The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-11-20
EDITORS PROTEST
Call Latest Ruf1sz. Of Commerce Com
mission Unfair.
RAILROAD ADS BARRED
Say There Is Nothing in the Law
That Calls for Such an lnterpre-
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-
tation 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 a ruling as this from the com.
mission, but the ruling is ~antagonistic
to the national constitution as well,
and it 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 or
n other marketable commodity in
exchange for advertising space. The
courts would not uphold such a ruling
as that for n moment, and there is
no more reason why they should up
hold this latest erration of the com
merce commission, for it is equally as
untenable as the proposition between
the publisher and the merchant
would be.
Everyone knows that the railroads
do, and can afford to, advertise more
heavily when their advertising &C.
counts can be paid for in transporta
ton. Nor does this increased amount
of advertising affect the interests Of
the general public in any way, but
it does assist in making the prosperity
of the American newspapers and peri
odicals. The transportation that Is
given to newspapers in exchange fol
advertising does not affect in any way
the equitable enforcement of the rate
law, nor does it effect in any way the
rates charged the general public fol
transportation for either person OF
property. 1t is a benefit to the rail
roads in that 1t enables them to do +;
greater amount of advertising tina
they otherwise could or would do, an(
in this way ecure a greater amour
of business for their lines, and unde,
a Just Interpretation of the law thii
increase in business would eventual.
lead to a reduction of transportation
charges to the general public. 1t Ii
an unjust aud uncalled for ruling, ant
both the publisher and the railroads
should fight It."
That publishers are fighting 1t, no
only by their protests to the commits
sion but by protesting to their repre-
sentatives in both houses of congress
is proven by the fact that already tn
commission is receiving communities
tons from many senators and cor
gressmen in which these represents
tives of the people declare they ha'
no intention of passing a law tina
would affect the newspapers in thi
way, and that there is nothing in tn
new law which calls for such a ruin
on the part of the commission.