New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-08
TO MODIFY THE LIBEL LAW.
HEARING BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COM
MTTTEES.
REASONS ADVANCED WHY PROPOSED CHANGES
SHOULD BE MADE.
my TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBUNE

! Albany March albany was full Of State e1i-
tors to-day who had gathered TO ask at ;he hands
/ Of the Legislature libel law which would make
the newspapers less the prey Of INSCRIPTIONS per-
sons by providing that a retrlction of false news
printed In good faith and without malice could
be- pu; in evidence IN mitigation Of damages. \
meeting &c the Advisory Board OF the New YOrl:
Press Association was held. and the bin introduced
in the Senate by Mr.. SIyton ana in the Assembly
bv Mr. Ainsworth was inIorsed "a meeting the
views OF the editors and publishers. \ Joint meet
ms Of the Senate Committee on judiciary and the
Assembly Committee Codes was held in the
afternoon - hear arguments the bills, AMI
tn. following Wrll-known newspaper editors. wri,-
ana publishers appeared in behalf of the bill:
T. =. Han. l. litor Of The jamestown Journa' ana
president OF IN" NeW-York Press Association: ~
o. Eunnell. OF Dansvc. secretary Of the Press
Association: John II. Farrell. THE Albany Times
I'ni1n"; Carroll t.. Smith. The Syracuse Journal ;
Arthur jenkins. "Thc Syracuse Uerald'; C. K.
sherlock, "The Syracuse Standard: T.. q. Riggs.
"The Ncw-York sun: T. l.. Bailey, "The Utica
Observer: II. \ Dudley. THE Warsaw New
YORKER: Y. T.. McKinsey. THE Fredona Censor'
VI. II. Rocker and John \. Mccarthy. "The Albany
Press AMI Knlckcrhoclrr'; G. :. Munger THE
IIcrlfn-r Citizen: Senator Collins THE Troy OBJ
server: John T. Plat. The PoughkeepsIe Eagle;
i. T.. Williams. The Dunkirl Observer; j. II.
Cunningham. 9TH, G't,ca Herald': George +.
Matthews. THE Buffalo Express; J. Ambrose But
Ter The Buffalo Ncws". Audrey :. Davidson.
The C,Jpersiown Republican,; II. A. Erockway.
"The WliertoWn Times; John Townsend The
New-York Herad': H. !. KNAPP. The Auburn
n.i". y g. smytn IN Owrgo Times.''
The committee first accorded "A hearing to Mrs
Mimi" cummings. Of New York. who had "A grey
aucr against CHICAGO and a New York paper. Tier
story showed that the proposed amcndm nj would
not have effect on any suit she might bring M"ssrs
Matthews. RIGGS. Townsend and PAT "ach maze
arguments showing how the present IA" ~f1uEnC
INK that in thu case Of a d"iamat"ry pub'oatlon
which Was made in good faith and could not nave
been guarded against the law presumed that malice
had prompted the publication. IL was Slih'ia'lE
shown fha, the fact that correction MA b'"n
made could not be- pat IN evidence In mitigation OF
damages. -. -,
ON. speaker cited = case where man who had
been accused Of being q dcfaultcr for %,v~ re-
co,rrcd becaus. IN reality he was only drfan,t"r
presumed mali because mistake IN the tNu"'
mad" the number ~ house No. - instead or No.
a Still another showed maj a man IN wa" ,,sran,rs
10 recover exemplary damages from -" h'"~P@Pnaa.,
for an Associated Press report "hl'h '"uu n"i
POSSIBLY htyc been prompted by malice or printed
bV r"rklcrsn"ss. -, ..,,,,
Mr. Matthews argued that the new law wonii
make Il an md Ifement for reputable papers I'D
maxi corrections The tendency was 10 rrsarn a
,.rr.cti.u under the law As confession OF
guilt and could not be used In mitigation OF haih-
ar.. /, rather made the recovery OF damages moro
S.naior O'Cornor At this point said that I'M
doubirlly the provision VAS an Improvement over
the oil law. 1850, ,,,,A.., {, y.
asa not think IL would be- well 10 make law 10
t,uish any pnrson who gave false news to "A paper.
Nr Matthews replied that the papers ala not want
~, ~t ,,i d'"r.,f.y or carciessIy made
Johu Plat sad that the amendment was
wnni'd IN 0ri,r o. w,n, saii he this law
amended in ORDER that real malicious mel may De
punished The people who are rea'Iy hp''''' are
H.. ones who Ct ~ redress