The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-03
ITALIAN RULER
GAGS PRESS BY
LEGISLATION
New Law Destroys All
Freedom of Speech

NSpeCldl TO ] ne OdiN WOtkeFl
ROME, Mar. H. The press act,
passed by the last chamber Of deputies
at the command bfh Mussolini, gives
the dictator absolute and unlimited
control Of all newspapers and period
icals published In Italy. It is worth
the attention of workers all over the
world as an example Of what they will
be confronted with as the present sys-
tenn breaks down and the need Of the
ruling class for the most rigorous
measures Of suppression become more
pressing. e IS
The act stipulates that every news
paper or periodical must have a re-
sponsible manager If the manager is
parliamentary deputy or senator,
the responsibility falls on one of the
chief editors. Before they can enter
upon their duties, responsible man
ayers or editors must provide them
selves with an authority from the at
torney-general at the court appeal
under whose jurisdiction the paper is
being published. This authority can
be refused or revoked if the journal
lists in question have twice been pun
ished for journalistic offenses. Pub
LEGATION cannot take place until the
authority has been given.
List of Owners.
The publisher must submit COM
plete list Of the proprietors of the
paper, together with his request for
the recognition of the responsible man.
ager or editor. The proprietors are
liable for the payment of any dam
ages or legal costs consequent upon
or arising out of conviction for a i
journalistic offense. The machinery,
type and installations of the printing
shop must stand as surety for these
payments. The proprietors can free
themselves from this liability by de-
posting as security a sum to be fixed
every year according to the circum-
stances, by the president Of the court
in the district in question.
Order Of Journalists.
While it might be thought that these
provisions are sufficiently rigorous to
give Mussolini control, a further ex-
tension of his power is to be found in
the next to the last clause of the bill
which establishes Sn3rder of journal
lists" This order is to draw up list
OF those who in its. opinion are en-
titled to write for and manage the
press and magazines Upon the filing
OF this roll at the aehancery of the
court of appeal, the law provides that
The exercise of the profession of
journalist shall only be permitted to
those persons whose names are in
scribed on this roll. "A special regula-
ton shall establish the terms for such
inscription" at
To Wipe Out Opposition.
This measure will enable the dicta-
tor to wipe out not only what little
is left of the anti-fascist press but
as we'll the papers which maintain
neutrality politically. The recent
change in the ownership of the two
great bourgeois opposition papers, the
Stampa and the Corriere della Sera,
is believed due to the new law.
The difficulties of the labor press
are tremendously increased. Unless
these papers are to be mere echoes
OF the fascist movement-and in that
case they will, of course, be worse
than useless to the workers-they win
face raids on their printing plants
and physical assaults on their staff
without any possible legal redress.
An underground press is certain to
appear. n