The Forrest City times., 1906-10-05
EDITORS PROTESTING
CALL LATEST RULING OF COM
 MERGE CORNERSTONE 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 10 the effect that nothing but money can be paid for transportation of either persons of property" means that in future the railroads will be prohibited from exchanging transpor- tation for advertising space in the newspapers of the country.
 The ruling has already aroused . storm of protest from the publishers throughout the country. Every mail into Washington brings hundreds of letters from newspapers men. all of which severely criticise the commis- 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 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 unconstitutional as well.
 One prominent publish ar said a 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 1t will not be upheld by tho 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 tho same as money to me, and 1t Is used b. 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 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 up- hold this latest erration of the com merce commission. for 1t Is equally as untenable as the proposition between the publisher and the merchant would be.
 l Everybody knows that the railroads do. and can afford to, advertise moro heavily when their advertising ac. 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 1t does assist in making tne prosperity of the American newspapers an: pers odicals The transportation that is 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 tha transportation for either perscss or property. It is a benefit to the rail roads. in that 1t enables them tc .l2 a greater amount of advertisin2 than they otherwise could or would do. and In this way secure greater amount of business for their lines, and under a just interpretation would eventually lead to reduction of transportation charges to the general public It Is an unjust and uncalled for ruling, and both the publishers and the 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 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 law taas would affect the newspapers in this way, and that there is nothing in the new law whicn calls for such a ruling on the part of the commission.