The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-01
KANSAS c0MMENT
ROIJT NEWSPAPER CHUMPS.

ABOUT NEWSPAPER CHUMPS.
Those who went into the newspaper
business principally, If not solely,
that they might secure transportation
on the railroads in exchange for ad-
vertising are decidedly of the opinion
that the newspapers that advocated
railroad rate legislation and the aboli-
ton of the iniquitous pass business
have got themselves into a nice pickle
since the railroad attorneys declare
that the law prohibits roads from issu-
ing transportation in exchange for ad-
Yertising. One paper sadly and dis
consolately remarks that these editors
who favored rate legislation will no
longer be looked upon with envy by
their neighbors. but will instead be
looked upon as eligible to a thfrty-sec-
ond degree in the ancient and unadui-
terated order of chumpS. OF course,
it will be pretty bad to have to receive
cash from the railroads in pay Tor al
vertising, but as all our life we have
been adapting ourself to unfavorable
conditions, we guess we will manage 10
get used to this. AS to being forced
to realize that we are an unmitigated
and irreclaimab1e chump, that does
not bother US a great deal We always
had a suspicion that we belonged TO
the chump species and it is no great
shock to US to have suspicion resolved
into a certainty. In the meantime 1t
will be interesting, not to say diverting,
to start out on our vacation and meet
and overtake our "chump brethren
trudging along counting ties. Another
thing will help to divert us and to
make the time pass: It will be when
we meet train to stand off and see
those editors. who had sense enough
to stand in with the railroad, reclining
in palace cars as they are whirled past
US on their way to their summer re-
sorts.-Holton Recorder.
STUBBS' FEDERAL CHARTER.
Mr.. ". R. Stubs has added another
chapter to the federal charter contro-
versy in Kansas. Not long ago he
was challenged by his railroad OppO-
nent to cite a single proof from a law
yer of wide reputation who would
VOuch for the constitutiOnality of such
a measure as he proposes Among
other authorities quoted by Mr. Stubs
in answering the challenge is President
Roosevelt through the commissioner
of corporations.
Even so faithful a servitor of the
corporations as Bale Waggener must
undoubtedly be convinced that there is
authority, and high authority, to war
rant the constitutionality of a federal
charter. with adequate provisions to-
meet the conhscatory contingencies
that he thinks might arise from the
passage of such an act. It must be
patent to all that the constitutional
provision that congress has the power
to regulate interstate commerce carries
with it the privilege of prescribing the
means of regulating such commerce.
A federal charter undoubtedly comes
within the scope Of the powers granted
to congress by the constitution. While
such law could. be so composed as
to make If unconstitutional. there
need be no mistake in framing the law
MI Waggener need have no solicitude
for the poor widows and orphans"
whom he seems to think would suffer
by the passage of such measure.
Ample provision could be made to meet
such contingency, even If it did not
satisfy the holders of watered stock.
A federal charter law might be almost
as difficult TO formulate and establish
as the present rate law, but after a
period of attested usefulness It would
take on all of the stability and author
ity which characterize the national
banking system. fsaff
Mr.. stubbs has quoted some unim-
peachable authority on the constitu-
tionality of a federal charter law and
incidentally has proved as great
source of irritation as ever to Hoch and
Curtis and the other railroad candi-
dates in Kansas.-Kansas City Star.