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Show THE MOTIVE OF THE LAW. In the discussion of the "rider" on the postoffice appropriation bill which was evidently partly designed for revenge re-venge upon the newspapers and partly as a censorship over them, the newspapers news-papers of tho country have generally joined, and always with a keen, critical criti-cal view of that legislation, which is by no means complimentary to tho persons who stood for ii. In all that discussion, wc have not seen anything more pertinent per-tinent and direct as following the origin of that legislation to its propor source than the following editorial in a recent number of tho Portland Ore-gonian: Ore-gonian: GETTING EVEN WITH THE PUESS. The Boston Transcript Is credited. In a paragraph grolnc; the rounds of tho newspapers, with the statement that Senator Bourne used his position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Postofflces lo get even with the newspapers by procuring the enactment enact-ment of the drastic newspaper Inquisitorial Inquisi-torial law. Senator Bourne's supposed motive for taklmr revenue on tho newspapers news-papers Is that tlie press of Oregon generally gen-erally opposed his re-election. It Is a fuct that Mr. Bourne Is chairman chair-man of the postoffice committee and was a member of the conference committee, com-mittee, that In the recent Congress adjusted ad-justed a dispute with the House over tho postoffice appropriation bill, to which the obnoxious and Impossible publicity provision was attached us a rider. H Is a fact that tho press of Oregon was almost al-most a unit In opposition lo Senator Bourno's re-election, nnd It Is a fact that the publicity amendment was slipped through without discussion and without the knowledgo of press or people. It Is a fact, too, that It contains provisions relative lo tho labeling of "advertisements" "advertise-ments" that arc similar lo certain provisions pro-visions of Oregon's rcmarkablo corrupt practices act. But whether it is a fact lliat Senator Bourne was inspired by any vengeful motive of reprisal upon the newspapers the Oregonlan docs not know, and does not much care, if It shall seem to Senator Bourne worth while to disclaim dis-claim any such purpose, wc shall accept his statement .at face value. The provisions of the new publicity law requiring the newspapers to publish pub-lish at stated Intervals tho names of their owners and editors, and also their creditors If they have any. as well ns i Ihelr circulation, nre not objectionable In themselves, nnd most newspapers comply cheorfully. Tho public is undoubtedly entitled to know what Influences control, con-trol, directly or indirectly, their newspapers; news-papers; and It Is to be observed thnt. while the new law has been taken into court to determine its constitutionality, nearly all have nevertheless fulfilled Uigbc conditions; con-ditions; The offensive implication of the law is that tlie newspapers of the United States have been selling their news or editorial pages, or both an assumption that is groundless and liltle less than outrageous. The starching and particular particu-lar 'demand Is made that the newspaper shall forfeit the right to tho malls unless It shall label as "advertisements" all notices no-tices for which money is paid or any "valuable consideration " glvim an intolerable intol-erable assumption of censorship over the columns of the press that is generally rn-sentcd rn-sentcd and Is being nowhere obeyed. iN'o honest newspaper . will deceive Its patrons pa-trons as to the character or inspiration for any Item or article or advertisement: lio other newspaper can hope to succeed in tho long run if It prints tainted news or opinions. But no newspaper whatever can maintain it-s Independence or self-respect self-respect If It shall permit to be transferred trans-ferred to Government censorship control of Its columns and dictation as to the character of their contents. If a newspaper news-paper must hear every day on its pages the stamp or Hie Government's approval, or suffer the stigma of Its disapproval, all constitutional guarantees as to free speech mean nothing and we shall have In this country a Russianized press that dares speak tho truth only when some upstart bureaucrat in Washington gives his consent or has his back turned. The wide sweep of tho Inquisitorial statute may be understood when it is said that under its terms- strictly in terpreted, a book may not be sunt to a newspaper for review, unless the opinion opin-ion of the editor, whether favorable or unfavorable, shall be labeled "advertisement." "adver-tisement." Nor may a notice be given of a public performance of any kind, lo which admission Is oharged, and to which a newspaper representative mny have been Invited for purposes of criticism or report, unless It shall be designated "advertisement." "ad-vertisement." A snorting editor Is given a pass to a footbnll game. The price of admission Is trifling, and the so-called courtesy on that account Is nominal or negligible; but the freedom of the field Is all-Important, nnd is not to be had for a price, but only as a matter of accommodation. ac-commodation. Yet Ihc Government would apparently require all newspapers to fasten upon a running account of a great sporting event the untrue mark of "advertisement." "ad-vertisement." All this sounds ridiculous, of eourse: but the Postoffice Department, asked to interpret the law, has given out word that U will follow the strict lotter of its provisions. Yet the Solicitor General of the United Stales In his brief, filed before be-fore the Supreme Couvt the other day. plainly intimated that lie had no expectation expec-tation of thf "advertisement" feature of the law being pronounced valid. He seemed to rest his contention upon the desirability, from the standpoint of public policy, of knowing the names of newspaper news-paper owners nnd creditors. He makes an appeal for the. court to sustain at least ho much of the proposed inquisition. Mr. Beck, an attornev for ope of the publishers, pub-lishers, attacks the consiitnlioniill' v of the law as a whol. with powerful and convincing argument; and t seems to be clear that tho proposed Inquiry bv the Government into the affairs of newspapers news-papers nlnnds upon donblful ground. To which it mav be proper to add that the people of Oregon gave Senator Houriic his walking papers at tho recent election iu excellent form and for proper pro-per cause. |
