The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-23
JGstcllancous.
Papar Monopoly.

The Western publishers have issued q circu :.
lar which W. publish below. giving reasons for
an immeiil,e repeal Of the crazy dnty on print
ing paper. IfMorril ofVt.. the puta,ive faith
or NJ our preSen, tariff originated the brilliant
ilea Of tax naathc communication of knowledge,
IL will perhaps ever remain doubt whether he
could serve the country better by working up.
on our 6rliiaa,iuns, or by giving himself to
Barnum. Nearly two Years ago We suggested
ju., such altiun ~ the press of the country
scep nov dispose to take upon this subject OF
being 81 outrigsously tsxel. not for the bene.
Mt ni the revenue. hut Tor the sake ofpaper
makers. IL has been the more surprising to "
that the press have snilerei this grinding mo-
nopnly. since ~ sny time they have had the
power. when concentrated, 90 sweep away this
duty. We hope &" see that power exercised Ia
is tiile-, extent. ii the present petition in C0u-
rre-s shoui fil ot accomplishing the enl
sn. IorssAll
f,r syrll y",r. bsinrs. md fnr ons wear
after the war gan. nsws ''print" sold Tor
ga ~ rrn's prlh Tho mkt ynar it rose IN
LA Is cpn's Dnrius the tlirl ycir IL nd.
v,iiced ~ lj q Ii c,'ts, when r'li wis bat
little higher than now Daring the p,st
light months il ins bnnniel up to 81 81
ccri-. ani publishers are ihrrhtenHa with
stil higher prices What is the cause of
this enormous advance of nearly l'lO per
cont. during che prescnt year. and $50 per'
ccht. ON the pricc- of 1861? Rigs, tow.
old rape AMI b,rlc'ing powders, arc cheaper
now than lli. year, aud arcis, which now
largely en-; ~ in the manufacture of paper,
IL not d ye,y scarce or dear article. Careful
inyestig atom convincss the undersigned that
"print' can h. manufactured alta profit for
six or sewn cents pr pound les' than The
MILLS charge. The present * rb'ttnt prices
arc tho snlt of II c,mrinathn of Eistern
mills to ch,rse. no, what they can afford 10
sell for. bl, lor what IL would cost pub ish'
ers to nplrt ptpcr from abroad, aud ply
tho " per cent ( ,ld ,lufy which the law cx.
acts. Paper nf better qu,ii,y han the do
,n.stic articles, can he laid d,,wr in New
York frnn Europ', Cor IL t. lS cents per
pound, ,n cnrrency hnt when the ~ per
cent. tt 10 is ~ dol. tho diilsrencc between
tha cost and the combination prices is not
sufficient to inlhicc merchants to import. ~.
pcchlly as I, is in tho power Of thc monopc,
lists, by nhatins part OF their enorm,us
profits. tn unierscll them. Sn long as the
cnmbin ,tion lasts, there is no prospect Of II
TALL in "print land il certainly will last I'M
iii the duty is rr,n,ved Relief can only h.
had. therefore. by removing the inppst on
the imported article. J.y
The ,;yernment has nointcrest in preserv
ing the 90 per cent s,ld duty. M it derives
n, revenue thersfrpm. bscause no print paper
is inprted. The manufacturers tx their
prices just at tina, figure which leaves no
margin o' certain profit TO the importer, hut
ye. "gobhlss'" the 81 per can't duty. The
Government ~ an inncnse consumer OF pa,
per. and rs it docs not purchase abroad ,,of
rourse i, mus, ply the monopoly prices
Thus. itstead of obtaining a revenue iron,
the duty, IL gets nothing. aud il actually
obliged q pay twenty per cent higher. For
i,s avn paper than it would il there were nc
lpposton print. rus 80 .sf6t
Il ,nay he alleged by papar makers. that
rags have advanced so much. that they can
mt afford 10 M inufacturc at cheaper prices.
But W.. reply. that cotton and linen are as
drnr in Eirop, as In America. Ind us much
Affected by our war, and ragsshoull be worth
n, moro here, than there yet, il is a noto-
,ions TACT, that',Prjnt" never was cheaper
or more abundant in Europe than this year.
lts sold to publishers in Great Britain
France. Italy. Germany, and Holland, at 3
cents per p,nnd in coin. How unreasonable
and wrongful tAsp. that print should cost
30 ccnts in currency IN America, fu
II rags are high in this country, the COM
bina,ion have made tl,sm M. hui they will
specdily Gall when the 90 per cent. hlpost u
taken OF LIT few r,rgpcs Of furtgn pa \
per ~ imported duty free. relieving thcl
American market of tho alleged over dnand.
and forthwith there will be decline yags,
ani good sprint will ,sben bscoAab mum
dant IN the East. - l8 = ~ and at Ne
wst. at l6t y en-. sqnd and y
nsanufacsurers. IA cd zscs df The fall q /!
the price ~ rsf win ''ssfll realize pro-
largs ~aouRN % esi r~Aspnshls cARitall1
the GarrnaIent VIII l'nvc large suns by 81.
ting cheaper paper, ant publishers vii 1e
ablo q conkinne their husinsss Without vIn
sstar1r1 tI,sn N tho face =. ~, Z -
The present .stax on knowlsdks' q moro
miSfhirvuusxnd Oppressive than aq YnRnt
81. ezcise-slid % kny 'sit,,vr b6ll ,of hdsi.
mes. Sound pglis (,rAlds % 4. t4se. on
knswlrIgcs NJ IN jtnhcnt tirat Bril-
txin has wissly senlovsd Almst all tars on
neFslapsfS and pssjDilcals. u made the
diesssniustinn ~ pub! tuforu tiou ~ cheap
s9,'. szs =, e ,ps..!pl ~. model, MOD !, e. 8.
kiaeooas Of shst1 egl6 tllis regard { /
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