Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-02-08
The Press Make Recommendations.

iIH. o.. t'''.
The Press Make Recommendations.
The session OF the Executive COM
mittee OF the State Press Association,
held IN tins city lew days ago, was
f"r tie purpose of directing the atten-
ton OF our legislators to some meas
ures OF proposed legislation on which
the organization have practically
agreed and which they believe may
result to the benefit OF the people OF
the State.
One OF these propositions is TO
place the general laws OF each session,
Immediately after adjournment, in the
hands OF each householder in the
State. The plan suggested has worked
well in quite number OF the older
States. 1t is, to have printed 10y au-
thority Of the State sufficient num-
Der OF supplements, Containing in
small type all the law. ,i a general
nature, and these are to lie furnished
under restrictions to the newspapers
OF the State for distribution in their
regular issues. By this means the
people may he informed OF the laws
passed for their guidance within 80
days of the adjournment OF the Legis-
lature, instead OF having to wait sever
al months for the appearance of the
volume of laws, and which cannot
even then obtain general circula-
ton from its cost.
Probably no act of the Legislature
would be accorded more general ap-
proval than one which would enable
the public TO know just what rules
have been prescribed by law for direc-
ton of public affairs in which all, as
individuals, are interested. There
seems to be something SO palpably
unjust in holding a citizen response.
bile for a possible infraction of law
which he has had no opportunity to
ascertain the provisions of that very
few legislators will hesitate to provide
the means for such knowledge when a
definite, feasible and inexpensive plan
is submitted.
1t is proposed that the State furnish
sheets, known in newspaper parlance as
"supplements," which shall contain
the full text OF all laws of a general
nature, to the press of the State, for
circulation in one regular issue of
each paper. This, it is thought, will
place copy in the hands of each
head of family throughout the State.
The cost of the supplements is to be
borne by the State, which will be
enabled to furnish them at minimum
cost and At the same time, through
the proper officer, certify to the cor
rectness of the publication. In fact
this authorization would enable the
courts to use the supplements as au-
thority in matters which would other
wise, until the regular publication in
the ordinary way, require certified
copy of each act and subject litigants
to . heavy cost therefor.
Another matter that came up for
consideration before the committee
was amendment of The libel law,
whereby only actual damages shall be
awarded for publication of libel in
any newspaper, if it should appear
that such publication WAS made in
good faith and its falsity due to misap-
prehension Of facts, in which case
retrsction shall be published. The
matter of publication of annual or
seni-annual financial statements
by insurance companies doing
business in tho State and of State
banks, was also discussed and may be
submitted for consideration OF our
Solons. 1t was held that patrons OF
these companies should be kept in.
formed of the precise condition of
their available assets in these change.
able times.
The committee was in session but a
single day, and their work was there
fore hasty and imperfect, but it is
thought from expressions made by
prominent legislators, that it will re-
ceive careful and candid consideration.