The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-26
A NEW LIBEL Law
introduced in Pennsylvania Legis-
lature b. Senator Goehring.
MUST RETRAcT FALSE NEWS

MUST RETRAcT FALSE NEWS
Proposed Measure Provides Remedy
BY Bill In Equity Against Publish
ers For Statements Alleged to Be
False.
Harrisburg. Pa. Jan. Ex-senator
Iohn NJ. Goehring. OF Allegheny, In
PRODUCED in the senate a bill giving a
remedy by bill in equity against the
publishers Of newspapers for publica-
tons affecting individuals, associa-
lions. firms or corporations and al
legged To be false in whole or in part
The text Of the bill is as follows:
Section THAT whenever any pub
LEGATION is made in any newspaper
printed or published in this state re-
ferring To an Individual association
firm or corporation. and which such
individual. association, firm or corpor-
alton shall allege to be false, either IN
whole or in part. he or It may ME
bill against the publisher or puDllsh-
ers Of such newspaper in any court OF
equity in this commonwealth where
such newspaper is published or the
publication has been circulated. com
planning OF such publication, and
praying the court to inquire as to It's
truth or falsity. and the court shall
in each case have T%yer TO make all
necessary orders tor'the service OF the
bill upon the defendants in whatever
comfy they may reside or be found.
and also tor the purpose OF requiring
an appearance and answer, or the en-
try Of "A decree in case no appearance
is entered or answer filed.
Section 2--lf an answer be filed. the
said court shall proceed to hear said
case. and on the demand OF either
party. in case any facts are in dispute
shall award trial by jury as to such
facts. and in that case the cause shall
be tried as speedily as possible and
shall have precedence for trial over
other causes.
Section I'm case a decree Is en-
tered in default OF appearance or an
swer or when the said cause has been
heard bv the court. either itself or
with the aid Of a jury. as above pro-
yided. ii the court shall find the pub
lication To be false in any particular.
il shall have power TO direct retrac-
ton thereof in such general or SPECIFIC
form as the court may direct in its
decree. and the same shall be publish
ed in the newspaper in which the
original publication was made, in such
place. type and for such number OF
issues as the court in its discretion
may deem right and proper. and the
said court may enforce its decree by
attachment for contempt or other
penalty. II the court shall find that
the publication was true, then the bill
NAV be dismissed at the costs OF the
paintiff.
A legislative appOrtiOnment bill in
creasing the representation in the
house Of representatives from 204 TO
POI was introduced in that body by
Mr.. McWhinney, OF Allegheny The
bill gives Allegheny county eight ad-
ditional representatives. Philadelphia.
Luzerne and Lackawanna two each.
and Blair. Cambria Clearfeld, Fay
cite. Jefferson. Northumberland and
Westmoreland counties one each. The
counties OF Adams. Bedford. Bradford.
Bucks. Centre Chester. Clarion. Co
lumbia Crawford. Huntingdon, In
diana. Lancaster. Lycoming, Mercer
Montgomery. 5chuylkill. Susquehanna
and Wayne each lose one representa-
tive