NEWSPAPERS
Mr. BELLAMY offered the following:
Resolved, That the Doorkeeper be authorized to contract for and place upon the desk of each Senator three copies of the daily Journal, three of the daily Sentinel, three of the Evening Commercial, three of the Mirror two of the Telegraph and two of the Volksblatt, two copies of each wrapped and stamped; Provided the said papers publish an accurate account of the proceeding of the General Assembly.
Mr. GIFFORD said the papers last session were comparatively useless to his constituency, on account of the irregularity of the mails Papers directed on the 20th of page: 52[View Page 52] February did not reach a postoffice in his county, where there was a daily mail, until the 11 h of March. He moved to amend by including only the two principal papers.
Mr. BELLAMY'S constituents desired to see an accurate account of our proceedings, and the resolution will bind the papers to make these reports
Mr. HOOPER favored the amendment. The evening papers give but a short report of our proceedings, and for that reason he favored it.
Mr. ROBINSON, of Decatur, complained of its taking two weeks last session for the papers to reach his county, on the line of the railroad
Mr. CHURCH was of the opinion that the evening papers were edited with about as much ability as the others, and that we had better continue the usual custom.
Mr. GIFFORD being informed that we have a new postmaster, and that the mails would probably be more regular hereafter, withdrew his motion.
Mr. CRAVENS moved to amend by allowing each member and officer to select such paper as he may choose Last session, estimating each paper to cost three cents these newspapers cost the State over $7,000, He preferred spending a portion of that money in employing a competent reporter who could furnish full reports to the morning papers. He saw no use in throwing out money by the thousands for no good purpose. One paper will give the information to us as to what the other House is doing.
Mr. TURNER'S constituents desired the papers and were willing to foot the bill. He favored taking them as heretofore.
Mr. HANNA made some remarks to show if we should take one or two of the papers, for the same reason we should take them all.
Mr. CHURCH desired both of the morning papers, and would like to amend the amendment by making it read the "two morning papers."
The amendment (Mr. Cravens') was rejected
Mr. HADLEY opposed the resolution or account of the irregularity of the mails Then the distribution made of these papers was unfair.
Mr ANDREWS moved to strike out of the resolution all except the morning papers.
Mr. BELLAMY regarded the amendment as an unjust discrimination.
Mr. LASELLE desired to see the German papers retained in the resolution - three of the Telegraph and four of the Volksblatt.
Mr. LEE wanted to take all the papers named, and less stamps and stationery.
Mr. BRADLEY agreed with Mr. Laselle in his view of this question, and hoped the amendment would be voted down.
The amendment was rejected by yeas 21, nays 21.
Mr. BELLAMY moved to include the President of the Senate in the resolution
SEVERAL SENATORS - "Consent," "consent."
Mr. LASELLE moved to amend by striking out two inserting 'six copies of the Weekly Volksblatt."The amendment was rejected by yeas 16, nays 27.
Mr. TURNER moved to strike out "2" and insert "5." The Volksblatt being a weekly paper, it is but just.
Mr. STEIN demanded the previous question.
The Senate Seconded the demand for the previous question, and under its operation -
The amendment was adopted by yeas 29, nays 15.
And the resolution, as amended, was rejected by yeas 19, nays 25
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Montgomery, it was-
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourn it be till 9 o'clock A M. to-morrow.
