New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-31

tFrom The, Tribune Correspondent
Vienna, May 19-"By order Of the
royal press court this issue Of your
paper is hereby coniscated for printing
news which the court considers should
not be made public" A policeman. with
sword dangling at his side and holding
in his hand an official document with an
imposing seal on 1t. enters the managing
editors room and delivers this decree.
1t is the famous Austrian press GEN.
sorship and confscation machine, called
for short the "confscation apparatus" at
work. Down below the big presses are
laundering along on the last few thou
sand copies of big circulation. 1t is 3
o'clock this morning-too late to make
over" by tearing out the offending ar
/ ticle or news item, putting something
else in its place and reprinting the entire
/ edition.
From the numerous rooms which make
up the editorial sanctum there rolls one
"Donnerwetter! and "Verdammt!" after
another. The managing editor orders a
small sheet, not much larger than a hand
bill. hastily printed that will tell the SUBJ
scribers why they will not receive their
paper that morning
This is a scene which has taken place
quite frequently In Viennese newspaper
offices lately. One afternoon recently the
editions Of five evening papers were con-
fiscated. Probably no editors in the world
can tell as many interesting stories Of
news that never reached their readers as
the Viennese.
From an American viewpoint of a free
press the Austrian press laws press CEN
sorshp and "confiscation apparatus" is
about the most absurd and Anticipated in
stitution in existence. Apparently it was
created largely for the purpose of keeping
the truth from the public.
In Austria books, pictures. illustrated
catalogues, price lists handbills, adver-
tisements and advertising literature
newspapers, periodicals and publications
which appear occasionally, signs and sign
| boards, posters. in fact everything that
! conveys meaning to the mind via the
eye by means of type, pictures or SYM
| bols. is subject TO censorship. Until
Gently even private calling or visiting"
cards were subject TO censorship The
printer had to lay proof of card be-
fore the press court" before he could
/ deliver the order.
Any district or superior court may con-
stitute itself press court" to pass upon
and order the confscation of any news
paper in its jurisdiction.
In Vienna II is q sort OF dual organi-
cation" the press court and the press
police" Together they form the 'confis-
cation apparatus" State Prosecuting At
torney Dr. Karl Mayer presides over the
Viennese judicial press court He Is as
sisted by Councillor OF Police Theodore
Won Jekl. head Of the press police" who
has the advice and assistance OF two
'chief commissioners two commission
ers Of police, and an official, who might
be termed a recorder. The work of car
rying out the confiscation orders OF the
press court is in the hands of an inspector
of police and three police agents.
The "confscation apparatus does not
keep union hours. 1t is on duty twenty
four hours a day. The press court and
police have their Office adjoining that of
the bLdto dttOilCs. piOcpiho AoSiHeiSS o'O
provided there. Real work begins at
o'clock in the morning. when the press
copies Of the first papers arrive. The
press law provides that one Of the first
copies OF anything that can be considered
as coming under the head of printed
matter must be delivered to the press
court and to the general police head
quarters.
1t is impossible for the newspapers TO
hold up their presses until they get police
approval to the copy sent. so the prac-
tice is TO run off the edition and trust to
luck and their own knowledge. sharpened
by experience. as TO what might be OBJ
jectionable. Owing to the financial loss,
confiscation is not deliberately courted
unless for some political purpose or eff
feet.
The press police hastily 90 over the
copies Of papers received. Even the class
flied advertisement columns are quickly
scanned. II anything is found which the
press police believe should not reach the