New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-02
PUSHED ON IN SILENCE
v,revopTB NEWSPAPER BILL AID
vAN~Ep IN THE SENATE
OMIT rTs AUTHOR AND GRADY had ANf1h'N'
70 BAY ABOUT IT-roRTY FIVE oTHEK
SENATOR'S SAT- By INDIFFERENT
GRADY sNEERED AT DAVID

BENNETT HILL.
Albany. March (specian.-The state senate
presented an interesting spectacle To-Day "hen
for the hrst time Il took up the bill introduced
BY Senator Ellsworth in regard 20 newspapers
A stranger visiting the chamber could not nave
suspected that q measure OF more than oro'
nary interest was under consideration, Tot most
OF the Senators were reading newspapers VIII
ing letters or chatting with each other ana
smoking in the rooms on either side or the nan
None Of the Senators were noticed inspecting
and anaiyzing the bill Perhaps they hao zone
70 before but. IL so. the result Of their reaoihs
was not disclosed BY any remarks only TWO
members made speeches or the measure Seha-
TORS Grady and Ellsworth. and they did not
state with anv frarkncss why they thought
bill OF this nature ought to be passed
Ortens,bly the bill Is directed at Indecent
newspapers but the Penal Code Is already full
Of weapons against them. Senator Grady Bit
tsrly alluded 70 David b. HIS attack last night
upon the bill. "A distinguished and extin-
suished Governor" he said nercely, has
charged that this is a bill 10 curb the freedom
o. the press. deny It. It Is bill INTENDED TO
curb the license Of the press"
Senator Ellsworth. In ponderous way, as
though addressing Judge about some obscure
posed enactment. and then the Senate. with
out another word. ordered 1t to third reading.
There were forty-seven Senators present. but
forty-fve Of them expressed no opinion Of the
bill What they will do when It comes up for a
ina, vote tomorrow no one can surrnse from
what they did TO-DAY.
In the course Of his remarks to-day Mr.. Ellis
worth said II was the business Of editing OF
publishing a depraved paper that the bill re-
ferred to. Whether It such periodical OF
not was 10 be determined by. first, the Grand
Jury that might indict. and, second. by the
petit jury which would try. The fact was to be
established. not on one article. but by the gen
.ral character Of the publication.
Senator Grady. speaking of interview
which appeared to-day. said that retired Gov
ernor who occasionally dabbled in literary work
FOR the papers under the impression thai
the bill before the Senate was the Ellsworth bill
Of last year. which referred to cartoons. while
the bill of this year did not refer to pictures
unless they were OF character TO degrade and
corrupt the public.
The publishers of the reputable papers. hi
said were made privileged class In actions FOL
Incl. as the bill was intended 70 suppress dis
reputable publications. H criticised the paper!
that publish certain classes Of personal adver
Using. and said there vas no law at present tt
suppress them.
The present law, he declared. not ade
ouate 10 punish paper which during the latt
political campaign pictured Thomas c. Plat ant
Richard Croker as shaking hands and winklnt
g. each other over the bier Of Henry George
The license of newspapers had permitted TIT
business TO become one Of the most degraded OF
earth. To the small portion Of the press tina
had continued In what he termed Its Legitimate
lines he ascribed ali honor. When his last da,
came he should feel that he had accomplished
something IN the world If he had helped 10 rio !
CT the nasty" papers OF the day.
Senator Ellsworth said that the law in refer
ence TO libel provided only for individual pun
ishment, but made no provision for the sup
preston OF an improper paper. There was IL
provision for the effect upon the public. excep
as punishment OF the individual might dete
others. In reference TO last years bill, II wa
found difficult TO find language that would sep
srate proper pictures from improper pictures
No one spoke against the bill, and wlthou
objection II wa: advanced 70 the order Of thir'
reading.
The bill, as amended last week by the Senat
Judiciary Committee strikes out the worC
libel" wherever II occurred In the measure a
introduced.