The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-10-05
EDITORS PROTESTING
GALL LATEST RuLINo OF COM
MERGE COMMISSION UNFAIR.
RAILROAD ADS ARE BARRED
Say There is Nothing in the Law That
Calls for Such an Interpretation
The Commission Flooded
with * cks."

sNashin : ION The recent ruling OF
the interstate commerce commission
TO the effect that nothing but money
can be paid for Importation OF
either persons OF property" means
that in future me railroads will be
prohibited from exchanging transpog-
tation FOR Advertising space in the
newspapers Of the country.
The ruling has already aroused a
storm Of protest nom the publishers
throughout the country Every NAL
INFO Washington brings hundreds OF
letters from sew spapers men. all OF
which severely cri,icise he commits
sion for going on, OF is 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 adver-
Using space 10 Be paid for in trans
po-tation and that such 4 ruling is
not only uncalled for by either sne
letter or the spirit OF the law. but Is
unconstitutional As we'll
one prominent pablisaar said 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 * viii aot be upneld BY the
courts. The railroads that desire PUB
llcity through The medium Of my pub
lication make advertising contracts
with me. and pay me for the space
used with trans nortation. which is the
same as money TO me. and k Is used by
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 in
exchange for advertising space. The
courts would nOt uphold such a ruling
as that for one moment. and there IS
no more reason why they should ID
hold his latest GRAFTON OF the com.
merce commission. for it is equally as
untenable as the proposition between
the publisher and the merchant would
be-
Every body knows that the railroads
do. and can afford TO. advertise more
heavily when their advertising &C
counts can be paid for in Transports
ton Nor does this increased amount
OF advertising affect the interests of
the general public in any way. bur
IL does assist in making the prosperity
OF the American newspapers and peri.
odicals. The transportation that i
given 10 newspapers in exchange for
advertising does not affect in any way
the equitable enforcement Of the ra;e
law. nor does * affect in any way the
rates charged the general public for
transportation for either persons az
property. IL is 4 benefit 10 the rail.
roads, in that l. enables them 10 do A
greater amount OF advertising than
they otherwise could or would do. ana
IN this way secure q greater amount
OF business for their lines. and under
a just Interpretation would eventually
lead to a reduction OF transp1rtaiilr
charges 20 the general public. y i
an unjust and uncalled for ruling and
both the publishers and the railroads
should fight Go"
That publishers are fighting n. not
only by their protests TO the commits
sion but by protesting 10 ;heir repre-
sentatives in both houses Of congress.
S proven by the fact that already the
commission Is receiving communica.
tons from many senators and con.
sressmen IN which these representa-
tiyes Of the people declare they had
no intentian Of passing a law tla:
would affect the newspap RS in this
Way. and that there Is nothing in the
new Law whca calls for such ruling
on he part Of the commission.
NEWS RpEAfTfCc