The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-11-22
Free Exchange and Free Circulation in
the Comfy.

and it is possible that variety of causes
has had share in producing the state of
feeling complained of. The "salary grab"
is put down. generally, at the head of the
list; that act having served as more pro-
life theme for newspaper paragraphs than
any other; but it is doubtful whether this
subject has served more to influence the
evident state of quiet dissatisfaction which
is complained of than some other causes,
and among those may be named the blow
against the country press by Congress, in
abolishing the law which permitted free
exchange of newspapers among publishers,
and free circulation of newspapers in the
county where published.
This was felt by every publisher to be
a stroke of retaliation and revenge, for the
stubborn protest made by the press against
the "back pay outrage, and the sturdy
support given to the Postmaster Generals
recommendations for the adjustment of
the "Franking Privilege so abused by
members of Congress. The steppage of
free exchange was an unfriendly act of
legislation to public education; and al
though it may not have any visible effect
in actually restricting education, it never
theless, tends in some measure to embar-
rass free interchange and communication
of information. 1t is no personal advan-
tage to publishers to have free exchange
with all other newspapers published i'll the
county; but it furnishes every publisher of
newspaper with facilities for diifusing
rapidly and cheaply among the people
needed information, and every thing of
interest that is transporting in the world,
now bound together as one community by
the electric wire. The subscription price
of newspaper will go but a very small
way in paying the cost of collecting, pre-
pairing and publishing what is commonly
termed the reading matter of newspaper,
the advertisements paying almost the en-
tire expense, and yielding the profits; and
the latter are all published at the expense
of individuals. The great reading public
for whom cheap postage, and the whole
parties mainly interested in cheap news
paper subscriptions; and the greater the
facilities extended to publishers for sup
plying this want, the more fully will that
demand be met.
All that can be argued in favor of free
exchanges, can be plead in favor Of free
circulation Of newspapers within The coun-
ties where they are published. The county
paper Is thrown in competition with the
city weekly, which has numerous advan-
tages by wide circulation over many
states, while the county paper cannot hope
to acquire a circulation that will profit it
much, outside of the county where it is
published. it is Of vital Importance to the
interest of its own immediate neighbor
hood.
In conclusion, as to the matter of cost
of transportation in the mails, the county
papers are not perceptibly felt. They are
distributed principally by the way mail
messengers on the cars, and by carriers on
short routes by stage and other private
conveyance, and through county post
offices. And in the matter of exchanges,
their numbers are comparatively small,
but one of each publication going to each
publisher, so that their transmission in the
mails makes no preceptible increase of
matter or expense. While the pttance
received by the government is so small as
not worthy to be considered, the payment
of postage on exchanges and on the county
papers is matter Of serious injury,
especially to country publishers, in the adj
vantage it gives to the city weeklies which
have already monopoly of the business.
| The weeklies are sent to very large
extent, by express or baggage masters to
newsdealers, and while the government
receives no compensation through the mails
| from them, the postage on county papers,
enables them to offer still greater induce
ments to the natural patrons of the county
press to patronize the city weekly at the
expense of the home paper
The whole county press and every inter-
est it controls demand the repeal of this
law SO oppressive to it. The Act of Con-
gress abolishing free exchanges and free
circulation of county papers, is looked
upon as no economical measure, but 4 re-
taliatory stroke by Congress for the stern
demand of the press and people for the
adjustment of the ranking law; and to
this Act may be traced large portion of
dissatisfaction manifested by the Republi-
can party.
1t is not any sympathy for what is vague
| ly termed Democratic measures that the
Republican party have shown more than
| their accustomed lukewarmness the present
Fall. But that 50 stay away" from the
| elections will prove equally fatal to men,
bers of Congress now in power if the will
of the people and the rights of the country
press are not needed. On the eve of the
meeting of Congress let every county paper
in the land be heard in this demand, and
the reckless men who constitute Congress
will not dare to disregard the wrathful
summons.
The Postmaster General opposed the
clause which did this mischief, and pro-
tested against it stoutly before the commit
tee, and his protest being disregarded there,
he spoke to some forty members personally
on the subject, and pointed out the ohjec-
tionable features of the clause. But to no
purpose. Congress was "puffed up
Members were making raid on the treasury
and felt rich and independent. The people
and press had compelled them to abandon
the fraudulent practice Of ranking, and
they sought revenge. But if they do not
heed the warning, they will find that venge-
ance belongs to the people and they will
repay.
THE FIRST Snow STORM -The first
snow storm of the season came down on
the devoted heads of the denizens of these
Atlantic States on Monday last. In this
quarter, a pelting shower of rain and snow