The Elbert County tribune., 1906-10-04
EDITORS PROTEST
C o M NJ E RcE COMMISSIONER
RULING is CALLED UNFAIR.
Raj .BoAD ADS ARE BARRED
Newspaper Men Can Find Nothing in
the Law Warrantins Such An Inter.
probation = Commission Flooded
With "kicks-

WIN NiSNss
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 future the railroads will be pro
hibited from exchanging Transports.
tion for advertising space IN the news.
papers of the country.
The ruling hass already aroused
storm of protest from the publishers
throughout the country. Every mail
letters from newspaper men. all OF
which severely criticise the commits
sion for going out of its way to hit
she newspapers The publishers In.
sist that there is nothing in the new
law which would in any way forbid
the railroads from purchasing adver
tising 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 uncon.
stitutional as well.
One prominent publisher said 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 1t will not be upheld by the courts.
The railroads that desire publicity
through the medium of my publication
make advertising contracts with me,
and pay me for the space used with
transportation, which is the came as
money to me, as 1t Is used by myself
or my employees in connection with my
business. The government might with
equal justice say the merchant should
not give dry goods or any other mar.
ketable commodity in exchange for ad.
vertising space. The courts would not
uphold such a ruling as that for one
moment, and there is no more reason
why they should uphold this latest or.
ration of the Commerce Commission.
for 1t is equally as unterable 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 airy way. but
it does assist in making ,he prosper.
ity OF the American newspapers and
periodicals. The transportation that ia
given to newspapers in exchange for
| advertising does not affect in any way
| the equitable enforcement of the rate
| law. nor does 1t affect In any way the
| rates charged the general public for
| transportation for either persons or
| property. 1t is n benefit TO the rail.
roads in that 1t enables them to do a
greater amount OF advertising that
| they otherwise could or would do, and
\ in this way secure a greater amount
of business for their lines. and under
u Just Interpretation of the law this
| increase in business would eventually
| lead to a reduction of transportation
charges TO the general public. 1t is
an unjust and uncalled for ruling, and
both the publishers and tie railroads
| should fight It."
That publishers are fighting 1t, not
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 thai already tho
commission is receiving communities
| tions from many senators and con.
gressmen In which these representa-
tives OF the people declare they had
no intention of passing law that
would affect tho newspapers In this
way, and that there is nothing in the
| new law which calls for such q ruling
on the part OF the commission.