The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-07


friend by post There has been little Of that.
Il 10 often done when there il marriage death,
or some piece Of information that you want your
friend to know IN s Sshsr country and 70
share the expenses Of the paper between dinerent
persons mo, they are 50 cheap that it is not worth
Mr.. RIcH-Ths Transmission by post would be
nearly ~ expensive the cost Of the paper, would
II not LQuite 20, % they send them In separately
and the post Offices do not like to receive them in
that way. :,
Mr.. EwART-When you can get them so easily,
you need not transmit the N NO.
Mr. CoBDEN-The working people in New York
are not in the habit Of resortng to public houses to
read the newspapers, are they Yes, they are, but
They resort to public houses to drink spirits, or
anything else IA good many Of them do; 1t 10 not
the general practice, but still there are quite
class who do so.
The newspaper is not the attraction to the public
house mo; think q very small proportion of our
reading class 70 there at all those that have
there are mainly the foreign population-those who
do not read.
CHAIRMAN-Are there any papers published in Ne,o
York, IN other parts iOhtch may be said to be of an
obscene or immoral eharactr?- we caRthe NEW YORK
HERALD a r1y bad papu-those ,oho do not like it;
Have you heard of paper called the To,vn pub
lished in this country, with pictures of certain
character in it, an unstamped publication-have
you any publications in the United States of that
papers got up from time to time, called the Scorpion,
the Flash, the Whip, and so on, whose purpose is
to ext0rt money from parties who can be threaten
ed with exposure of immoral practices, or for visit.
MIR EwART-Will you look at that paper-(the
T0,cn being handed to the witness) p There was q
class Of weekly papers got up there that were print
ed for two or three months do not know OF any
one being continued any considerable time; if one
dies another is got up, and that goes down.
They do not last, do they!-No; and suppose
they do not here; but the cheap daily papers, the
very cheapest are, a whole, think, quite dis.
Greet IN their conduct and conversation as other
journals. They do not embody the same anou mt
of talent; they devote themselves mainly to news.
Independent that is, of no party. They are not
given to harsh lang uage with regard to public men;
they are very moderate
Is scp,rility o, personality common to tho publ
cations IN the United States?-H is not common; ii
is much less frequent than tcaS, but IS not a6so-
inttfy naknOaCn
CHAIRMAN-In the transmits ZION of papers by post,
is distinction made between newspapers and other
printed matter!-T There is distinction. Other
printed matter goes by weight, q cents being
charged for the first ounce, and cent for every
succeeding ounce. believe that is the rate Of post
age there; but it is reduced by tho new law.
There is a less rate of postage applied to news
papers than to other printed matter!-Yes.
What do you call a newspaper-where do you
draw the line between what comes under the post
age rate and what is liable to higher ratel-The
once week was newspaper; the Others are gene
rally regarded as magazines and periodicals.
fit is only printed once-for instance, supposing
thatyou printed any particular fact in paper pub
Eshed to distribute all through the country, would
that come under the printed matter rate, or under
the newspaper rate!-lfit had the appearance OF q
ne Hspaper, and said to be published weekly, Of
it would come under the newspaper rate; at
if not, was not to bepublished as periodical, it
would be re garded other printed matter. There
is no carefulness about these matters. One post
Their would not, and they often refer to the Post
master General, and he decides.
Has there ever been any proposition made In the
United States with view to control the press for
instance, that it should be liable to a stamp duty,
and give security in the same manner as is required
in France!-l have heard suggestion that 1t might
be well to charge one cent on copy, and let it go
free through the post but not by any mum Der Of
persons Some have said that it would improve the
character Of the press but it was never seriously
taken up. have seen 1t in newspapers as sug-
gsstion.
MIR. CoBpEN-Whati is the circulation of the Nec
YNk Hn0tt ?-I think rs, 900.
Has its circulation been increased du,iHg the last
facgecrs, or othgcise ?-I think it has rather in
creased not diminished.
Lsthat on irytu<ntiaip1p9 in America ?-Ithink not.
IL has ahiga0 reputation probably an Europe than
at home I'd certain class of Journals in this country
nd eir interest pleasure to quote ii good deal.
CHAIkMAH-As the demand is extensive, is the re-
muneraton for the services Of literary men who
labor are mere mode rate than in this country.
The highest salary, think, thu would be COM
maDdcd by any one connected with the press would
be l,0O0t the highest that could be thought Of;
have not heard Of higher than 600i.
Mr.. RIcH-What would be about the ordinary
remuneration I'm our own concern il is, besides
the principal editor, 1901. down to l00. think
that is the usual range.
in point of literary ability, EN- ployed from time to
time upon the press as occupation lit Is begin
ming to be SO, but it has not been the custom.
There have been leading men connected with the
press but the press has not been usually condu tied
by the most powerful men. With few exceptions,
the leading political journals are conducted ably,
ard this Is becoming more general and with
wider diffusion Of the circulation, the press is more
able to pay for it.
Mr.. RIou-Is 1t q profession apart mo; usual.
y the men have been brought up to the bar, to the
pulpit, as printers, and so on; they are not original
CHAIFirAN-Yo our extensive circulation Of those
cheap papers Is based, to some extent upon the
fact that Jour whole population can read ?-Yes.
presume that tho non.rcadng class in the United
States is limited one Yes, except In the slave
States
Do not you consider that newspaper reading is
calculated to keep up habit Of reading II think
it is worth all the schools in the country. think
it creates taste for reading in every chds mind,
and it increases his interest in his Lessons he is at
tracted to study from the habit Of always seeing
newspaper, and hearing it read. think.
Surprising that you had your schools as now, but
that your newspaper press were reduced within the
limits Of the press in England, do not you think
a hat the habit of reading acquired at school would
oe frequently laid aside IL think that the habit
would not be acquired, and that often reading
would fall into dsuse.
Mr. RicH-Does not the habit Of reading create
demand for newspapers, rather than the supply Of
newspapers create habit of readingl-l should
rather say that the capacity that is obtained in the
schools creates demand for ne rspapers.
The greater number Of persons who read In the
United States accounts for the greater number Of
newspapers that are published does 1t notl-There
is no class in the free Stateswho do not know how
to read, except the immigrant class.
But in proportion to the number Of persons who
can read will be the number Of papers supplied
Yes.
CHAIRMAN But the means Of obtaining cheap
newspapers enables people to keep up their readings
does IL notl-Yes
Mr.. EwART-Must not the contents Of news
paper have great effect upon the character Of the
population, and give more practical turn to their
- LII. A I'll ,rt In. rt.