Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-01
Mr.. BLAIR ON THE PRESS.
He Wants the Newspapers to Give Him n
Show-He VIII Get 1t.
WAsHISGToN. February %. 1890.
Senate.

Mr. George presented petition from
the citizens OF Talbot county, Miss, for the
f~ee coinage Of silver. and in doing so eX-
pressed the hope (satircallv) that such a
petition would not be considered evidence
Of dsloralty or evidence that Mississippi
had not "A republican form Of government.
Mr.. Hale presented Saying that II was bv
request petition from the New England
iron and stecl-manutacturerS asking that
iron, coal. and coke be put on the free
list. and that the duty on scrap-iron. scrap
steel. &c, be reduced TO u per cent. at
CGiOrcDt.
Ar. Gorman presented the resolutions Of
the General Assembly of Maryland, asking
that tho sum of 900. 600, exacted by the
Confederate army under General Jubal
Early from the authorities of Frederick.
Md, be refunded and reimbursed.
Mr. Morgan offered "a resolution. which
was agreed to. calling on the Secretary of
the Interior for information as to the rea-
Sons that have prevented the sale OF the
coal lands in Alabama in accordance with
the requirement Of the act Of March 3,
1888, and tor the copies of the letters or
papers relied upon to justify the failure to
comply with the statute.
Mr.. Blair called the attention Of the Sem
ate once more tO the derelictlon OF the
press Of the country IN not giving sufficient
attention To the proceedings III the Senate,
and particularly TO the important facts
spread by him before the Senate in his
speech on the educational bill. He charged
particularly that the Associated Press and
its reporter fail to perform their duties in
the matter.
MIR. Hawley made an explanation, show
inc that the Associated Press did Its whole
duty and supplied to papers throughout
the country full abstracts OF the proceed
ings of both houses.
Mr.. Hale directed attention TO the differ
ence between the American press IN rela-
ton to congressional debates and the Eng
lish press in relation 10 parliamentary de
bates, and Mr.. Hoar found excuse for tho
press in the habit of Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes preparing lOng-written speeches
and delivering them to empty benches.
Mr.. Blair treated Mr.. Hoar's remark as q
personal allusion to himself. and declared
his disregard OF the Senators lnuendoes or
"other endoes." The discussion was quite
interesting.
Notice of his intended absence was re-
ceived from the Vice-President, and MIR.
ingalls, was elected President of the Sem
ate pro tenn. llr. Blair said that he had
received this morning a letter. Zone OF
many such complaining that the Associ-
ated Press and the newspapers OF the
country failed TO give such reports OF
important matters of debate in the Senate
as would properly inform the people
touching the affairs IN progress. lie read
the letter III question, which came from
Pittsburgh. asking him TO forward his adj
dress on the educational bill and stating
that there were hundreds of thousands OF
people who would be glad TO read the de-
bate. but who had no means OF knowing
what had been SAID. This, said Mr.. Blair,
is but specimen OF general complaint
throughout the country that the press TO
which the Senate furnishes privileges.
and that the Associated Press. whose
reporter has the privilege OF the floor.
fails IN the discharge of their lrpor-
tant duty in connection with legislation.
have had occasion TO advert 20 THIS IN re-
lation TO the matter which and Others
had collected with great effort as bearing
on the merits of the important matter
known as the educational bill: and was
so unfortunate or fortunate (as the case
may be- TO receive a pretty liberal news
paper cudgelling in consequence OF 50
doing. But | have not observed that the
press has taken any interest III the circula-
ton of the facts. The press has constantly
intimated that the reason of its alleged de-
linquency in not publishing such linc
pOrtant matter rather than the reports Oh
prize-fghts and dog-fgLts Is that my
speech was not entertaining. dld not ASK aS'
the publication of the speech, but Oh the
facts bearing on the merits OF the question,
am not rich enough to distribute theIn
generally throughout the country, aithougl
Ihaye spent many thousands OF dollars III
so doing, and this would have been 1hhe-
cessary had the press not been tas pc
lieve) muzzled and intimidated; and ialse
10 its trust in that regard. | have oeen
told by responsible newspaper-Inan 'nae
the Associated-Press representative Oh
this floor does not transmit ana nas noe
transmitted to the press generally am, or
scarcely any. of the facts which day al.er
day have been placed before the SENATE,
and which should have gone before .no
people in order TO affect its judgment III
regard to this great question. On the cou,
trary. the papers have been hliea ua WIN
falsehoods and lies and misrepresentation ~ >
of a grave character bearing on 'he o
merits of the question. That cannot pe
accident. That cannot be excusapie;;
The press. which is our only medium OK
intercourse with the people, owe II 70 tne no
people to disseminate information wnien
is brought forward here. 1t does not uo
30. OF that l complain. And l procu.tse
this letter. which could follow up WIN WIN
many Others, to show that the press tai's