The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-07
Paper Maksr. and publi.h,r,

An examination Of the census retarns
reveals many interesting and instructive
facts, and also occasionally gives promi-
hence TO some ugly features Of our Ameri-
can trade system that might be proitably
abolished. The returns made Of the paper
making and publishing industries Of the
country expose the gross injustice worked
by the protective policy in it, operation on
these two distinct branches of trade. It
i. explained in the following careful article
from the Missouri republican
In the statistics Of manufactures in the
ccnsu, reports for 1870 the two industries,
paper making and printing, are ranged side
by side IN proper alphabetical order The
arrangement Is a fortunate one, for itshnws
how, Ot these two industries, mutually de-.
pendent OF one another, the greater is
madet1 tribute to the Otherint the adjust
meut Of the tariff Why the large class of
persons in this country who manufacture
white printing paper into newspapers,
books, magazines and the hundred differ
cut forms in which printed matter is fur.
uIshed tO the world, should be taxed for
the benefit of the smaller aud not more
deserving class Of persons who merely
manufacture the white paper that is the
basis OF this vast business it is impossible
% explain on any reasonable hypothesis
but It Is fact. There is a tariff Of 20 Der
cent. levied ON printing paper for the ben
etlt ot the home manufacturer. This
duty Is protective and almost prohibitory
It gives b. the home manufacturer "A viz
tual monopoly Of the home market, and
torbids publishers TO purchase better and
cheaper paper abroad. Our imports Of
paper in 1870 were only 1869, 736 pounds.
the duty on which was the triAiDg sum of
Si2.135, This insignificant amount of
money is all the revenue that the printing
paper tariff yielded to the government
but IL yielded 20 the home manufacturer 20
per cent on all they made, and the con
sumers had TO pay it, The following fig
ures, taken from the census report. show
the relative size and importance of the pa !
per making and publishing interests. Mum |
Der OF establishments paper making GS4 |
printing and publishing 2,lTT hands en-
ployed paper making 1870 printing and
publishing, 3O924 capital employed paper
making $50, lo9,54l printing and publish I
lug SlO,3O4, 727 wages paid paper making
S1,4,I,1s0; printing and publishing SIS
Ss2,9ls products, paper making, $50, s42.-
J;prnting and publishing SOC, 1862, AL 1t
il ~ be remarked here that paper making.
as given, includes not only printing paper
but wrapping paper and paper hangings
if these could be deducted the figures
would be reduced at least ne-third, and
the result would show that the printing and
publishing interest is fully thrice as large
and important as that of paper making
W by should this larger interest be taxed
To- support the smaller2 Why should |
printers and publishers be made to pay |
tribute OF % per cent upon all the paper !
ivy use 10 the owners Of the paper mills |
~ are home manufacturers, the pub !
iilshers not less than the mill owners, and |
"9ul4 seem that one should have an
equai 9hauce with the other. The high
ta arr auySeates plead that we must have |
stun tarit 10 raise the largo rovenra ,ro
need 70 pay the interest ON the public debt
hut this argument has no ap,licatic,, to
the case before us TOR the dnty ', on ,,r;,t
ing paper Yields next 10 no reyenue t. ~.
government II ii were abolished ent;rni,
and paper admitted free, the povernmcn, !
would lose only about S43, 000-less thsn |
the cost OF killing one MOdoc Indian
while the publishing interest, and through
II the people. would be relieved OF a tav
which amounts to millions.