The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-15
pure Food. wrights Old purkwhoai
"a OOt' Fashioned bGShHuGutG
WRICHT'S MILLS, Berlin, Wis.
HOLDINK THE PRESS DOWN
inch Which Emperor William has on the
Journalists

Cinch Which Emperor william has on the
Journalists.
Philadelphia, Pa, Jan H.-Press pro-
secutions for the offence known as
''iese-majeste" have been so frequent
in Germany of late that it becomes OF
interest TO inquire into the press laws
Of the German empire. 4 condensed
account of the various ways N Wnich
German newspapers are brought under
the control of the authorities has just
been published by DR.. E. P. OberhOlt-
Ter of the Philadelphia Evening Tele-
graph, in a phamph.er of $50 pages, en-
t3tled Die BeziehungeL wischen dem
Staat und der e5Lungspresse i'm Dutscn-
en- Reich CBerlin: Mayer & Muller)
The principal object which the con-
tinental press laws Of Europe have n
view is to restrict journalistic criticism
Of the government and of privileged
persons, rather than 10 protect private
citizens in general from invasiOns Of
their privacy. The lberalizing tenden-
cies which date from the revolutionary
period OF 1S4S have had for one result
the abolition of the censorship Of the
press, which now survives in Russia
only. The liberal laws IF Germany,
so far as offences against private per-
sons are concerned, can hardly be re-
garded as excessively stringent, The
truth Of a publication may be pleaded
as a sufficient defence in criminal as
well as in civil proceedings. It may
be assumed, however, that if German
newspapers were to follow the lead Of
our sensational journals and make IL
a practice to drag private matters into
print, the lawmaking power would
grant more effective redress than is
enjoyed by our helpless public. When
it comes TO resenung newspaper at
tacks on the authorities, there is no
lack Of energy in the legislation OF
Germany.
The publication of any statements or
reports, whether true or false, which
may be construed as offensive or insult
ing 10 certain privileged persons, IS
prohibited under stringent penalties.
Criticism, anecdotes, rumors, any eX-
preston of opinion which may have
tendency to degrade or ridicule such
persons, viii render the perpetratOr Il
able to prosecution. At the head OF
such privileged persons stands the en-
peror, and Joined with him are the other
reigning mOnarchs Of Germany. The
families Of the various rulers are like
wise protected. but the penalties for an
offence against them are not quite so
severe. A third category is composed
however, presidents Of republics and
the pope are not included. Then fol-
lows descending scale of funclOnaries
through foreign ambassadors, members
of the federal council (Bundesrath), etc.
Aside from lfbels and other offences
against individuals the press is restrict
ed from publishing anything which may
be offensive TO the community by reason
of immortality, indecency, or bias
phemy; or which may be regarded "a
an incStement to rebellion or to resist
ance against the law; or which may stir
up classes of the population to acts
of violence against each other. a news
paper may not publish fictitious or
distorted news which may throw con-
tempt on governmental Institutions; or
false reports concerning foreign coun-
tries whereby German citizens may be
misled ITO emigrate; or fraudulent state
mentS made for the purpose of inducing
the public to buy shares in the stock Of
company or calculated to influence
stock quotations. a curious law is that
which prohibits newspapers from open
Ding subscriptions for the public pay
meDt of a fine imposed by a court OF
law, or even from publishing reports OF
contributed for such purpose.
In addition 10 prescribing what a
newspaper may not publish, the law
also provides that there are some things
which a newspaper must publish. In
certain cases 1t must publish a reply
from persons who feel aggrieVed by an
article containing a misstatement of
facts. The reply must cOnfine itself TO
facts, must be signed by the writer,
and must be free from offensive express
sionS. If it exceeds in length the article
or the part of an article, TO which il
replies, The additional room which 1t
fiNs5 must be paid for at the usual ad-
vertistng rates Of the journal concern
ed. The reply must he printed at once,
without any alteration of the text or
any misleading headlines, and it must
appear in 1.-THE same pant Of the news
paper and in the same style of type as
the original article. Newspapers are
also required to publish official announ-
cements sent to them by the public au-
thOrities, but are paid for them as adj
vertisements. In this manner they may
be compelled to publish judgments rem
dered against themselves in libel suits.
In order that there may be no evasion
of responsibility for an infraction of
the various laws We have referred TO,
II is provided that every newspaper
must print in every number the name
and residence OF its responsible editor
and in order to prevent the setting up
Of a dummy for this purpose, it IS
further provided that the responsible
editor must actually be employed as one
Of the editors, and must be vested with
to determine the contents OF
the paper. In the eye of The law he IS
the author Of the entire journal. or Of
that part of ii which falls within his
province, for a newspaper may ap-
point one editor for its political part,
another for the literary feulletOn, for
the advertisements, etc. A failure TO
comply with this regulation, or any
false representations viii render the
paper liable 10 summary co1fscation. /
The publishers name and that of the
printer must also appear in every issue |
y copy Of every number must be deliv-
s-ed to the local police authorities as
soon as the distribution Of the paper
begins. The power OF summary cOnfis-
cation which we have just spoken Of is /
a very effective weapon in the hands [
Of the authorities, and even T II ex-
tends only 70 a single issue. and for I
few hours, may do serious T not irrre- |
parable injury 70 daily paper. Il may /
BE- exercised IN certain contingencies by /
the police authorities without the ir-er- I
veHtion u 4 judicial order or judgment 4
and there appears to be no practical 1
relreSs for Us abuse.
Quite peculiar = Che German system !
p delivering newSpap ers 10 subscrib- /
77s outside Of the place Of publication.
Within radius Ct ten miles thereof 4
4 paassr nav ba delivered IN any man, 4