Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-22

character will be when some evidence is
offered to show cause for the inquiry" and
adds that upon the election of a senator
his political or other opponents are suffi-
ciently active and alert in their own in
terest or in the interest of their party to
make known to the Senate any irregularity
far as the American Sugar Refining Com
pany may offend against thesstatutes of the
United States let It be dealt with according
to law. We are not the apologists Of that
larity Of that company or any other can
never of itself be held to be ground for
investigating the right of senators to their
seats. If 1t be our duty. upon our own in
from any known fact, to investigate
whether a corporation has Contributed to
or controlled the election Of a senator in
this body at any time why stop at one
corporation? why not prepare list Of all
corporations in the United States, call up
the officers of each and examine into the
question whether such corporations have
''in any wise contributed to or controlled
the election of senator In this body at
any timer
The process of examination would be end
less, and there would be no time for the
performance Of any legislative duties.
Punishment of Correspondents.
The committee goes at length into the
question Of the propriety of expelling from
the Senate press gallery or sending to pris-
false charges, taking a position against
both suggestions. They say that expulsion
from the gallery would be disproportioned
to the offense, as the other galleries of the
Senate would be open to the offenders
1T might even be-" the committee add,
spondent by reason Of such expulsion in
stead of operating as punishment would
prove a sol rec Of promotion in his pro-
fession."
H.,
punishment would have no influence upon
the newspaper proprietors themselves, and
that, with the press associations covering
the ground, it would be impossible to de-
prive newspapers from securing the news.
The committee supply list of prosecu-
tions of newspaper writer's by the Senate,
beginning with the case of VIM. Duane
Of 1900, from " hich the conclusion Is drawn
that no very heavy penalties have been
imposed for the recusancy Of newspaper
witnesses. AS to the Imprisonment OF
newspaper correspondents, editors or pub
fishers for making statements not war
ranted by the fact the committee consider
that nothing but the imperilment of the
gravest public interests should compel
resort to such an extremity. 1t is out OF
the question, on the eve OF the twentieth
prison journalists for every vague, indef-
mite charge which they may circulate. NO
legislative bodies would be sustained in
such action by the enlightened public opin-
Value of n Rree Rress.
TT is no disparagement Of legislative
bodies to admit the Invaluable function of
the press in the maintenance of free gov
erEment. That function Is too important
to be subjected to marrow restrictions or
circumscribed within inaberal bounds, mere
ly to correct disposition to over severity
Of criticism. The remedy would be worse
than the disease. Legjslators who, in
every loose and unsupportaa charge af-
fecting the action Of their body, see the
prisonment in default 1f proof, should take
occasion to. reflect upeR -the, Injury that
would be done 10 free aDYeS1aent by the
attempt on every scasten-so bring to book
members of the press who Exercised over
freely the right Of criticism Of public acts.
While the right must @ker be maintained
by the law-maktng. epov ver to protect itself
from assault whencesosSeis emanating.. yet
the exercise of this right sfkouid be reserv-
ed for occasions Of extraordinary import
ance. Freedom of the press is guaranteed
by the Constitution, Is essential to exist
ehce Of free government, and should not
lightly be interfered with" P.
The committee do not accept the view
that the Senate will stand convicted Of the
charges If 1t does not officially disprove
them.
Although" the report says, 1.-The press
is most powerful institution. we are very
confident that this is a great exagg.ration
make these charges nor believe them. The
people who read newspapers from day to
day are too wise and intelligent to be so de-
ceived. They are able to gauge with rea-
sonable judgment the decree Of truth and
of Importance to be attrihHted to the state
ments which they read"
Have Run the Gauntlet.
Reference is made in this connection to
the gauntlet Of newspaper criticism that
every man elected to the Senate runs be-
fore he reaches that goal, and the conclu-
sion drawn that their success Is sufficient
evidence that those who succeed are
worthy of the confidence of the people
who send them, and this presumption" it
is added, lis one requiring evidence to
rebut
1T would be extraordinary If upon the ap-
pearance of any Irresponsible and unsup
ported charge every senator were to be
called up and catechised upon the assump-
ton that he had been guilty of some wrong
or crime. This would be less consideration
than Is accorded even to the criminal In
the dock, for the criminal is openly faced
by his accuser who is not allowed to skulk
oehind parentless rumor. Some person
must. On the responsibility Of an oath, IA
ther the charge against him, and, even
proved guilty.
The star chamber as an institution has
been dead for two centuries and half
On the Identical spot where stood the
this court held Its sittings. and from which
1t derived the name by which 1t is known
10 history, there stands today as If by the
romance of retribution, the writing room
OF the gentleman of the press in the palace
at Westminster
1T would i'll bef1t this age If the institu-
tion OF the press, which sprang to liberty
upon ~. the destruction Of that deadliest Of
Its foes. should itself revive the methods
of accusation which made this so-called
court OF the star chamber the most i'm
piacabie enemy Of Justice"
In conclusion the committee recommend
tnat the resolution be indefinitely postpon-
ca, saying 1t seems to your committee that
the time has come when the Senate should
practically declare by It's action that it
Will not be accessory to attacks upon itself
or It's members from irresponsible sources
NO investigation Of any; charge affecting
the integrity Of the sanate or its members
should at any time be Undertaken unless
sucn charges be definite and specific and
made by some known and responsible per
son son not engaged professionally in sensa-
No Complications Anticipated.
The insult offered othe Tag of Portugal
by party of studen4s In southern Cali