of the resolution.
Tie preamble offered by Mr. IIendee re J
tied the above facts, and the resolution was
) follows
Resolted, That the Com mit:ee for the District OF
Olumba be. and the sams is, directed 10 inquire a
lto the matter, and, il possible, learn the manner
! which. and the time when, the copy OF said d
aper was obtained for publication. and by whom a
nd from whom 1t was obtained aud for this pur- :
ose said committee is empowered to send for per q
ms and papers, and to report at any time by bill l.
otherwise. d
This was unanimously adopted, and the p
D0ye was all there was of the matter. n
Ie venture to say that the Gloje is the .
lly paper that has discovered in it any !"
tack on the liberties of the press. When
lie committee find out, if they ever do, .,
hich of their clerks or employees or mem q
rs cannot be trusted, the Globe will prob a,
,ly discover what the committee or Con- to
ess are going to do about it. W