The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
LAFFERTY Tells !.
OF NEWS TRUST
Oregon Representative Ex-
plains Purpose Of Bill Aim :,
ed at News Carriers.
PASSAGE IS NOT EASY
Object b Broader Than Just Supply.
ing Information for All Papers
in the Country,

RepreSentdtiVe Lauerty OF oregon yes
terday made public a statement concern
ing the bill that he will introduce in the
new Congress declaring the Associated
Press and other news services to be COM
mon carriers. and as such subject to the
Jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. The purpose Of the Lafrerty
bin. according to its author, Is TO require
a free dissemination Of the news'' to all
newspaper publications. The Oregon
member charges the existence OF a news
trust" Discussing the subject, Mr.. Laf-
ferty said:
MY bill putting the Associated Press,
the United Press. the international News
Service. and all other press associations
sauarely under the Jurisdiction of. the In
terstate Commerce Commission. defining
them as common carriers and making II
mandatory that they shall furnish their
news service to all newspapers desiring
the same upon equal terms and at equal
price. will be introduced at the opening
OF the extra session next month. / hope
10 secure Its passage at the December
session, II not at the extra session
III the bill becomes a law, It will
be effective from the start. The as
soclations cannot legally plead future
fulhllment Of existing contracts un-
der the clause of the Constitution
which prevents Congress from passing
any law impairing the obligation of
because these contracts are
with members OF the associations
themselves, and are not with third
and innocent parties.
That the passage of my bill will
not be easy, owing TO the power Of
the press associations affected. I fully
realize. But in this. as in all other
fights affecting the welfare of the
great majority of common people, 1
expect support to come to members Of
Congress from the rank and file that
VIII overcome the power of the big
newspapers.
Aimed at Money Powers.
FURNISHING news service to independ-
ent papers at reasonable price. and |
The consequent furnishing OF reading |
matter to the public at a reasonable |
igure. is not my sole object in offer
ng this bill. While those considerations
Ire important. an equally important
is that of making abso-
utely Independent all newspapers not
n the News Trust. Today the newspa-
,ers using the service of these trusts
ire afraid TO speak out and give their
'wn opinions. They feel dependent upon
he News Trust for outside news. and
they are leary about antag-
mixing the policies of the service that
s being furnished to them. They fear
hat the service may be taken away
rom them and given to a rival Under
his law all papers will get the service
n demand and upon equal terms, Just
S all persons have the right to pur-
hase railroad tickets upon equal terms
My Investigations as a Congressman
ave CONVINCED me that the news trurts
re under control of the money power,
nd that they do not give vital facts to
he public which the public ought TO
now. For example. while the wealth of
ne United States is s125. 000. 900 900, max
Is US the richest country in the world
Is also true that fifty men own 20
er cent of this wealth. It Is further
'ue that 10000 men own 20 per cent Of
ais wealth. leaving only so per cent for
10000 people. This deplorable condi- I
on has been brought about by special
rivtlese. The money power has con-
oiled elections for fifty years. and has
legislation and enforcement OF
ws after elections. This would be i'm
Dssible II We had a free and untram- |
eled dissemination of news
To bring about this revolution is
le object of my bill. The money
,wer today controls the dissemina- :,
on Of news and Indirectly exercises ,
'werful influence upon the editorial I
'licy of all newspapers. This power
i'll be broken IL my bill becomes the
w. and the press OF the country will
set free. Then the common people 7
i'll have their inning in the election
officers. in the passage of laws, and
the enforcement of laws. Then
'ecial privilege will be eliminated,
Id every man who works will be able
buy with his earnings a comfort
'le living for himself and family,
Ike a vacation of at least thirty days
ch year in the mountains or at the
ashore. and lay by a little for his old
.e besides"