Daily Republican., 1879-02-03


As report in the Daily REPUBLICAN
of banquet given on Tuesday nigh,
last, ct Dover, is now before the Legis,
lature, awaiting Legislative action, II
may not BIZ amiss for US to state in a
terse, condensed manner, how the report
came TO be there, and to give some rea
sons why the Legislature should have
taken no cognizance Of it. 1t has beer
the general custom for the State Trea
surer and Auditor to give banquet in
honor of their election to those Offices
and to which the State officials, mem
bers of the Legislature, and even citi'
zens irrespective Of party affiliations
were invited. Carrying out the old
custom Mr.. Reynolds and Mr.. Stats,
the newly elected State Treasurer and
Auditor, on the Tuesday night referred
to, prepared a reception for their friends,
the refreshments being principally
champaign and other liquors. An old
fashioned hilarious time was the re-
suit. The Legislative reporter OF the
REPUBLICAN not accepting the invitation
to the banquet, but sauntering around
in quest OF news, and attracted amongst
others towards the banquetting room,
from which came the sounds OF revelry
and mirth, looked in and saw what
to him was a new and novel sight Be.
ing photographic writer few scrawl.
ing characters conveyed his impressions
to a page in his note book, which he
afterwards wrote out in full. That he
saw strange sights there and after
wards out on the green, was not his
fault. He endeavored to report things
just as lie saw them. That it reflected
upon many who We're at that banquet,
will not be denied, but that was no:
the reporters fault That there We're
high State officials and members of the
Legislature there, he could not help.
The dignity OF station to him was lost
in the actions of the man, and with his
true characteristic modesty, the name
of but one person (Mr. D-an) was men
toned, and he as leaving at an early
hour. We need not refer farther to the
report which now lies upon the table
for action, for there are few who have
not read it and know all about it. We
might inquire, however, what right the
Legislature has to take cognizance of a
meeting entirely outside of, and having
no connection whatever with the L.gs-
lature? Was the banquet orGered by
the Legislature, and was the pro-
gramDe carried through by a commit
tee Of Legislative authority If SO,
then we will admit that the Legislature
had right to recognize the report i it
uus mtruhtM, and to remove the re-
porter from the floor of the House. We
think there will be no dispute on this
point, but to further illustrate, suppose
a number or even one of the members
OF the Legislature were to come to Will
mington and attend a ball or a dance,
and their behavior, whether good or
bad, should be reported by reporter
who has the privilege of seat in the
House, would the Legislature be justi-
fable in noticing such report and ex-
polling the reporter from the floor of
the House Our point is plainly stated,
and we think will be fully co,npre-
hended. The only record We have of
the expulsion of reporter from the
floor of the House is that of 1871, when
Pride, of the Every Ecening, was expell-
ed for what was thought to have beer
unjust and discr-ditabe criticisms of
the actions Of the members of the House
in their Legislative capacities, but not
for reporting some ball or banquet held
outside OF the Legislature. This is
about a true statement of the case, and
II n Ipss Wp are very rnnch rpisfa kap in |
the good sense of the members of the
House, no farther notice will be taken
Of the report.