The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-14

tho provisions for compensation for
advertisements Of public notices
which tho Act Of 1875 contained,
adding tho provision "Tbat tho cap
ton to notices shall be at tho rat
of five conts per word" The last
act was not approved by tho Gov
ernor, and became law without his
approval under the provisions of
Section 22 Of Article III Of tho Con-
st'tution of 1868, and Section % Of
.icle " of tho Constitution of
1896.
This last Act ls open to objection,
as reasonable as that had against tho
Act Of 1875, and is cven moro objcc
tionablc, in that tho last clause pro
sents to tho weak temptation
to make money at tho expense
of integrity and fair dealing.
Tho dishonest aro afforded TN op.
portunity to make q caption, SO that
at five cents Il word money could be
realized that an honest man would
not have, while tho honest publisher
must do fair work, for which he can
not obtain just compensation.
Legislation tending towards ell
couraging or opening the way for
unscrupulous conduct is wrong in
principle, vicious, and destructive to
tho interests Dlost to be guarded and
fostored. 1t may bo argued by somo
in support Of this last Act that it is
not obligatory upon the publisher of
u newspaper to advertise public no
tees. Such, however, would be tho
morist sophistry, 1t is not from Il
legal senso obligatory, but from n
business and professional sense IT
is obligatory upon tho publisher of Il
newspaper to afford his patrons all
tho advantages and benefits OF all
mattors concerning the public; but 1
contond that right and Justice mako
it hundred fold moro obligatory
upon tho representatives of the gov
ernment, tho persons honorcl and
charged with properly guarding all
public interests to furnish to tho
people, through tho best uttainablo
channel or medium, notices Of all
such matters as como within the
Act. | do not admit that the
law making power has right to fix
tho price Of printers charges, un-
less the rule of "Nlight makes right" "
for it is my honest opinion that if a
test were made, tho Courts would
say it is Il violation of the ri ghtS in
tended to be gwen citizens by the
Trainers Of our constitution. The
public interests should not be sub.
served at tho expense and charge of
tho newspaper publishers, or any
other respectable private enterprise
Where the public interests require
that the individuals property SHOULD,
be surrendered for public use, provi-
sion was made to secure to the citizen
just and 'air compensation for his
property. On like sound, equitable
basis should the newspaper publisher
receive compensation for the uso OF
his property, far remuneration undcl
regulations that the honorable pub
lisher can bo protected by, and that
tho venal cannot make available fol
corrupt practices. The venal! thanks
to tho worthy, courageous, and
honorable holmsmcn Of tho press
the dark days are past; tho unrclia
bic and corrupt havo boen driven
from our ranks, and today tho ncws
paper fraternity Of tho State arc
worthy the respect, tho confdcncc
tho ostoom, and kindly regard of ali
the citizons Of this grand old Com
monwealth, and in all matters q
public notices, the newspapers should
receive fair compensation on sucl
terms as tho same class o worl
would be performed by honorable
men with fixed business principles
1t is wrong; it is not in the inter
est of the public good for so impor
tant an institution as tho Press to b,
hampcrcd and crippled by tho law
makors, who, to win little notorio
ty pose before tho public as rcono
mists, to jump upon the. newspaper!
and cut into the compensation the,
receive for very important work.
| venture to Say that thn lnuiSlat Ors