New-York tribune., 1884-03-08

OF tne Associated Press Papers that had not such cer
oates had instituted these local organizations and their
contracts The eIcusveness Of the contracts had refer
wac a no e carving p9Werhe telegraph comPaIes i,
gvng mem certificates they were given contracts which
guarhneed that they should have precisely the same
| prGlvneges as tne & controlling members.
ns senator h start asked any Wish Ss
territory Of local association could % get the n NEW. o, the
Associated Press. Mr. Smith said that could only
the application should come. Forlnstration two papers
IN Minneapolis received tho Associated Press reports.
ltanew application were made for she reports the mat
ter would be referred to the two papers They would
asked whethor or not new partner should be admitted
Last year five now members admitted In different
places. No reasonable application refused.
There were many foolish people who wanted TO start
newspapers. They could be found every two weeks In
town in the land The management OF the Assocl
ated Press left the matter to each community and to tie
Associated Press papers In the community to decide
what should be done Tho communities aslde from the
sd 9Id 5a great deal to say IN the matter ana What
,tan community would have no r. right, and no
II a community generally, as a matter OF local
interest presented strong case for an addanal news
paper, no instance OF refusal to meet their views could
be recalled by him.
NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ANY CLASS
Senator Wllson-Do you make any distinction between
the business OF collecting and disseminating cal
culated to affect the public nteresthe business Of tho
country and that of any other private business within the
commercial lines of the peOpel"
Mr.. smlth-No, sir.
Q-The nows sent out whether correct or otherwise,
may have greater or less effect upon public affairs, may
QAnd upon the business Of country OF localities
Q-ow can any other business in the country produce
like effect All man in Chicago corners the wheat
market he affects the entire commercial community II
spraguc Warren & Co., OF Chicago buy mp
all OF the canned goods In the country, and
thew effect the entire commerr5l commnnity P0' '''
Q.-DO you think it desirable 20 make and pepetuate
that element I'm the business OF the countryi A-No sir
But that 1t is not the with the Associated Press.
When newspapers can be bought for ono cent In almost
any large city Of the country and for less than five
IN every city there IL no effort to inure the community,
but on the contrary the newspaper cannot succeed with
out representing public sentiment and that the rule IN
the management OF the Press. That sentiment Is re
gared always and newspaper expect to succeed
until that s taken INTO considerations
Q.-When buy newspaper buy what is published In
it. A:-For your own individual use.
Q.-FOI such choose TO make OF It, A.-NO, beg
your pardon You cannot Immediately take It and issue
that in another form and sell in competition with man
of whom you purchased it, mean y s not right to do so
That Is violation Of the property right as recognized by
Q~Weithat is a distinction concerning which we would
probably disagree It Is not not very material to TINS in,
reason whatever should have furnished incorrect news
itmay do 50, may II notl At never has.
Q-Thst is hardly an answer to my question, Mr.. Smith
Ave must Judge the future by the past
o. am speaking OF the possibilities they are
probable or not FOR the Associated Press to furnish false
news. Alt is possible thing for man to commit an
{ .Or-tO be mised
Q--That ls hardly answer to my question. A-But
the Associated Pressand that ia what gives il its value
O-Irndoubtedy. However there have been many
instances in which the has not been authenticated
Avery few instances, sir, within recollection, and
have been IN the newspaper business for twenty
Q-Now it is in the power the Associated Press to do
what have suggested, undoubtedly A.-NO II IS not,
o-I am not making any such point as TO the Associated
Press, or any other association am suggesting now
seems @ S to me that % it is possible Tor the A.so
catod Press to mslesd the public with
sending out that which is not correct, authentic news
upon which the public may act, upon which indlynuas
from which the great OF people derive their nfoma
ton and on which they act in business affairs and in their
or any. individuals, engaged in that -, kind
0i S'nGs sm 'ind' 6s man IN who very cod1ent deTfnt
store, grocery establishment or any other private
business or or m or persons & Wno & pre % any
that public affairs and business affairs may be largely
aItcteq ~ tc %CVn W Luz o @ u'o. oc - "e. I
is clear distinction between that kind OF business and
A-There is no distinction far "a the property rights
are concenod-nO distinction SO far as the law is con
TIE PUBLIC COULD NOT BIZ MsLED.
Senator Jackson-You think it is simply distinction
in degree Of confidence that the public may have in
mode of reception of the or the other A.-Yos,
sir Idesire now to show why said it would be impos
sible for the Associated Press to systematically and
tentona.y lnisload the public. 1t because the Asso
catcd Press part Of the interests Of every community
An the United states lis membership embraces papers
of all PARTIES. representing every kind OF opinion. and
therefore, there could not be concert OF action
on the part Of the members OF the Asso-
misrepresentation Of events OF OF matters IN which the
public had vital interest
the close connection between that association any
similar association, with the public affairs OF country
that il stands upon different basis from that OF the or
dnary business OF the people Am one sense admit
that but not in the sense OF property which was the
On what would you regard it as occupying
different posiHonl AIN the sense Of being public
yolce-a tribune OF the people, If you please
O-And effective in public affairs and effective in bust
0ETIereiorc is it not OF tho governmental posi-
bilities that business occupying such position might
touched by the power OF regulation whch c0ud not be
extended TO the ordinary business Of the citzeni A
Not unless you change Constitution The Constitution
Guarantees the liberty Of the press and regulation is in
consistent with the liberty OF the press.
or s not inconsistent however 10 pass a law for the
Of the freedom OF the press Is IT, ana the en-
forcement OF that principle of the COnsttuOnl At re
Gures no enforcement 1t belongs to the people. II
not a matter that concerns Congress at all.
CON zress abridgo the freedom OF the press.
enacted 10y Congress which would make more effective the
freedom Of the press than would be without regulation
mcnt does the press and secures the
O@Then it would be entirely proper for Congress to
make orno 10 make, any regulations which should touch
the crcul,ol ~ ~ - & 9r ta tri"tinI1 ~ no,D',,.es
0TThen we might pass a regulation of the methods
contents of a newspaper, which the regulation Of the
news would be. After YOU get a regulation Senator You
viii then have @ censorship We viii have members Of
Congress establishing a censorship.
O-I don't thU'k that follows at all At follows as
Not more than tho exercise OF any other power by
,rcs, implies wrong exercise. Any power that the
Goycrnmcnt possesses may be used rightly other
wise "A, he powers OF individuals may be used rightly
or ofhcry.i,r But assuming that these will
be wrongly used Tho question is can they IN any event.
and any extent be used II not used Alright OF course
tbe remedy is in the Judicial Department or the |
But 1 not, with my present i'm |
nres,ion prepared 10 admit that any business
which 80 largely affects may affect public affairs, or
the general business OF the people the business
talking about stands upon the same basis and in the
same relations toward the Government and people that
the ordinary private business Of citizens occupy A-DO
Won mean To say senator that It does not in respect TO
the property rights inyoiyedt .
QLhe OF property Is involved In the proposition OF
right You the right of property
from the use OF properly, and yet because man has an
right In property, he cannot use mprop-
bo does not only within the power but