GERMAN NEWSPAPERS IN THE HOUSE.
Mr. PACKARD submitted a resolution, that the Doorkeeper be instructed to procure an equal number of Democratic and Republican newspapers, printed in this city in the German language, and cause them to be laid on the desks of members of this House, properly enveloped and stamped.
Mr. HEFFREN had received several copies of the Free Press, and this morning one copy Of the Volksblatt; it was the first he had seen of the latter.
The SPEAKER. The resolution provides for but one copy of each to each member.
Mr. HEFFREN. The question then is, whether it's the daily or weekly.
Several voices, "Weekly."
Mr. ROBBINS. The understanding was, that we should have the weekly, not the daily of either.
Mr. STOTSENBERG had been so informed before by the chairman of the committee, [Mr. Robbins;] but now he got six copies every week of the Free Press, and but one copy weekly of the Volksblatt. He was willing to distribute these Republican German papers, but he desired to distribute an equal number of Democratic German papers. He hoped the the resolution of the gentleman from Marshall might pass, so that we might have a fair shake on each side.
Mr. EDSON proposed to amend the terms of the resolution by saying, "five additional copies of the Volksblalt"
Mr. NEBEKER. The chairman of the committee was directed to ascertain the price of the copies obtained. He would ask the gentleman if he saw these German editors and made the arrangement. The chairman was a Democrat, and certainly had not intended to do wrong.
Mr. ROBBINS. The Volksblatt was five cents a copy stamped, and the Free Press was five cents for the daily and six cents for the weekly.
Mr. WOODHULL moved further to amend the resolution, by adding a clause to rescind the order for the Weekly American. He made this motion on account of a paragraph in that paper of to-day.
The Clerk read the paragraph:
There is no better qualification for a good legislator than to be pliant in the lobby. Their constituents selected them just because the lobby could use them. We know men who boast that they can make more money, and carry more measures, by belonging to the lobby, than to belong to the legislature proper. There is now a large amount of money in use to control the legislature, not by bribing so much as by wearing out, and already the influence of the lobby is manifest. We like the lobby right well after all.
The House was insulted and its motives and integrity were impugned by this language. He had no more at stake than any other gentleman on the floor, but he was not willing to pass it over in silence. It was not charged directly, that money was used here corruptly, but that was inferrable. He thought, that when a paper subscribed for here so far forgot the dignity of its position, as to apply such language as this to the representatives of the people, it was time for the House to show sufficient contempt for the course pursued, to strike it out from amongst those distributed here at the expense of the State.
Mr. DOBBINS. The gentleman from Steuben was not as well acquainted with the Rev. editor of that paper as he was, or he would refrain from taking any notice of this matter. Parson Goodwin was a privileged character-a Republican-so notorious in his way, that he could not hurt; and he was at perfect liberty at all times to write and publish whatever he pleased about him.
Mr. WOODHULL did not know him, it was true, but this he knew and declared, that he was not in favor of buying any paper and sending it to the people affirming such things of himself; and he hoped the House had self-respect enough to repudiate any man that would publish such matter.
Mr. PACKARD. The Editor of this paper might be, and very likely was, well known and justly appreciated by the gentleman from Martin: but our constituents did not know him. He hoped the amendment would prevail. But if not, the Doorkeeper would do him a favor by not leaving the paper on his table. It had thrown contempt on the body from the commencement of the session.
Mr. GIFFORD had only to remark, that the Indiana American was formerly published by its present editor in the county he had the honor to represent. And its character for making, without sufficient evidence, disreputable charges, was thoroughly established. He was opposed to paying for such services, and in favor of sinking this paper from the list taken page: 116[View Page 116] by this House. If the editor would print groundless slander against the Legislature, he ought to be allowed at least to publish his paper at his own expense.
Mr. SHERMAN. Quite time enough has been spent in talking about these papers. He agreed with his friend from Warren, [Mr. Nebeker,] having been a member with that gentleman of the Committee to which this question was referred, that there was no unfairness in the arrangement. He had himself introduced the resolution providing for the German papers, and so far as he knew, the utmost fairness was intended, He wished distinctly to impress the minds of gentlemen that the object-was not so much to enable them to send the papers to their constituents,as it-was to offer encouragement to these German papers to report our proceedings here. That was, in fact, the only object of the order, so far as he was concerned.
