FREEDOM OF PRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 103, 12 February 1936, Page 6

FREEDOM OF PRESS.

JUDGMENT IN UNITED STATES. LOUISIANA TAN ABOLISHES). United Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 10. The Supreme Court to-day unanimously reversed the Louisiana State tax on the gross receipts of newspapers, and enunciated the doctrine of the constitutional guarantee of the freedom of the press. The judgment is destined to rank as one of the historic documents in American history. The tax, which was one of the late Senator Huey Long’s measures, as Governor of the State, and which was intended not only to secure revenue, hut to give him a measure of control over the press of the state, was declared unconstitutional by Mr Justice Sutherland, who wrote bis opinion. He said that tbe tax bad “a. long history of hostile misuse against the freedom of the press.” The court made it clear that it was not intended to except newspapers from any ordinary form of taxation, but only to protect their recognised freedom from .attacks cloaked under the guise of taxation. “Since an informed, public opinion is the most potent of all restraints upon government, the suppression or abridement of the publicity afforded by a.free press cannot be regarded otherwise than with grave concern,” the judgment states.