BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS--PROSPECTUS VOL. XXI.
The particulars of Legislative expenses for the extra session of 1872, itemized in the Specific Bill approved Dec'ber 21,1872, justifies our statement that the Legislature found the cost of the newspaper subsidies for legislative reports in this city to exceed that of the authentic Brevier.-- The cost of newspapers for that session above that of the Brevier Legislative Reports was $356.73. The newspaper vanished, but the Brevier is extant with all its contributions to history.
The Legislature finding that the cost of their newspaper subsidies exceeded that of the authorized BREVIER REPORTS, the subsidy was cut off by the act of December 19,1872, By that act the newspaper became justly and legally recognized as but "stationery" for the people and their representatives, and, by implication, as unfitted and unworthy to be intrusted and authorized at the public expense as the depository of their solemn legislative records.
The Brevier Reports have done for the people what the newspapers are unfit and unable to do in the matter of a just and stern legislative record; and the work has been done cheaper than the newspaper charges which have been paid out of the treasury for their partial, personal, restricted and unreliable matter called "Legislative Proceedings.
The BREVIER REPORTS contain a record that is impartial,--not a single partial report can be found in any one of the twenty volumes issued.
The BREVIER Reporters in the 24 years of its publication have been careful chiefly to make their work here a good record,and rest its claims to the cherishment of the Legislature upon that alone. They have gone before no Committee, lobbied none, received no approaches for individual favor, nor shaped their work at any time with sinister or partizan objects. It has rested solely and all the time on its merits, its integrity and its fairness; and for these it has all the time received the favoring notice of the Legislature.
As compensation should always be regulated by the skill required, there can be no question but that the pay for service but few are competent to perform should largely exceed the pay for labor that many are able to do. These Brevier Reports, in each page, contain more than three times as much matter as there is in one page of the Supreme Court Reports,yet the Brevier Reports are furnished to the state for two-thirds of a cent a page, while the Reporter of the Supreme Court has received three-quarters of a cent per page, besides the copy-right.
W. H. DRAPIER , Stenographer, Indianapolis, Indiana.
