Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-01
WANTS To BE READ.
Senator Blair Takes the
Press to Task.
HIS SPEECHES ARE NOT PRINTED
Dog Fights Rated as Better Read
ing-Hence the Senator's
Wrath.
HIS SPEECHES ARE NOT PRINTED


Associated Press Dispatches to THE HERALD
WASHINGTON, February 2s.-After
number Of petitions had been presented
in the Senate today, a note from Vice
President Morton was received, whicl
stated that he was about to leave Wash
ington for an absence of two weeks
Ingalls, was elected Vice-President pr,
tenn. during the Vice Presidents absenc,
in Florida, and Immediately took tn.
oath.
BLAIR WANTS HIS SPEECHES PUBLISHED
Blair took the floor and said he had
received letter, one of many such,
complaining that the Associated Press
and newspapers of the country failed to
give such reports of important matters of
debate in the Senate as would properly
inform the people as to the affairs in
progress. The letter in question re-.
ferred to his Educational bill. "This,"
said Blair, lis but specimen of the
general complaint throughout the
country, that the press, to which the
Senate furnishes privileges, and the
Associated Press, whose reporter
has the privileges of the floor,
fail in discharging their important
duty connected with legislation. The
press has constantly intimated that the
reason of its alleged delinquency in not
publishing such important matters rather
than prize fights and dog fights, is that
my speeches are not entertaining. I
have spent many Thousand dollars in
distributing my speeches, and this would
have been unnecessary had not the press
been muzzlsd and intimidated, and been
false to it's trust in that regard. 1 have
been told by RESPONSE ole newspaper men
that the Associated Press has not trans
mitted any, or scarcely any, of the facts
which day alter day have been placed
before the Senate, and which should have
gone before the people. On the contrary
the papers have been filled with false
hoods, lies and misrepresentation of a
grave character, bearing on the merits of
the question. That cannot be an acci-
dent. The press should not cater to the
worst side of humanity, even if it sup
plies its owners with little more cash. !"
THE PRESS DEFENDED.
Hewley said he knew that the Asso-
cisted Press performed it's duty. 1t sent
from Washington every day quite full
abstract of the proceedings OF Congress
in both houses.
Hale and Hoar also spoke in defense
of the press, the latter finding an excuse
for the press in the habit of Senators
and Representatives preparing long writ
ten speeches and delivering them to
empty benches.
Blair said, however, there is demand
for information which the press does not
satisfy. There might be provision made
for general cheap circulation of the
Congressional Record. That provision
has not been made. With regard to the
Associated Press, he was glad to hear
what the Senator from Connecticut
(Hawley) said, but had been told by re-
sponsible newspaper men it was not
true. The matter was then dropped.
THE INVALID PENSIONS BILL.
The Senate then proceeded to consid-
Grafton of the bill reported from the
committee on pensions on the 18th of
January, granting pensions to ex.soldiers
and sailors incapacitated for performing
manual labor. and providing for pensions
to dependent relatives of deceased SOL
diers and sailors.
Davis, chairman of the committee on
pensions, addressed the Senate in ex-
planation of the bill. The annual ex-
pense under the bill would be $35 ,90S 900,
divided among invalid pensions, for the
increase of the existing pensions OF
widows of pensioned soldiers, widows of
pensioners, widows whose claims were
pending or rejected, etc.
Plumb offered a substitute for the sec
ond section, under which no pensionel
would receive less than Sc per month.
Moody spoke against the substitute
and Vest opposed the bill. One of its
Inconsistencies was, that parent who
could not support himself by manual
labor, but who might, by mental or cler
ical work, earn $4,000, $4,000 OF
$4,000 year, would be entitled
to pension under it. He also spoke o
the unreliability of the estimates, and
said no man could tell within millions
and millions how much this bill would
cost.
1t went over without action.
The House bill for the appointment O
two persons to represent the United
States in the Madrid conference with
reference to industrial property Wal
passed.
Adjourned until Monday.