The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

THE BOOKSELLING TRADE.

DEPUTATION !kip CAMPBELL.

-
A deputation of the bookattling trade, consisting
of M. !ors. Lowman, J. Murray, Parker (Oxford), Pick.
enne Ileilby (Birmingham), Isow,:lxa (Pidiaburgh), Tay-
lor tkianchester), **icy, Bohn, and ;Sampson Low, on
the: pill of the booksellers' association, and Messrs. Per
re
Bickers and Bush, W. Tegg, James
tfri ffen (Glasgow), sad J. Chapman, p:mating the die-
reatients. The o jeet of the meeting was to marble the
latter aestliment to lay their ease before Lord Campbell.
Mr. LICKERS said that the bookselling controversy
having beea exhibited to the public in all its phases, little
remained kr him hirther to odd, than simply in few
words to state their masons why they gave the Booksellers'
Ataasiatiaa their most determined opposition. In the first
piece they claimed the tight to &vase of their pros
C2ss whatever manlier might appear to them most
'vs to their own interest and welfare, unshackled
by trade regulations, which in their opinion were imprac-
ticable and impolitic, as well as unjust both to themselves
as traders, and to the public as purchasers. Secondly, it
appeared to them that the association seeking to effect their
object by means not recognised by the laws of the country.
which tricy believed could not be enforced by a court of
law, was necessarily proved by that circumstance to be
as well as impracticable soil impolitic. Thirdly, its
impracticability was proved by the Lied that for twelve years
they have refused to belong to the association, and other'
more or Les leave coustsutly sit at defiance or evaded
the "rules Laid down from time to time fir the
better Cis it is termed) regulation of the trade."
Mr. llo4ers proceeded, in an address of some length,
to •upport fits liens, and in conclusion said that
no trailing flourished which was encompassed and mbar-
rasieil wits restrictions. That it might that day have its
quietus Iron his lerd.hip and the other gentlemen asso-
ciated with him, was their (the retail booksellere) fervid
hope, mad, in their opinion, the only mode of settling this
sesailquestion. It had been the source of immense tiles to
them individually, as well as annoyance. They bad battled
manfully against it, see they trusted it would ultimately
prove sweemsful. 'Chore could be no peace, no law, no
order, till all artificial restrictions were removed, and men
recognised the win, maxim of letting trade Lome.
Mr. CHAPMAN said that the else of Meters. Strutt
bad been alluded to in the course of those discussions. He
was quite prepared to admit that Messrs. Steen might even
be right in refusing to supply piersonsscllsng the goods at •
loss ; bat that was not the question now in dispute. Messrs,
Strutt di I—not was the case with the publishers—oyes-
bine with other nisnufucturen to prevent any one else from
selling thread at a lower price than they might decide
upon. hut beyend all these assertions, there was one
broil principle which could not be gainsayed, that was the
right of the public to obtain stoods at the lowest possible
"nee at which they could be produced and sold. He would
add that et., of the great evils connected with the associa-
tion was its tendency to generate great dishonesty, as many
of the persons who were forced to sips the agreement
were in the habit of selling at reduced prices. Since
be had withdrawn from the amociatim, he had received
many offers from hoe:see:lcm connected with the moo-
nation to supply him with books, and to such an ex-
tent had the assistance been tendered that he had never
hail occasion to turn away a customer for any book. There
wee no doubt but that the maintenance of the present
system resulted in making books considerably higher in
price: end he had no hesitatien in saying that, it the price
were reduced, the increased sale obtained would effect such
a saving in the items of compoition, advertising, and other
incidental expenses, as would ultimately reduce the charge
for each copy of • work by not less than 3t) per cent. Ile
fully coneurred in the opinions expressed by Mr. Oladstsae,
that the pub.ishers had no claim to ask for any remission of
the paper duty so lung as relations of this formidable and
dangerous citarackr existed among themselves.
Mr. lit'tell said that the firm to which he belonged had
never belonged to the combination. He believed that, if
the great houses had let the trade alone, everything would
bag since have fallen into its natural channel.. (that,
hear.) But he did not know whether there was any use in
troubling his lordship, as he had been informed that two
eminent publisheis had declared they would adhere to the
restrictions, no matter what might be the deci.ion.
Lord CAMPBELL interposed, saying that Mr. Bush had
ao sight to anticipate matters.
Mr. Bl apt suonsitted that he was not out of order, as if
the gentlemen opposite meant exclusive dealing it might
form an element in his lordship's decision. It was alleged
that under 24 per cent. the bodiseller could not live.
Lord CAMPBELL-1 think we must not discuss that, as
it does not come within the scope of our inquiry.
Mr. CHAPMAN said that in America every book,iler
hail his own scale of discounts, and that the discount varied
on different works.

