French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-22
THE ASSEMBLY DECLINED
TO GIVE FAIR PLAY.


One week ago today, a lone Repre-
sentative from d distant western coun-
ty blocked and caused to be thrown
into the discard an appeal for justice
insofar as the newspapers of the State
are concerned. That was Representa-
tive Raw or Macon though the guilt of
the defeat of the bill to regulate the
pay Tor legal advertising is not alto
gether on his shoulders; but an ad-
verse House rule that slapped the
newspapers of the State in the face
and a wee majority when the bill was
once voted upon, tell sthe story of the
| defeat, after the Senate had passed the
measure 80 for, to 4 against. The de-
feat of the bill-the dire struggle of
recognition upon the part of the news
papers and the struggling gasp for
justice, not mercy, was spurned by the
very politicians whose making was
the work of those newspapers. It
was a case of biting the hand that
feeds them-the hand that made ex-
1stence possible.
What the newspapers sought was
justice-the abatement of an abuse
that the Supreme court of the State
saw existed and the courts opinion
practically pointed the way to relief
by appealing to the Legislature. 1t is
but common sense and if it is worth
So to advertise one track of land, n
dwelling or one farmland the daw says
that it is. Then it is worth twice that
for two tracts, two farms, two dwell
ings, etc.. or there should certainly be
some increased pay. but the law
doesn't allow it. The widow with
three acres sold under deed of trust
pays 3d. just as does the biggest pro-
perty owner with thousands of acres
that it takes columns to describe, vet
the law says So, that's all. In the test
case-169, North Carolina, Leech VS..
Banks, which declares that the news
paper that collects more than So can
be made through process of law to pay
back the diference-likewise points
that while the newspaper might render
service that at its commercial rates as
charged everybody: else, amounted to
much more than So. 1t is all that can
De allowed for the advertising if it
an 1nch-a column Or three
columns.
In this same test case in question
the newspaper was compelled to take
So for service, that at fits actual adj
Vertising rates was many times that
amount-the trustee, we are toId"re-
ce1Ved $1,000 for signing the deed and
the incidental attentions at the sale
and yet you recall that Senator Bur-
Of the legal fraternity is credit
ed with remarking as he cast his vote |
against the bill that he couldn't stand
for that graft"
The newspapers of the State asked
the most moderate rate of any State in
the Union for this legal advertisfng-a
rate not as much even as their SOM.
merc1af advertising rates now. Tie
west OF any State in the Union save
North Dakota-that is, If the bill thew
ascked had been made a law. The
newspapers through their association
representatives even accepted amend
neHts to the bin, and a further red1c-
Ion in the pay to that of even less
a any State in the Union-but vet
was declined. The neWspaDgrs
sought bread and were given a stone,
IL is rattle rearIy to talk of the perl
OF n next Assembly, but we
rave written toppermost across our
S!aCe tnat the man whose cause we
is going to at least favor a
ar deal n fair play to an Industry
"Hlch a done SO much for the State
is the newspapers. An industry that
you'd to-day be bankrupt if it was
1orced to AXE business from the peo-
PIE Z the same pay as the State com
pels Its advertising to be run.
whatever the Legislature might
ave accomplishments at least spurned
me request of the newspapers for fair
play and Justice. The Injured shouId
remember:-Rocky Mount Telegram.