Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-23


from any known fact. TO investigate
whether corporation has contributed
TO or controlled the election Of senator
IN this body at any time. why stop at
one corporation? Why not prepare list
OF all corporations in the United States
call mp the officers Of each, and examine
into the question whether such corpora
tions have in anywise contributed 10 or
controlled the election Of y senator in
this body az any time? The process Of
examination would be endless, and there
would be no time for the performance OF
any legislative duties"
ACTION AGAINST NEWSPAPER MEN.
The committee goes at length into the
question Of the propriety of expelling
from the Senate press gallery or send
ing 10 prison newspaper correspondents
who make false charges taking a posi-
tion against both suggestions. They say
that expulsion from the gallery. would
be disproportionate to the offence. as
the other galleries Of the Senate would
be open 10 the offenders 1T might be"
the committee added. that the noto-
riety acquired by a correspondent by rea-
son Of such expulsion. instead OF ope-
rating as "a punishment would prove a
source of promotion in his profession"
Furthermore, they concluded that such
punishment would have no influence upon
the newspaper prOprietOrs themselves.
and that with the press associations
covering the ground, IL would be impOs-
sible 10 prevent newspapers from securing
the news. The committee supply a list
of prosecutions of newspaper writers by
the Senate. beginning with the case OF
William Duane. I'm 1900 from which the
conclusion is drawn that no very heavy
penalties have been imposed for the recu-
sancy Of newspaper witnesses. As TO
the Imprisonment Of newspaper CORE
spondents. editors or publishers, for
making statements not warranted by the
facts. the committee consider that no
thing but the impairment of the gravest
public interests should compel a resort TO
such am extremity. 1t is out Of the ques-
tion. on the eve of the twentieth century,
for any one 10 undertake 10 imprison
journalists for every vague indefinite
charge which they may circulate. No
legislative bodies would be sustained i'm
such action by the enlightened public
opinion Of the country.
at is no disparagemcnt Of legislative
bodies 10 admit the invaluable function
of the press in the maintenance Of free
government That function is too i'm
portant 10 be subjected 10 narrow re-
strictions. or. circumscribcd within illibe-
raj bounds, merely to correct a DISPOSE
lion TO ovcr-severity Of criticism. The
remedy would be worse than the disease.
Legislators who, i'm every loose ana un-
supported charge affecting the action Of
their body, see the spectre OF accusation,
and insist upon Imprisonment in default
of proof. should take occasion 10 reflect
upon the injury that would be done TO
free government by the attempt on every
Lrfp Ia
the press who exercise ovcr-freely the
right OF criticism of public acts. While
the right must ever be maintained by the
law-making power 10 protect itself from
assault Whence-sO-cvcr cmanating yet
the exercise OF this right should be re-
served for occasions of extraordinary i'm
Uortancc Freedom Of the press is guar
anteed by the Constitution; is essential
10 the existence Of free government ana
should not be interfored with"
PUBLIC DISCRIMINATION.
The committee do not accept the view
that the Senate will stand convicted Of
the charges If IL does not officially dis
prove them. although" the report says,
"thc press is most powerful institution,
we are very confident that this is a great
exaggcration Of it's power. Neither do
an newspapers make these charges, nor
believe them. The people who read news
papers from day 20 day are too wise and
intelligent to be so deceived. They are
able TO gauge with reasonable judgment
the degree of truth and importance TO
be attributed to the statements which
they read"
Reference is made i'm this connection
TO the gauntlet of newspaper criticism
every man elected TO the Senate runs be-
fore he reaches that goal, and the conclu-
sion drawn is that their success is sulti-
cicut evidence that those who succeed are
worthy of the confidence Of the people
who send them and this presumption"
it is added. "is one requiring evidence TO
rebut
1T would be extraordinary IT, upon the
appearance of any irresponsible and un-
supported charge. every senator were TO
be called Up and catechised, upon the
assumption that he had been guilty of
some wrong or crime. This would be
less consideration than is accorded even
TO the criminal i'm the dock for the
criminal is openly faced by his accuser.
who is not allowed TO sulk behind the
parentless rumor. Some person must.
ON the responsibility Of an oath. father
the charge against him. and even then
he Is assumed 10 be innocent until proved
guilty
STAR CHAMBER" DEAD.
The star chamber, as an institution,
has been dead for two centuries and a
half ON the identical spot whore stood
the chamber. with its gilded stars in
which this court held its sittings. and
from which IL derived the name by
which IL is known TO history. there stands
to-day. as II by the romance Of retribu-
tion. the writing-room OF the gentlemen
Of the press I'm the palace at Westmin-
ster.
"It would i'll beft this age if the insti- |
tuition 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 cham |
ber the most implacable enemy of |
Justice"
In conclusion. the committee recon- |
mends that the resolution be indefinitely |
postponed. saying: 1T seems to your /
committee that the time has come when |
the Senate should practically declare by /
its action that il will not be accessory 10 /
attacks upon itself or its members from /
irresponsible sources No. Investigation |
Of any charge affecting the integrity OF |
the Senate or its members should at any /
time be undertaken. unless such charges
be definite and specific. and made by
some known and responsible person. not
engaged professionally in sensational
journalism
AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY.