Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-11-05
THE REGISTER.
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Va.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1880.
Editorial Convention.

Maryland has lately been the centre o.
attraction in her cattle show and agrlcuI-
tural exhibition-as well as the fair of the
MARYLAND institute - The details Ut all
which as given in the Baltimore papers
are highly interesting. She has also had
the convention of Editors held in the Hall
of the Mechanics Institute in Baltimore,
at which large portion Of the press Of
that State were present. Their proceed
ings, as published in The Patriot are
worthy of the highest consideration. A
committee was appointed consisting OF
William Fort of the Howard Gazette
George w. Wilson, Of the Marlb3r'
Gazette, and John Braddock, Of the Rock
vile Journal, charged with the duty o.
preparing and reporting business for the
action of the Convention. and after shOr'
absence they made their first reporl
on the subject of cheap postage. In re-
gard to letter postage, the committee are
of opinion that it should be reduced to
the lowest possible rate, and to secure tha'
object. the system of pre- payment is re-
commended for adoption The ranked
matter of Congress should be paid by the
U. S. Treasury, and the Post-Office De.
par,ment relieved from the burthen. The
tax on newspapers, however, in the opln-
ion of The committee is unequal and oP-
and tends TO abridge their useful
ness. As this is subject in which the
whole community is interested as well as
the typographical craft, we give full ex-
tract from the report:
"Newspapers in the present advanced state Of
religion, politics, science and art, IN The Unl'eu
States, are indispensable to the people. Trey
cannot do without them. Every thing now goes
to the people through the NV paper and III
this day Of hurry 1t is of the tim 'st importance
that they be informed of every pubic event as
cities aid large villages read six papers where
they used to read but one, or perhaps none
They have no postage to pay. Their papers
are delivered by carries, or sent by railroad anu
steamboat as bundles of ne chaDdiZe. But The
citlzens Of the country cannot afford to take
dai,y or even weekly paper, because The pos
tage would be as much, and IN some cases more
than the paper itself They are therefore de-
priyeG of the information, however lmporiantto
/ EN-, while others enjoy It,
YET they pay taxes 10 make and keep IN re-
pair the roads over which their more favored
fellow citizens receive their daily or weekly
news. lapers should circulate Tree Oi postage
IN the Congression2l Districts in which they are
published The local press of each State would
thus be fostered and without it the talent and
resources Of the country can never be developed
If it be objected that the Department ouId not
sustain so large draft as this won d thioS upon
IT, then let The Government make up the deh-
cheney. The government now makes large ap'
pror riations for our Naval aid Null airy Schools,
Tor Chaplains and Teachers on board our Ma
tional vessels, and at our Military Stations Tor
Lighthouses alo our coasts and for o her SIM
liar expenses. To those we do not OBJECT, but
if teachers and books and lights are afforded TO
one portion. of the people, ncwspapers-ihe
peopie's book-should be afforded TO The whole
people. r..
we venture 10 affirm that no portion Of the
great industrial classes Of tie nation Is contriou-
Iing more to The public welfare than editors and
publishers of periodicals. For The purpose of
scattering intellectual light, the number ct pa
pers has been vastly increased II, every sectlnn
Of this Union, within a few years, aud the Erice
Of subscription reduced 10 the lowest possible
point OF remuneration.
In view, then, cf what individual effort and
enterprise has done, and is still doing, we ask
lar lie abolition oil news paper postage, at least
within each Congressional Laslrlct-"-
The Report was unanimously approved
by The Convention, and resolution adop-
ted, that it should be forwarded By the
presiding officer 20 the two Houses Of