New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-28
To AMEND TIE LIBEL LAWlS.
THE sAxroN BILL REpoRTED FAyoRABLf
TO THE ASSEMBLY.
Mr.. sAxToNs EARNEST PLEA IN lto
THE BLuaENrHAL BILL REPORTED
yFRSELY.


vERsELY.
-. -, mann. IN CORRESPONDENT or TIE TKrBuss'
sAln.ny March e7.-charics 7. saxton, INC ona.l
n., ~ he Assembly Judiciary Committee repos ~.
favorably to-day a bin presented BY hnso-, -
drawn nm nv tho counsel OF the leading neWspepose "
New.York CITY, reforming the libel laws " S's
me bin destroys the absurd presumpuoh unes. .sI
emit laws that llbellous articles are prlh'oa
lcIous motives and makes several other luse euo
>. a. ,bs, flaws Of the state. At the reouess
~ Az sartnn the Assembly put the bill IN tne nrs'
COMMITTEES OF the whole mot full" which WIZ "'"i0
It's early consideration. lotto, /.
NJ saxton followed up this action by presenuhe
unanimous adverse report from the Junloier9
tee upon Mr. Blumenthais bill requiring p eaSo -.
give bonds 10 pay costs when theg prns SCu' a.
libel against newspapers. When d. W. o"ea~ -
sor.s, !, Tha Tshune and j. D. Townsend. the coun-
q, ~ Tho Herad.s were here fortnight ago. tney
a,ed that the newspapers Of NewYork did not ssk ior
tba massage Of the latter bill dconsdered IL uCon'
sttt,tonal Mr.. saxton, upon presenting TINS AN"''0
report, said In part: MI,
The committee are unanimously opposed 70 ths DIV
mentha hf Their opposition has no root IN mAi..o
prejudice. 1t is not inspired or inenshsa " ~,
that have been nade upon members Oh the HOWE ~
cnrtan nevsnaper correspondents We are not Vppoo
= any needed reform We have no desire 70 upneu ~ !.
wrong or perpetuate any injustice. Ihe 49, on,ht
va are thoroughly convinced that 'ns S..o,a,os
not TO become law. No one In THIS house ~,
yo,a highly than do the valuable services eaS ~,
$50. :, AZ, pumentha the introducer OF this DIE
Mn one has less reason than mysen " nh" 49, -.
,ha r,ess IN xhese interests the bill was Hameoi iof
the newspapers have treated US fany' anu ~" -
ously But when q question OF THIS mash'uu -
sented me- and am requested 70 ~ -, va
conscience, cannot let personai
from my position. go. A,.o,,,
The really influential newspapers Of tho ssa'e
endeayor In my Judgment to use their power ~ .~'
interests Of morality ana good government They sOo
times do tnustlee by echaing senseess eianor' OF
.h.rg,n. Individuals with she commission OF
serious offences, upon hesrsay Testimony IN uen
zeal they not infeQuenuy convict without proo anu
denim without reason I think some papers hA'o Osn
unjust 10 certain members OF the present HOUSE ~
saoms 10 me that It Is light matter 10 crush repua
don 20 bring to bear upon defeneeiess person the Ter
yie engine OF torture that is In tho hahos Oh oBh
correspondents and able editors 1t is cxeeilens hs
giant strength Is tyrannous 70 use u IKE
There can be but little consolation 70 the person VIZ
Ia ground beneath tho chariot wheel OF uiumpnah'
,-ess in the thought that the power which unlaSuy
crusbes him acts In general way for the pubic GOOD
There ought 30 be presumption OF innocence 10 No
at least Of those who have not already ioieco az
claim to the respect OF their fellows NO Puohc onceI
should be branded as unfslthfu or corrupt oeesuse
tongued rumor has trumpeted abroad concerning MN ne
vague and unfounded stories that usually issue nom Ge
lips No man should be convicted % tho oar OF puoe
opinion upon the statement Of person VINO sni1AS ~
sponsibility by eoueealinB MS lucnnV' ~
But notwithstanding the fact that We sometimes sunI
undeseryedly as we think. from the criticisms oil ho
n,ess we must not forget that those criticisms arc he
chief safeguards Of the people against oela misconduct
In tmea past newspapers almost always TO be founn
On the side Of the people In opposition 70 arotay emu
dangerous power They to-day. In the language Of
Juuius ga restraint upon bad men and On mpedment I"
ne execution Of bad measures" They expose 70 tho gSo
4, day the toIies Of public officers and lash with Whp
Of scorpion those guilty OF corruption. They
ought 10 have all latitude possible that Is eonent
with the due preservation OF individual rights Az inc
same time they should be held strictly seeountaoie Tor
any abuse Of the liberty they enjoy 1t Is my opinion
that our laws give press the largest liberty IL can
easonabiy cla,m think. however that here are Ger
tain rules now In force that operate uniustly ana am
making an effort at this session have them changed
IL Is my belief that the Blumenthal bill Is uneonstu
onsl II dcriinates in favor of newspaper prcpnetor
giving them privileges that denied 70 the rest OF NE
people 1t places obstruction in the way Of ne afen
who seeks redress for the wrong done him. FOR when s
law gives him a remedy, thus restricting him IN ms
liberty 70 apply 70 the courts for that justice which y his
due But such bin is contrary 70 sound pubic policy.
railroad corporations peculiarly subject TO actions
brought on speculation by lawyers who take them upon
contingent fee Suppose the rairoad agnates Of the
State were 10 come to the door Of this chamber Demanding
similar protection Ny friends Of the press would %
the nrst to dsnounee such legislation as al untustna6e
attack upon the rights and interests Of the public
am sure that II newspaper writers will look At this
matter in It's light, they cannot but approve our
cotton on b Whether they do or not we feel that
we hayo done duty.