Mr. HUSH roomed, and said that one of the strongest
arguments urged for the restrictions was that they produced
unseirmity of prier • if so, how was it that in cases of long
credit there was a difference of 14 per cent ? The fact was
that the great houses were anxious to increase their bail-
ness. He was so also, and he did not see why ready money
should not have every facility in procuring cheap books.
(Hear, hear.) The gentlemen opposite said that booksellers
could not live under this profit; be thought they could
do with much less, and that with the aid of capital
a fair trade might be carried on with a much smaller per
ce.itage. He u.noght that 11 per cent, would be a good
profit. The result of the present sy-tem was, that small
booksellers kept up no stocks but took their orders to
rateraoster-rew, and the houses there were at an enormous
expense for advertisement,, to keep the public &alleviated
wish the new books. It was also urged that the reetrictiona
pr Hluccd insolvency in the trade,and jetgentlemen opposite
deplored its di eay.
Mr. HURRAY—Un ler your plan it decayed. It is
tiounshiag now.
Mr. 11l SH—All protected trades meat decline. (Hear.)
Another allegation (Oben gentlemen was that books were a
laxury. Why that was an argument be should have ex-
cted from a &nth Sea Islander rather than a Louden
book . (Hear, heir.) But were school bookie law,
medical, scientific, and divinity batiks luxuries ? Ile con-
tended that they were absolute necessities.
Lori CAMPBELL-1 can vouch fur it that law books
are to luxuries. (.b laugh.)
Mr. BUSH proceeded to read several documents, to show
how he had been impeded in his trade by thaw restrictions,
and kow wholesale houses had been coerced into refusing
to dial with hem. Ile complained my much of a placard
that hail been circulated without any printer's name, calcu-
lated very ranch to injure hum in his business, u showing
that the great homes were closed against him. He knew
wore than one bookseller who would have tried an action
could he find whence the placard originated.
Lard CAMPBELL asked bow this placard had been Cie-
(slat. d _ _

-176.-ShE LEY mkt it hod brew scot patted to the trade,

r. CHAPMMAN said that h was silso plaited up in this
shops, is order that any one who came la might mo who
were th. delinqurnts.
Lord CAMPBELL—Why this 1. a sort of oncosummica-
Con. (11. Ar. hear.)
Mr. BUSH proceeded to read letters from various pub.
li.hers declining to deal with him, sad sows of them ad-
mitting that they had been forced to do so by the associa-
tion. _ . _

