The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-18
ANTI-PREss LEGISLATION.
Some Frank Expressions Of the In
terror Press-Unwisdom Of Bills.

- - A0&4AsAAe
San Diego Union: While some of
CALIFORNIA; lawmakers are seeking to
repeal measure that serves to prevent
the bringing Of speculative libel suits
against newspapers, it is an interest
ing fact that the Connecticut Legisla-
ture is considering and will probably
pass substantially the same protective
law which is sought to be repealed in
this State. A bill has been introduced
| in the Connecticut Senate, which re-
quires the plaintiff in libel suit to file
| a bond in the sum of $500 before he
| brings his action. When the final de-
cision is in favor of the defendant, he
will be entitled to recover from the
plaintiff a reasonable sum for counsel
fees and as compensation for the
| trouble and loss of time he has been
put to- The PLAINTIFFS bondsmen will
be accountable for the payment of such
sums.
A RIDICULOUS IDEA.
Concerning the ridiculous bill requir-
| ing every libeloCs article in a. newspa-
per to be signed by the writer, the Los
Angeles Express pertinently remarks
that "inasmuch as no reputable news
paper willfully or knowingly prints Ii
belous matter the monstrous absurdity
of the bill is manifest. The author
wants to force the newspaper men to
make themselves accessories before the
fact, in manner that is dreadful to
contemplate"
THAT MURDER BILL.
San Diego Tribune: If one of the
| bills before the Legislature should be-
come a law, newspaper men would have
less protection than quail, ducks, deer
and other game. With the law pro-
posed the public could shoot at jour-
nalists every day in the year if inclined
| to do so. There would be no closed
season when scribes could for twenty
| four hours even feel sure that their
skins would not be punctured by the
bullets or buckshot of some irate
reader.
At present the press protects the peo-
pie from criminals, imposters, scala
wags in. public offices and other evils.
Suppression of this protection would
insure the tremendous increase Of crime
of all sorts. Intelligent people do not
need to be argued with on this point.
Muzzle the press and criminals in pub
| lie and private life would start up as
| doubt the press makes mistakes, but
the evil arising from such errors is as
l to 10000 when compared with the
evils that would suddenly flourish
should the present privileges of news
papers be curtailed.
| Sacramento legislators will do better
to devote their talents to strengthening
our laws for prompt and effective pun
1 I'LL Sc
ing the States money with bills melted
by spiteful, personal spleen against
reputable newspapers.
| TO LEGALIZE MURDER.
| Tulare Times: The anti-cartoon bill
and the one making it legal to kill edi-
| tors will probably fail to pass the
Legislature, but if they should pass, we
| do not for a moment believe that Gov
ernor' Gage will permit his name to be
! identified with such freak legislation
| There are occasions when a shotgun
seems to be the only way the individ-
ual can defend himself from the attacks
| of certain newspapers, but they are
exceptions.
ALL AGAINST IT.
Stockton Mail: Mr. Porter Ashe
seems to have gone to the Legislature
with the idea of doing what harm he
could to the newspapers. His bill to
relieve bringers of libel suits from the
| present need of fling bonds for costs
| is one of the most maliciously unjust
measures ever presented in the Capitol
and might property be entitled "A bill
to encourage shystering and to prevent
responsible men from becoming news
| paper publishers The press of the
State is unanimously against the bill.
LICENSE TO KILL EDITORS.
| Pomona Times: A bill is pending in
| the Legislature designed to make it
safe to kill editors. There may be some
merit in the bill, but it is unconstitu-
| tional and all editors are opposed to
being unconstitutionally killed Per-
| haps it has not occurred to the advo-
| Gates of this bill that some alleged
| lawmakers and alleged statesmen de-
serve to be killed on general principles
as we'll as for specific deeds. If civil
| ization calls for a law of this kind, this
one needs amendment SO as to include
members of all occupations. Even
| then it would be imperfect. Every pro-
| fession and calling includes men whose
| lives are constant menace to the pub
| lie welfare, but who is to decide which
| are the ones?
|