The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-10-11
EDITORS PROTEST
Call Latest Ruling Of Commerce Com.
mission Unfair.
RAILROAD ADS BARRED
Say There 10 Nothing In the Law
That Calls for Such an Interpre-
tation - The Commission
Flooded with .kicks."

Washington.-The recent ruling OF
the interstate commerce commission
to the effect that nothing but money
can be paid for transportation of
either persons or property" means
that In the future the railroads will be
prohibited from exchanging transpor.
taton for advertising space in the
newspapers of the country
The ruling has already aroused a
storm OF protest from the publishers
throughout the country. Every mail
into Washington brings hundreds of
letters from newspaper men all OF
which severely criticise the commits
sion for going out of its way to hit
the newspapers" The publishers in
sist that there is nothing in the new
law which would in any way forbid
the railroads from purchasing adver-
using space to be paid for in trans
portation, and that such a ruling is
not only uncalled for by either the
letter or the spirit of the law, but is
unconstitutional as well.'
One prominent publisher said a day
or two ago:
There is not only nothing in the
new rate law which would call for
SUCH ruling as this from the com
mission, but the ruling is antagonistic
| to the national constitution as well
and 1t will not be upheld by the
courts. The railroads that desire pub
licity through the medium OF my pub.
LEGATION make advertising contracts
with me, and say me for the space
used with transportation which is the
same as money to me, as it is used by
myself or my employees in connection
with my business. The government
might with equal justice say the mer
chant could not give dry goods OF
any other marketable commodity II
exchange for advertising space, The
courts would not uphold such a ruling
as that for one moment, and there II
no more reason why they should up
hold this latest erration of the com
merce commission, for it is equally a,
untenable as the proposition between
the publisher and the merchan
would be.
Everyone knows that the railroads
do. and can afford to, advertise mor'
heavily when their advertising ac
counts can be paid for in Transports
ton. Nor does this increased amour
of advertising affect the interests o
the general public in any way. bu
it does assist in making the prosperit,
of the American newspapers and peri
odicals. The transportation that |
given to newspapers in exchange 70
advertising does not affect in any wa
the equitable enforcement of the rat
law, nor does it effect in any way tn
rates charged the general public TO
transportation for either person o
property 1t is a benefit to the raj
roads in that it enables them to do
greater amount of advertising tina
they otherwise could or would do, an
in this way secure greater amour
of business for their lines. and unde
just Interpretation of the law thi
increase in business would eventual
lead to a reduction of transportatio
charges to the general public. 1t
an unjust aad uncalled for ruling. an
both the publisher and the railroad
should fight it."
That publishers are fighting 1T, nj
only by their protests to the commi
sion but by protesting to their repr
| sentatives in both houses of congress
is proven by the fact that already tn
commission is receiving commune
tons from many senators and CO.
gressmen In which these represent
tives of the people declare they ha
no intention of passing a law thi
would affect the newspapers in tn
, way, and that there is nothing In II
new law which calls for such ruin
|, | on the part of the commission.