Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-28
Tariff and the DISPATCH.

Tariff and the DlSpatcn'
Our tariff telegram from Washington
yesterday morning was fine specimen OF
thorough. intelligent. practical Journalism.
Within the space OF a column and half
the reporter gave summary of the action
Of the conferrees 20 complete and exact
that there was hardly question which a
businessman would ask that was not an
swered in advance.
This session OF Congress has been one of
importance. and the public has all along
read the proceedings with great interest,
and it is gratifying to know that our
columns have day after day largely con-
tributed to its information.
Our connection with the Associated Press
puts us in telegraphic communication with
all the news centres of the world. In Wash
ngton a score of reporters are employed TO
do their work. Every branch of the Gov
eminent, every department and bureau,
is cared for by these shrewd observers and
impartial recorders of current events,
while their reports of Senate and House
debates are not to be excelled. Indeed.
they are of far more value than the reports
IA the Congressional Record, because from
them nothing that is readable is ex-
plunged; into them nothing that is useless
10 admitted.
In addition TO our Associated Press SER
vice our own correspondent ut Washing
ton has sent us this session many valuable
pieces of news. Very few Virginia items
escape him; but his vision is not confined
20 this State. He was the first newspaper
man 20 discover the labyrinth OF Difficult
ties in which the force bill was involved,
and the first to announce that IT was posi-
lively dead for the session, and to this
opinion he adhered when others In high
station wavered.
The work the newspaper-men of this
country are doing is OF vast consequence
TO the people.
Sometimes you hear peevish or disap-
pointed man say, "Oh, / pay no attention
at all to what the newspapers say" but
YOU have only 10 listen TO him few
minutes to find that he has not told the
truth.
We are all dependent upon newspapers
NIL influenced by them more or less. They
are features of modern life as well estab-
lished and as indispensable as railroads
and steamboats,, telegrapbs and telephones,
strset-cars and electric motors. Upon
their contents millions of minds feed. For
our part, rejoicing in and grateful for the
patronage and approval the people OF this
city and State have given the Dispatch, we
hope we are mindful Of our responsibility
in catering for thousand of both sexes and
all ages.
Editors, reporters, and correspondents,
whether at Richmond or Washington,
New York or San Francisco, to be success
full must have intelligence, training, per-
severance, and that instinct or perception
which enables one to determine at aglance
what is news and what is not; what Is
readable and what is dull.
The analysis of the report of the con-
ference committee demanded all these
qualifications; called into exercise all
these requisites. The reporter assigned to
this duty knew to whom to apply for in
formation: knew with what questions to
ply him; knew how 10 boil down " the
statement Of the conferrees prepared for
tho two houses, and above oil how to CON-
press facts into narrow compass. Many OF
these reporters are men of wonderful re-
sources and learning; not few have high
standing in the literary world. Mr.. KEN
NAN who has become famous as Russian
traveller and contributor of accounts of
Russian exile life to the Century, was long
ON the Associated Press Washington staff
and may still be for aught we know.
This work of news-gathering and pub
fishing is both fascinating and exaspera-
ting, 1t is full of exactions, hardships,
and annoyances; yet men trained to tho
steam-engine life can rarely afterwards
content themselves in those Flooding and
Measurable walks in which the rest of the
world leisurely saunters.
A community is known by its newspa-
pers. Together they form an index of its
business and society life and map Its pro-
gress or decay.
The Dispa'ca launched itself upon the
favor of the public fortyyears ago. Its sheet
was small; so was the city. Its size and
enterprise have kent pace with the growth
OF Richmond notwithstanding our proxim-
.itv to Washington, Baltimore, and New
York enables those rich and populous CEN
tres to food our streets with their issues
at early hours.
We have successfully met all opposition
and to-day find ourselves with more sub
scribers and more advertising patronage
than ever before. The people have been
sppreciatiye of our efforts TO serve them.
and this gratfes our ambition.
However. we return to the people what
they give Us. Their money. their good
wishes, their help, we transform into the
best reading matter we know how to ORR
ginate and collect.
In cables from abroad, in the freshest
and brightest news from all this land; in
full market and marine reports-in atten-
ton 10 every industry that blesses the
land, and every class that makes mp our
population-we give back what we receive.
We have improved and developed the Dis
patch year by year and our pohcv is to grow
q fast II not faster than the city.
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The Tobacco Tax.
As stated In our telegram yesterday the