San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-17
MONDAY, MAY II, 1885.
PRESS REFORM BYLAW,

PRESS REFORM BY LAW.
The committee Of the State Bar assO-
citation, in its recent session In Austin,
put itself upon the record as demanding
certain reforms in the judiciary of the
State, the present practice Of the courts,
in certain particulars, not being in line
with the most advanced ideas of legal
procedure. 1t would be in order for the
Press association, at its meeting in this
city, to take intelligent action looking
toward reform in the laws of this
State In their bearing upon the freedom
and responsibility Of the press. This &C.
tiOn should not be taken hastily or in
CONSIDERABLY. The reforms needed
may be patent, but in just what shape
matters should be presented to the leg
islature is not so patent. The subject
should be put into competent hands.
TO devise an adequate remedy is not so
simple matter as it may appear. To
unlOse from restraint and at the same
time Withhold from abusing privilege is
not so easy to accomplish. The minds
that frame bills on this subject need to
be remarkably well-balanced. They
need the radicalism of unlimited free
dom; they must have the conserva-
tism Of restricted action. 1t would
have been wise had this matter
been placed in the hands of a competent
committee at last session of the Press
association in order that their report
might be in readiness now. The work
of the press in Texas should be freed
from all the trammels that are consis-
tent with the welfare OF society. The
largest latitude of expressed opinion
upon all public men and measures must
be insisted upon, and yet these public
men as private citizens should be &C.
corded the privacy to which in his per-
sonal habits and character and actions
every man is entitled. The liberty of
the press is not license to abuse a man
personally because we differ from him
politically, or on social, educational,
moral and industrial questions. When
the things Of mans private life invade
the domain of his public life; when the
yicieusness Of that private life must be
made public to defeat an unworthy as
pirant for public place securing position,
which would reflect discredit upon the
state and endanger the public good, then
freedom to speak must not be with
held. The framing Of just
law, meeting all the requireme nts that
will efrectually guard the public jour-
mails from annoyance and vexatious suits
at law, while in the proper discharge of
their duties as ceasors of public servants
and their acts, will not be done in a mo-
ment, nor in an hour. The more closely
the matter is considered, the more i'm
portant 1t will appear, and the more
guarded will be the action taken. The
present libel law, and not that alone, is
considered, and justly, disgrace to
the enlightment Of this age. In moving
for a new law let it be done with such
deliberation and judgment that in cor
recting existing abuses new ones are
not created. The LIGHT respectfully
suggests to the Press association that
the matter of the correction of existing
abuses in the statutes of Texas, in SO far
as they relate to the public press, be
committed to a competent committee,
with instructions to carefully consider
the whole ground and recommend such
changes as they deem necessary; their
conclusions to be given to the press of
the state not less than three months be-
fore the assembling Of the next state
legislature.