The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-10-05
EDITORS PROTESTING
CALL LATEST RULING OF CON-
MERGE COMM ssioIN UNFAIR.
RAILROAD ADS ARE BARRED
Say There is Nothing in the Law That
Calls for Such an Interpretation
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 OF property meana
that in future the railroads will be
prohibited from exchanging transpoI.
tation Tor advertising space in tho
newspapers of the country.
The ruling has already aroused
storm OF protest from the publishers
throughout the country Every mall
into Washington brings hundreds Of
letters from newspapers men, all of
which severely criticlse the commits.
sion for going out OF its way to nit
the newspapers" The publishers in.
sist that there is nothing new in the
law which would In any way forbid
the railroads from purchasing adyer.
Using space to be paid for in trans
portation and that such ruling is
not only uncalled for by either tne
letter or the spirit OF the law, but is
unconstitutional as we'll.
One prominent publish ~ said day
or Two ago.
There Is not only nothing in the
new rate law which would call for
such i ruling us 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.
| licatiOn make advertising contracts
| with me, and pay me for the space
used with transportation, which is the
same us money to me. and 1t Is used by
J myself or my employees In connection
| with my business. Tho government
| might WITH equal justice say the mer.
chant could not give dry goods or
any other marketable commodity 10
exchange Tor advertising space. The
courts would not uphold such ruling
as that for one moment, and there Is
no more reason why they should up.
hold this latest CREATION of the com
mercc commission, for it Is equally as
untenabc as the proposition between
the publisher and the merchant would
be.
Everybody knows that the railroads
do, and can AFFORD TO. advertise more
heavily when their advertising ac
/ Ia, "A In,
ton. Nor does this increased amount
OF advertising affect the interests of
the general public IN any way, but
! II does assist In making tac prosperity
Of the American newspapers and peri.
odicals. The transportation that IL
given TO newspapers In exchange for
advertising does not AFFECT In any way
the equitable enforcement of the rate
law, nor does It affect in any way the
rates charged the general public for
transportation for either persons or
property, II Is a benefit to the rail.
roads. in that 1t enables them TO do a
greater amount of advertising than
tnCy otherwise could or would do. ANA
in this way secure a greater amount
of business for their lines, and under
just Interpretation would eventually
lead to a reduction of transportation
charges to the general public, II Is
an unjust and uncalled for ruling, and
both the publishers and the railroads
should fight It."
That publishers are fighting It. not
only by their protests to the commits.
sion but by protesting to their repro.
sentatives in both houses OF congress
is proven by the fact that already the
commission Is receiving communica
tions from many senators and con
gressmen In which these representa-
tives of the people declare they had
no intentian of passing a law tha;
would affect the newspapers In this
way and that there Is nothing In the
new law which calls for such u ruling
on the part of the commission.