NEWSPAPERS FOR MEMBERS.
Mr. MURRAY, by leave, from the Select Committee appointed for that purpose, made a report recommending the Senate to subscribe for three copies of the Daily Sentinel and the Daily Journal two copies of each to be enveloped and stamped.
Mr. LINE moved that the Senate concur in the report of the Committee.
Mr. MARCH. Will the chairman of the Committee inform the Senate the price asked for those papers?
Mr. MURRAY. I have consulted with the proprietors, and they propose letting us have the papers for five cents a copy-two to be page: 31[View Page 31]stamped the same price at which they were furnished last session.
Mr. COBB moved to amend the report by including The Volksblatt and Indiana American.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to amend the amendment by including the Free Press.
Mr. COBB accepted the amendment.
Mr. JOHNSON moved to amend the amendment by striking out the words "three copies" and inserting the words "one copy."After remarks by Messrs. Johnson, Murray, March, Turner, Hamilton, Mellett and Line-
Mr.JOHNSON'S amendment was rejected.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to amend the amendment by allowing each member to subscribe for three copies of any paper he may choose.
On motion of Mr. ANTHONY, all amendments were laid on the table-yeas 25; noes 16.
Mr. CONNER moved to amend the report of the committee by adding the words "also one copy of a newspaper of each of the several counties of the State having the largest circulation, provided that no paper shall have the sanction of the Senate which does not take a high stand for the Union now and forever."
Mr. STEELE. If would ask if that resolution, having reference to the Union, should not go to the Committee on Federal Relations. [Laughter.]
On motion of Mr. COBB, it was laid on the table-yeas 38, nays 8.
Mr. NEWCOMB offered in lieu of the committee report, a resolution providing that each member of the Senate be authorized to subscribe for any number of newspapers printed in Indianapolis, not exceeding live copies per day, at a rate not exceeding the price paid at the last session.
Mr. JOHNSON moved to amend by inserting in the proper place the words at their own expense." [Laughter.]
On motion by Mr. CONLEY-yeas 22, nays 18-the amendments were laid on the table.
[A message from the House was received, announcing the passage by that body of a, resolution inviting the President of the United States elect to visit this Legislature, when on his way to Washington: and. authorizing the appointment of a committee of seven on the part of the House, and six on the part of the Senate, to escort him thither from the State line.]
Mr. MARCH moved to amend the report of the committee, by providing that the papers are to be furnished at the same price at which they are furnished to individual subscribers, adding the cost of stamps.
Mr. CONLEY moved to amend the amendment, by providing that the Doorkeeper shall con tract for two copies for each member of the Daily Sentinel and the Daily Journal one copy to be enveloped and stamped.
On motion of Mr. MELLETT this amendment to the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. COBB made an ineffectual motion-yeas 9, nays 32-to lay the amendment on the table.
Mr. LINE demanded the previous question.
The call was seconded by 28 Senators.
The main question being ordered-
Mr. March's amendment was agreed to, and the report of the committee as amended was concurred in.
Mr. CONNER. I move to reconsider the vote just taken. As a Senator upon this floor it is my desire to take a course in legislation that shall have an eye to rigid economy. The expense of the State for newspapers and postage is something like four or five thousand dollars. Now certainly any step which involves an expenditure even to that extent is of sufficient importance to require us to stop and think before we act The question will be sprung upon us in a few days as to what number of copies we will take of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, which is a record of the proceedings of this body, and nothing else. It will be urged that we should take that because it is a very important thing, and in order to give the country a full report of our proceedings. Now I desire to state in this connection that I have no hostility to the press of Indianapolis. It is proper that the leading papers of the State should have reporters, that they may report the proceedings which takes place in this Senate Chamber, in view of the increased circulation given to their papers by so doing. There are about 5,000 voters in HIT district, and suppose we take two or three copies of these papers, I beg to know what benefit it will be to the country when you can hope to send but one newspaper to one man in 25 or 30 ? I desire to say barely this much, to indicate why I was opposed to taking any of these papers.
Mr. MURRAY. I am satisfied the action of this body amounts to a refusal to take the papers. We will have the whole question up again when the Doorkeeper comes to make his report, for the Journal and Sentinel proprietors are not going to let us have their papers on these terms. 1 ask gentlemen who object to taking these papers on the score of economy, to look to expenses in other quarters and see whether they can not save money without sacrificing the proposition to enlighten our constituents concerning our action here. We employ a great deal of help for our officers and we have bills printed for our own use; all this without any practical benefit to the people. We hold a majority in both branches of the Legislature, and we will be held responsible for everything passed ; I do not want to keep the people in darkness; I want to let them know what we are doing. I tell gentlemen that information must be imparted to our constituents. I might go on and say that we are expending thousands of dollars every sesson for the printing of our Journals and Reports of benevolent institutions for no prac page: 32[View Page 32]tical benefit. Let gentlemen curtail these expenditures.
Mr. WAGNER. I am in favor of taking the papers and sending them to my constituents, but I want them to pay for it, for I won't do it. I do not get money enough to afford it. I hold the opinion that we should have a reporter upon this floor of our own and pay him for the amount of his work according to any other man who works for money ; and that he shall furnish a report free to any papers that will publish it. These matters must be reported; these newspapers can not afford to print and report for nothing, and we can not pay all these papers for the same thing. 1 shall introduce a resolution at the proper time appointing a committee to get up such an arrangement.
Mr. CONNER withdrew his motion to reconsider.
