Milford chronicle., 1903-04-24
4 STRONG PROTEST
Pennsylvania Editors Urge Penny
packer to Veto Libel Bill.
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Charles Emory Smith Principal spokes-
man Against Bill, and Alexander
Simpson, Jr- and R. C. Dale In
Favor Of lt-some Leasi Arguments.
f
Harrisburg, Pa, April %. - Every
important newspaper in Pennsylvania
was represented at the hearing on the
Grady-Salus libel bill by Governor
Pennypacker in the hall of the house
Of representatives. Attorney General
Carson sat with the governor through
out the hearing, but neither indicated
what would be the governors action
on the measure. The governor said
the bill was very important one, and
he was anxious to hear both sides, and
he suggested that two representatives
from each side be heard in order to
save time. He also suggested that
the opponents of the bill be heard first.
The opening speech was made by
Charles Emory Smith, of the Phila-
delphia Press, who was presented by
Thomas V. Cooper, of the Media
American. At the outset of Mr.. Smith's
address Governor Pennypacker took
exception to his use of the word in
solently" and suggested that it would
be well for the speakers to omit strong
adjectives. Mr.. Smith accepted the
suggestion, saying at the time that he
spoke strongly because he felt strong
ly.
During Mr.. Smiths argument that
the bill did not include weekly news
papers the governor interrupted him
70 say that he thought it applied to
all newspapers. Mr.. Smith replied
that he believed weekly newspapers
were excluded from the provisions OF
the measure. Governor Pennypacker
again interrupted Mr.. Smith before he
had proceeded much further to argue
that the bill clearly applies to all
newspapers, weekly or dailies.
Alexander Simpson, Jr, of Phila-
delphia, in urging the governor to sign
the bill, said the highest court OF
PENNSYLVANIA has declared that there
Is a necessity for a change in the
laws governing newspapers and read
from an opinion of the supreme court
in the case of ex-Mayor Smith against
the Philadelphia Times. He read sew
eral other opinions by the supreme
court to prove his contention that the
liberty of the press should be re-
strained. This bill, he declared, is de-
signed to hinder the abuse of the Ii
cense of the press by a very small
minority of the newspapers of the
state.
Richard C. Dale, of Philadelphia,
also spoke in favor of the bill He
answered Mr.. Smiths argument that
the bill was loosely and carelessly
drawn and endeavOred to prove by
quoting it's various sections that it
was on the contrary a measure very
well put together and capable, in his
opinion, of withstanding any attack
that may be made upon it if it be-
comes a law.
Thomas V. Cooper made the closing
argument against the bill, claiming
the constitution had been violated in
passing the bill, and that it did not
properly receive the GAAupA 9SAAASAAS "a
both houses Of the legislature.
When Mr. Cooper concluded the
governor said that if any one of the
speakers selected by the newspaper
owners was a lawyer who desired to
answer the legal arguments presented
by Mr.. Simpson and Mr.. Dale he
would be pleased to hear him.
q aff the
Reading Eagle. was thereupon intro
duced. Mr. Derr dwelt upon the in
3udiciousness and unconstitutionality
of the proposed law. He says a new
feature is introduced into the libel
law, by which negligence is made
equivalent to malice and this feature
he deemed most unwise. He argued
that the bill discriminates against the
newspapers of Pennsylvania in favor
Of those printed in other states and
circulated in this state.
The governor concluded the hear
ing by the announcement: l am
obliged to you gentlemen for the helI
you have given me-"
Mr.. Smith then handed to the gov
ernor over one hundred letters from
editors of newspapers in Pennsylvania
who were unable to be present at the
hearing, urging him to veto the bill.
w. K. Vanderbilt Can Marry Again.
New York, April 21.-Justice Gieger-
ich, in the supreme court, signed an
order permitting William K. Wander
bilt to marry again. The order modi-
fies the decree obtained by Mrs. Alva
e. Vanderbilt in 1895, by which Mr.
Vanderbilt was forbidden to marry
within the life of his divorced wife
The application for the order was sup
ported by affidavits made by United
States Senator Chauncey M. Depew ant
B. V. W. Rossiter, and sets forth the
fact that Mr.. Vanderbilt now is il
Paris, France. and that he is desirou'
Of forthwith contracting another mar
riage. It is said he will wed a Mrs
Rutherford, a beautiful young Ameri
can widow. now in London.