The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-24
THE LABEL MILL AS AMENDED.

senate Ordered IL EDRrOsseu AiNeT
Materially Changing Its Terms.
Austin, Texas, February 2s'-ine ioi-
lowing is the present condition Of the libel
bill as engrossed by the senate:
A bill to be entitled "an act to define
libel and privileged communications ano
publications. and to more effeotually Sc
cure the liberty OF the press, and to pre-
vent abuses IN exercising such liberty OK
the press"
Be it enacted by the legislature OF the
State Of Texas:
Section l. Libel, in order to be the basis
| of civil action for damages, Is iaise'
wullful, malicious or wanton deiamatish'
statement or publication, expressed ny
| writing, printing, pictures, DRAWINGS
signs or other representation tending 70
| blacken the memory OF one VINO is ueaa'
4 or 10 impeach the honesty, integrity, VIZ,
tue or reputation, or to publish the naturai
! defects OF one VINO is alive, ana thereos
to expose such person to pubic hatrsu'
| CONTEMPT ridicule or financial injury
/ secl,on 2. In all actions for libel, the
> truth when published In good iaith ana
4 fo, iustifiable ends, and without any oe-
sire or intention to injure, ana "ithou'
malice shall constitute a sufficient de-
Tense. The truth of any such ibei may
he established by preponderance OIL cNi.
dence. and malice may be inferred from
The fact of publication. unless the truth is
section 8. The following communica..
tions and publications shall be deemed
privileged, and shall rot be maze the
basis Of any action for libel without plooi
; of malice. ii made fer 1ustihapie eu's
and without intent or desire to ln1ure.
i Statements made in the proper us
! change of a public or official duty.
9 Statements made in any icslsiatiNe
mr. iudicial proceeding, or in any other OF
ecial proceeding authorized BY law.
3. A fair and true report OF any JUL
: cal. legislative or other olhcsai pfu.e ,,,,
y ing, or OF anytnihs oahu Va
= course thereof.
I, A Statements made in letter or otne
oriyate communication to person inter
&c ested therein by one who Is also interest,"
le ed provided that the publication OIL sue
" lettef or other private communicative I
M q newspaper or circular SNAIL NOV oe r.
:. legged ~. n, an,
g. ,,it;cisms upun matters of public concer
and the official acts of public officials, IN
Ill nnb,ication of which is for the pupii
ga benefit 80 n,h,,
of 6. A fair and true report OF puoll
meetings.; provided any statement by Vi y,
at citizen Iibeling another shall not be pu'
lie iished unless such statement Is pertinei
lie TO the purposes of such pubic meeths'
al Scott n T. II it shall appear upon u
trial of any action for damages LOT i,u
'as that the attention of the puuiisher vi eu'
lot sl,hal was called to such publication, a.
ey that such publication was made in go
ir- faith and for justifable ends and Witho
for anv intention or desire TO in1ure, ana
faisity was due to mistake, or that tnt
ell we're reasonable grounds Tor beieVh
not such statements so published TO Dc "
for and that within reasonable tint a.
US the attention OF such puoiishel w
on caj,ed TO such false statements tuii I
,ch mir correction or retracticn was pupiiai
en- in the same edition or corresponding
sues of the newspaper Or perioaioai
ded which said article appeared, ana In
bill conspicuous place and type as was
and original article. then the plaintin IN
,ur- case shall recover only susti ~ il,
,ve- apes as he may prove to have sustain
proyided however that the foregoing J
visions of this section shall NOT Apply
any libel against candidate LOT pu
office in this State, unless the correct
call or re.ra1. az ,eest ton DAYS before elect
1use Section 5. On the trial of any acton
libel the defendant may give IN eViu
,,,,,t under the general Issue, In mitigation
,5sr damages. the circumstances and inten
sc,nl under which such publication was III
and any public apology. coriep,ioii u
set traction OF the isnea eo ,it e. bronph}
ecial and puplisneu ueio ~, cations far dam
,,so for libel the malice of the agent, re
the sentative OF oonsi ho ,tt,;hutod tc
.,,,,, publisher the same as II he were the
neral thor OF the ii ,,,,. -. ra,u,.tas civi
laid sectloh :. ms ~ 10 not intend
rider. tons ior uah,as ssoet the law relttil
tpone criminal i1oe, M, COO, that there ia nc
;oinp- sestioh 2. tbts subject an
t this ADEQUATE iaM ~ h',s,noss remaining
gency large asiuahs " earo NnaI adjournment
would disposed oi pulo aa,, ard an imperatiye
,ill at lie necessn,s wr rarnirina hills to be
efused oil the iuies da,,st and Il is the
2, and on three se'eia' 'af''
rdcrei 80 enacteu'