The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23

time for the performance or any IeglSla-
tive duties.
WON'T EXPEL CORRESPONDENTS.
The committee goes at length into the
question of the propIety of expelling from
the Senate press gallery or sending to pris-
on newspaper correspondents who make
false charges. taking a position against
both suggestions. 1t says that expulsion
from the gallery would be disproportionate
to the offense as the other galleries Of the
Senate would be open to the offender. 1T
might even be-" the committee adds, that
the notoriety acquired by a correspondent
by reason of such expulsion, instead of OPP
Grating as a punishment would prove
source of promotion in his profession
Furthermore the committee concludes that
such punishment would have no influence
upon the newspaper proprietors themselves
and that with the Press Association cover
ing the ground 1t would be impossible to
deprive newspapers from securing the
news. The committee supplies a list of
prosecutions of newspapers writer's cy the
Senate, beginning with the case of W Imam
Duane, of 1900, from which the conclusion
is drawn that no very heavy penalties
have been imposed for the reCusancy of
newspaper Witnesses
AS to the Imprisonment of newspaper cor
respondents editors or publishers for MAX
ing statements not warranted by the facts.
the committee considers that nothing but
the Impairment of graVest public interests
should compel a resort to such an extrem-
of the twentieth century for any one to
undertake to imprison journalists for every
circulate. No legislative body would be sus-
tanned in such action by the enlightened
public opinion of the country. 1t is no
disparagement of legislative bodies to adj
nit the invaluable function of the press in
the maintenance of the government That
function is too important to be subjected 70
narrow restrictions or circumscrbed within
illiberal bounds merely to correct q dis
position to oyerseverity Of criticism: The
remedy would be worse than the disease.
Legislators who, in every loose ard un-
supported charge affecting the action or
their body, see the specter of accuse tioE,
and insist upon imprisonment in default
OF proof should take occasion to reflect
upon the injury that would be done to free
government by the attempt on every oc-
casiOn to bring to book members of the
press who exercised over freely the right
of criticism of public acts. While the right
must ever bemaintained by the lawmaking
power to protect itself from assault whence
soever emanating, yet the exercise of this
right should be reserved for occasions OF
extraordinary Importance. Freedom of the
press is guaranteed by the Constitution is
essential to the existence OF free govern
ment and should not lightly be interfered
with"
The committee does not accept the view
that the Senate will stand convicted of the
charges if it does not officially disprove
them Although" the report says the
press is q most powerful institution we
are very confident that this is a great eX-
aggeration of its power. Neither do all
newspapers make these charges nor believe
them The people who read newspapers
from day to day are too wise and intelligent
to be so deceived. They are able to gauge
with reasonable judgment the degree of
truth and of Importance to be attributed
to the statements which they read"
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 'wor-
thy of the confidence of the people who
send them, and this presumption" it is
added, is one requiring evidence to rebut.
1t would be less consideration than is ac-
corded even to the criminal in the dock,
for the criminal is openly faced with his
hind parentless rumor. Some person must,
on the responsibility of an oath, father the
charge against him, and even then he is
assumed to be innocent until proved guilty.
The star chamber, as an institution. has
been dead for two centuries and a half on
and its gilded stars, in which this court
held its sittings and from which it derived
the name by which IL Is known 10 history,
there stands to-day as if by the romance
of retributon the writing room of the gen.
tleman of the press. IN the paiace at West
Minister 1t would i'll befit this age If the
institution Of the press. which sprung to
liberty upon the destruction of that dead
Hest of it's foes. should itself revive the
methods of accusation which made the So
called court of the star chamber the most
implacable enemy Of Justice.
In conclusion the committee recommends
that the resolution be indefinitely post
poned, saying: 1T seems to your commit
tee that the time has GENE when the Sen
a.e should emphatically declare by its ac-
upon itself or its members from irrespon-