Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-19
THE NEWSPAPER CASH SYSTEM

THE NEWSPAPER CASH SYSTEM.
A friend writing us from Tarborough, renewing
his subscription to the Semi Weekly Standard. saws:
II see You are about to adopt the cash system.
hope it may work WELL It is certainly the correct
rule for newspaper publishers" This il the opinion
OF Gil our subscribers whom we have seen, or from
whom we have heard, since announcing our purpose
The Fayetteville Observer" thus notices the ev,
Of the credit system:
The credit system with Editors of Newspapers
is great evil but in this part of the world we see
no safe remedy for it, except BY tempting advance
payments at reduced prices-as We do. But tho.
Raleigh Standard says it will, on the LIST of Nav
stop every paper which is not then paid for. And
the Newbern News says that on the LIST Of March T.
will begin to publish list of all those indebted to #
These are extreme measures, and we think will
damage the papers more than the public"
We have tried these tempting advance nav
ments" for years, and have found them to operate
badly for both subscribers and publishers. Our
Weekly paper is for example, three dollars per an.
mum, which may be discharged by the payment Of
two dollars in advance. But when the subscriber
postpones payment, and is called upon for the three
dollars he is apt to complain that the interest of one
dollar, which, he says, he is thus charged with 10
enormous; and then if he pay the three dollars to
collector, as is frequently the casc we incur loss
OF twenty per cent-to say nothing of the risk in.
CURED, by longer edits, f1osing the entire amount
Besides, we frequently urged to receive two dol
lars when two and half and three an Justly dine
according to our terms; and refusal to do this has
IN some cases, resulted in unpleasant feeling and
d'scont'nuance of subscriptions. We think the
obserVer" in error in characterizng the cash sys.
tenn IN publishing newspapers as an "extreme meas.
ure. AS general rule, it is certainly quite as con.
Ven'ent to subscriber to pay his subscription at
one time as at vnothcr; and by paying in advance,
he makes an actual saving in cases OF one.hird
OF the amount. subscriber who values his news.
paper, will surely think, at some time during the
year. of paying for it and it is just as well to think of
It, and to do it. at the commencement of his year as at
any other time We shall adopta plan by which all our
subscribers will be regularly notified, oAe month in
advance. Of the times at which their subscriptions
will expire; and, in such a case, nothing can be
easier than for the subscriber to mail the money in
Registered letter, or get some friend who is in
the habit OF writing or else the Postmaster to mail
it for him.
since we have been publishing the Standard not less
than three thousand dollars; and we have actually
lost by the credit SYSTEM not less than ten ousand
doltars-and this with as good subscription list as
there is in the Southern States.
Our Office expenses are on an average, at least
eighty dollars per week. This we pay in cash. every
Saturday evening to hands, and at stated periods
for Ink, paper, &c.
Pay as you co." is the philosophers stone, both
as to nations and individuals The credit system is
fraught with more evils than always appear on the
surface of society. We shall not, however, enlarge
upon these evils now, but leave them for the consd
Grafton and reflection of those of our readers who
know something of human nature, and who have
had experience in business and generally in human
affairs.
We are not complaining of our party, or of our
friends. Far from it. We haye been encouraged
and sustained greatly beyond our merits; and We
can never be sufficiently grateful for the patronage
and the manifold favors extended to US by our
friends. The system of cash payments which We
propose to adopt is, we satisfied the best course
both for them and for ourselves; if We thought 9TH
erwise, we would adhere to the old plan, and 60 for
ward, as we no doubt could quite successfully as
other publishers in the State. Nor shall we initiate
the example of our contemporary of the "Newbern
News" in publishing "black list" If those who
are able to pay US for !abors, continue to re.
fuse to do So we shall leave them to their own re.
Elections and their own consciences and to such
may not have the means to pay, we say cheerfaly-
You are welcome to what you have had. Do not
olI rio tha ;rht cnf
your section but stand by us in heart if you can.
not in purse, and will endeavor heretofore, to
do our duty in the good cause so important and 80
dear to US all.
We do not want Office, nor have we ever impor.
tuned the "powers that be" for patronage. What
we receive of the latter, in the way Of advertising
&C., comes to US unsought, one of the organs of
Democratic principles. All we desire is, to labor
here in our humble way, at the head of this press
for the advancement of Democratic principles and
for the preservation of the Constitution in its pury
fair remuneration. Is this expectation unreasonable!
No one will say it is.
We trust our readers will excuse US for having
devoted so much space to this subject 1t is by no
means pleasant one to us; but it is necessary, in
view of the system We have determined on, that
there should be thorough understanding between
our subscribers and ourselves. We have com.
menced sending out our accounts in the paper
Ample time has been allowed Ito the LIST of May
for those in arrears to pay up. Those who may
wish to remit can do SO now, whether they know
the exact amounts due or not-and they will be
duly credited, and receipts sent showing the time
paid for. We trust that but few--very few will be
behind on the LIST of May. But the rule will be in
fexibly adhered to, in eoe'y case. We cannot make
executions in a matter of this snrt=the best nersQn