Show EDITORS PROTEST call latest ruling of commerce corn mission unfair RAILROAD ADS BARRED say there is nothing in the law that calls for such an interpret Inter pre tat on the commiss on flooded w th kicks washington the recent ruling of the interstate commerce commission to the effect that nothing but money can bs paid for transportation of cither persons or property means that in the future the railroads will be prohibited from exchanging tran tor advertising space in the newspapers of the country the ruling has already aroused a storm of protest from the publishers throughout the country every mail into washington brings hundreds of letters from newspaper men all ot which severely criticism criticise critic ise the commis sion tor going out of its way to hit the newspapers the publishers in that there Is nothing in the new law which would in any way forbid the railroads from purchasing adver using space to be paid for in trans por tatton 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 publisher said a dav or two ago there Is not only nothing the new rate law which would call for such a riling as this from the corn mission b it the ruling Is antagonistic to the national constitution as well and it will not be upheld by the courts the railroads that desire pub lacity through the medium of my pub li cation make advertising contracts with me and say me tor the space used with transportation which is the same as money to me as it Is used by myself or my employed emp loyes 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 tor one moment and there is no more reason why they should up hold this latest er ration of the corn merce commission for it Is equally as untenable 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 ac counts can be paid tor in transports tran alon nor does this increased amount of advertising affect the interests of the general public to any way but it does assist in making the prosperity of the american newspapers and peri the transportation that is given to newspapers in exchange tor advertising does not affect in any way the equitable enforcement of the rate law nor does it effect in any way the rates charged the general public tor transportation for either person or property it Is benefit to the rail roads in that it 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 a just interpretation of the law thi increase in business would eventually lead to a reduction of transportation charges to the general public it is an unjust aud uncalled for ruling and both the publisher and the railroads sheild fight it that publishers are fighting it not only by their protests to the commission but by protesting to their depre in both houses of congress Is proven by the fact that already the commission Is receiving com munica eions from many senators and con gressmen in which these re presenta alves of the people declare they had no intention of passing a law that would affect the newspapers in this way and that there is nothing in the new law which calls for such a ruling on the part of the commission |