Mr: HEFFREN, [interposing.] All I ask is to have as many of one kind as of the other.
Mr. SHERMAN. If the encouragement was not equal, he, for one, would be in favor of making it equal. But quite enough had been said, and he rose merely to move to lay the amendment [Mr. Woodhull's] on the table.
Mr. PARRETT. That's unfair.
Mr. MOORMAN submitted a point of order, that the Weekly American was not in the original resolution. The only way to reach the object of the amendment was to expel the editor, if he had forfeited the privilege of the press.
Mr. FISHER concurred.
The SPEAKER sustained the point of order, and ruled the amendment out.
Mr. HEFFREN proposed further to amend, striking out all after "resolved," and inserting these words: "That the Doorkeeper be directed to obtain from the publisher live additional copies of the Volksblatt, to be enveloped and stamped for the use of the members of this House."
Mr. GORE moved to lay this amendment on the table.
The yeas and nays were demanded and taken, resulting-yeas 41, nays 32.
Mr. CAMERON (explaining his negative vote) said he was opposed to all these motions to lay on the table, because gentlemen should face the music. If any gentleman has wrongfully disparaged us or our constituents, let us say so.
Mr. McLEAN (explaining.) I shall vote to lay the resolution on the table. I must confess that I rather like the Indiana American. It has a sort of independent way of pitching in that pleases me. I am satisfied that it has never done the Democratic party any harm; and I am willing it should exercise its power to kick up a fuss in the Republican party in the most unrestricted manner. It rather pleases me. I regard that paper as one of the most frank, outspoken papers in the State. I do dot know but some members here have be guilty of some things that ought to be held up and rebuked. I trust my skirts are clear, [laughter;] but if any gentleman desires to illustrate my motives or my action here, I wish him to have the opportunity to pitch in. I wish this editor to have a fair hearing. It is a privilege I would give to a political opponent as freely as to one of my own political faith. For myself, I cannot see that this paragraph which has been read has one word in it calculated to lower the dignity of the Indiana House of Representatives.
Mr. STOTSENBERG, [explaining] concur, red with Mr. McLean. He would not touch the liberty of the press, but for matter certainly intended to be offensive and injurious to the body, or to individual members. This seemed to him rather in the sense of warning But one sentence-"There is no better qualification for a good legislator than to be pliant in the lobby," might have been conceived in better terms.
Mr. FRAZIER objected to this range of explanation.
Tee SPEAKER. The gentleman may state his reasons briefly.
Mr. STOTSENBERG sat down, after commending the editor, whom he did not know, for his strictures upon some action of the State Board of Agriculture. He voted aye.
Mr. VEATCH, [explaining.] I shall vote to lay the resolution on the table, and against any and all resolutiont here that shall attempt to muzzle the press. For one, I am for free discussion for all papers and parties. I do not think there has been a statement printed in that paper since I have been in this Hall that reflects upon any member of this House. And as for the lobbies, I do net feel called upon to protect them. Let the lobby membess hold an indignation meeting if they please, and take care of themselves against the American I shall vote aye.
Mr. WOODHULL, [explaining] had not ask-after the political faith of an editor, in a case where there was a manifest slur thrown both upon members of the House and their constituents. He also disclaimed any desire to muzzle the press.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
The subject was laid on the table, by yeas 48, nays 32.
A message from the Governor now announced his approval of Mr. Holcomb's bill, [H. R. 13] to fix the terms of common yleas courts in the Gibson district, and transmitting resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, proposing terms of settlement for the pending Federal difficulties; and also, resolutions of the Alabama Legislature, relative to postal arrangements.
Mr. FORD submitted a resolution, which was adopted, that the Committee on Rights and Privileges inquire into the expediency of requiring all Railroad Companies page: 117[View Page 117]in this State to employ only such engineers to run their trains as can procure regular certifies of qualification.
Mr. HOLCOMB submitted a resolution, which was laid on the table, directing the Committee on Roads to report a bill repealing that portion of the law requiring a road tax on taxable property.
On motion by Mr. STOTSENBERG, the Tennessee and Alabama resolutions, just transited by the Governor, were taken up and referred (without reading) to the Committee of Thirteen.
The House then (at 11 o'clock) adjourned till Monday, 2 o'clock P. M.