Mr. W. LONOMAN, on the part of the association, said
that having when he last addressed his lordship placed
before him the arguments in support of the emaciation, it
warn not his intention to revert to that part of the question ;
but the boolselling trade and the protective association
having been made the subject of public discussion to • very
considerable extent, it appeared to him to be necessary to
Defier a few statements and opinions which had been pat
forward, and which, as it appeared to him, were erroneous.
Although this could not but to some extent involve per-
sonal mutt is, he trusted that he should not in any way
eater into or provoke a merely personal discussion between
the supporters of the emaciation and those who had
dill rod tram us. It had been very constantly put forward
that the publishers and the "book merchants," as they
were termed, of Paternoster-row, had supported, if not on.
ginated, toe Booksellers' Association for their own selfish
ends. He used the term "selfish ends" because, although
every man engaged in hennas to make his living tlitteby,
yet in this discussion it had been constantly put forward that
the publishers and book merchants had taken up this system
is order to OUP interests different from those of the
general body of the trade, and in fact, that they had
ensued the retail trade into this system. Now, these state-
ments were diametrically opposite to the real facto of the
ease, and that they were so, could, he believed, be easily
shown. The object of the association was to produce a
uniform rate at which books should be sold. In fact, to
destroy competition in the retailing of books. Now, be
would ask, who was it tint would most benefit by competi.
tin ? Who were those who could compete on the most
advantageous terms? Was it not those whose extent of
business has procured them the high wending name of
book merchants ? Was it not those who had • large capital,
an extensive business, a great machinery, and ample ar-
rangements foe carrying ea that business? and who in
addition to all this were very large proprietors of
cop right. ? Was it not 'beard to suppose that
such a class of men should have a selfish ob-
ject in fettering themselves, in preventing themselves
Iron. entering into • competition with these who had
none of those advantages ? Was not the real tenth also
the enioti probable, to., that one object of the as-
sociation was to prevent the large houses, the book mer-
chants, from entering into a competition with the retail
booksellers which would inevitably destroy them? Having
on the former occasion explained the reasons why the mein.
ben of tho Association deemed it their interest to support
the retail trade by this system, he should not now revert to
that part of the question ; but it might be asked why, if the
processed object was to promote the interests and prosperity
of the retail booksellers, diet they not leave those gentlemen
to manage their own concerns? Ili, answer was, because
the booksellers were powerless without the publishers. It
had excited surprise that Lis house (Mersin. Loegman)
should have taken so prominent • part in the managees- at
at the association. To explain this, it was necessary to state
that for some time minions to 1850 the association was
earned on with great laxity—that it was a snare rather
than • safeguard. (Hear, hear.) It was an Injury
to those who felt themselves bound to observe its rules, and
a protection, an actual benefit, to those who had either
sever bound themselves to observe its rules, or who did
not hesitate to violate the pledges into which they had en-
tered. Under these circumstances the Mesta's. Longman's
were determined that, if the association were to exist, it
should be carried on systematically, thronghly, and COM-
pistely, and equitably, and the trade looking to them, to a
leery considerable extent, as their leaders, wished we should
be dm alga managers of the association. Under these eir-
sometimes his partners permitted him to be the chairman,
nod he then felt that it devolved upon him as a duty to do
ersrlitimi
_in his power to carry out the object to mown-
phial whisk he was placed in that position. Al a great
meg= of line, it a great shortike of corresisses, at, fro.

THIS DAY, Noox.
Oaten el WWI. Strength el Mad. State et the Weather.

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BENEFICIAL ERECTS OF FM TRADL—The fol-
lowing statistics relative to the meek of the population
of the several parishie e,,mpriesti to Mo kederay Union,
Chatham, will be read with interest, elsowing that whilst
In the course of eleven years the poetise los increased
nearly 6,000 in number, pauperism degreased to a very
considerable extent. The return Is mode up to the end of
April, 1612, and is ae follows: Chatham, 22,093;
9,329; Saint Margaret,6,7o2; Saint Nieholu, 3,385 ,•
Lasing, 39; Orange, 185; precinct, 186—making a total
of 11,895. At this period there were 311 paupers in the
house, and 623 families receiving outdoor relief, and the
total number relieved, including men, women, and children,
was 1,C45. The population In 1641 for this district was
36,036 and at that time there were 460 in the union-house,
and 617 receiving out relief. The total number relieved
then, including men, women, and children, was nearly
I,4oo—thns showing an increase of 6,857 in the population,
and the gratifying hot of a decrosee of pauperism.

MlNimillow