The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-07
The Printed and Imprinted Paper Question
Saws the RufaLo E.rpress:

and suffering under high prices that cannot
be compensated in the sale OF newspapers.
True, very likely,-and what remedy is
proposed? One that, in our judgment, viii
afford not particle of relief. 1t is simply 10
abolish the duty on imported paper, ana place
our paper manufacturers in compeutlon WIN
those of Europe. Will this afford rehefY we
saw no. and we prove the correctness Of ills
answer In several ways.
1.-Exchange is 80 high between this coun-
try and Europe, that not pound of paper
would be imported even were the duty
abolished. When the ruling price of Exchange
Is added to the European price Of paper, and
to the sum thus obtained are added the expen-
ses of freight, insurance, commissions in Eu-
rope and importers profit in this country, the
aggregate will be swollen to larger sum Ia
New York, than 1t now costs the consumer at
his own Office door.
g. La the British provinces the duty on
paper is five per cent; precisely the same
from the United States that it is from Eng
land. According to the logic and argument
of those who clamor for the abolition Of paper
Quby III OfQCt W OnNOuldSO AmPOh bdttOac duu
thus secure low prices. the consumers in those
provinces should import their paper--if they
do not manufacture it--not from the United
States, but from across the ocean; but what Is
the factP Simply this: that the heaviest St.
John consumers procure their paper supply
from this State; from Mechanic Falls, paying
at the mills the same as Portland consumers
do, and then paying the freight and duties,
finding their interest In so doing rather than
in direct Importation from Europe, with
which they have regular trade.
Sat the present price of gold and rates
OF Exchange the duty on paper has no effect;
but abolish that duty and then restore green
backs to their par value in gold, and bring
down the rates of Exchange to au ordinary
peace standard, and what would be the effect
1t would be precisely the same as it has been
In the manufacture of matches. The domes.
tic manufacturer has to pay heavy internal
revenue tax on his manufactured articles
while the foreign article with which it is pro.
posed to bring him 10 composition would pay
no tax whatever for the benefit of the Gov
eminent. The result would be as it has been
with the match manufacturers; they would
be either broken down, or compelled to eo
beyond our national boundaries to carry q
their business We do not believe such q
Condition Of thugs Is desirable.
One word upon the price of paper. When
gold and greenbacks were on the same Level,
or separated by a merely nominal margin,
the price Of printing paper, such as newspa-
per publishers use, was about ten cents a
pound 1t was very low; SO low that large
mills at Gardiner, at. Manchester, at Lawrence
and at many other places suspend I'd opera
lions, II they did not actually 60 into chan
Gerry. Probably eleven cents was quite as low
then as would yield a reasonable living profit
and an honest return upon the investment OF
the manufacturer.
But Tor the purposes of the present argu-
aud fair price,--we ask any rational man t.
assign good and valid reason why it should
not rise in price in proportion to the variation
In gold, which is the acknowledged standard
of value? When gold commanded 100 per
cent. premium, paper was not far from twenty
cents; when paper touched twenty-five and
twenty-eight cents, gold was from $50 to $50
per cent, and now, when gold has gradually
gone down to about 1870 per cent. premium
we find paper has declined till it touches
twenty-five cents, and is offered on large con-
tracts at even less How can itwelI be othf r
wise? Why should it be different in this
respect from other articles2 Has there b. en-
time for the last three years when ten cents
pound ia gold would not com nand an ade-
ouate supply of paper, or when the consumer
could not have contracted for years supply
IN advance at ten cents in gold2 We think
not. Ia its rise and fluctuations the price of
paper has not afforded an exception to that Of
other manufactured or unmanulactured arti
cies. Ordinary cotton fabrics have advanced
In very much greater ratio. Heavy sheet
ings have advanced from eight to sixty cents
psryard; foe sheetings 10 same proportion;
prints from a 10 cents to 80 a SO; drillings,
tickings and denims from 10 a Is to AZ a 81:
cotton Aaunels from 10 IL to 40 a 81, &C.
A similar advance is seen in other things
Sugar, m7lAsses, butter, cheese, eggs, beef,
pork, coffee, tea, and almost everything we
eat, drink or wear, has advanced from 100 to
300 or 500 per cent, sho Wing conciusively
that the article OF printing paper forms no
exception to the general rule. -
Nov what is demAnded, aud why is the de.
mand made? Simply this: that the paper man
nfaeturer should afford marked exception to
every other class OF manufacturers in order
thatnewspapers may live at old peace prices.
or at very small advance upon them. Its
like requiring the manufacturers of leather to
reduce their prices that shosmakers may not
be broken down by furnishing their work at
old prices, or the factories to work at old rates
30 that our country traders may not fail while
selling heavy sheetings at ten cents yard
and other fabrics at the same rate! The de-
mand is unreasonable; it will not, it cannot be
complied With only as the general tendency to
aspacie basis is gradually realised.
"nat shall be done, then? Let newspa-
pers raise their prices to a livngsngure, and
lnen IL the paope will not support them con
slder 1t an Indie alton that the public demand
does not justify their publication
We can see no other reasonable oor.,o -
follow. The law Of trade--the great ,sw 81
demand and supply-is the only thing ,bat
can make anal or stable adjustment, in such
matters. Newspaper manufacturers, like ali
other producers, must submit to this inexora-
Die law. Articles not demanded by public ne
cessity, or public feeling, or public caprice
cannot be forced upon the market, and the
last train on which the age and all things are
moving will not slack up to prevent damage
to the "slow coach" that has undertaken tn
run upon the track.
We konw it is hard work for newspaper
70 weather the storm, and it requires all the
arts OF seamanship to prevent laundering in
the open sea. Bat there is no way but to
move with the general current, and look to
tue reaction sure, sooner or later to come. to
II I'D rnliaf -. -