New-York tribune., 1876-07-13
CONTENTION or THE BOoK TRADE.

REPORTS, PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS, AND LIVE AID
DRtssis.
From SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TBiBuSEJ
PHILADELPHIA, July IL. The President
promised the Book Trade Convention yesterday after
noon that # it would then adjourn in dciercncc to the
ia rmOmetef. Mr. Tcknor Of Boston should nave an east
wind AZ hand in the morning. The east wind WIS not
here aud the and the heat but the Convention
restrained its desire lynch ,Lesc popular but d,udins
gentlemen. and bravely TO work At the routine OF
hearing reports. The Committee Of Ihirty, or GRIND
ing Committee" it may properly be called did not get
iar enough into s real work last night to occupy tbc
Convention with ITS report, 50 lat the proceedings be-
gan al once with the report Of Tie Arbitration Commit
tee presented by M Isaac f. sheldon Of Ncwlors The
report showed lie efforts establish in the book trade
an informal court OF arbitration To which violations OF
trade amenities should referred and stated that the
chief difficulty mad been the tendency 70 refer TO TINS
national committee all petty local questions which
should easily DC settled at nome by local trade organza
tiOns Ia sections, notably Philadelphia this nome
work has been excellentiy accomplished.
The Centennial Exhibition Committees report was
submitted Jy the Secretary, Mr. Henry r. Coates IL re-
feled with pardOnabc pride to the results OF It's Work
as shown by the fine American book exhibit.
The Committee on BOOK Fair reported through Mr.
sheldon Secretary the Chairman, Mr.. william If. Apple
ton NOT beng present The three fairs so far held we're
referred to as aiOding encouragement to the new
tom OF general sales the first in July last having netted
double the returns Of the sales under the previous
auction system. 1t has Oeen decided TO hold these Ias
semi-aunuail,, in March and september, the next to
occupy tho last week OF the aer month The sucges-
tions Of tie trade asked toward any Improvement
Of tEe system.
An elaborate report, consisting, as Mr. william Lee
who reaG it, put the matter OF moral reflections. was
snbuitted by the Executive Committee. II discussed
the benefits aud difficulties Of the reform candidy and
fully Nil Lee suggested that - the laws Of the Medes
ana Persaus nothing to the laws OF trade IN tieir
unseeryine Durability, for the laws Of those ancient
gentlemen died out long while the laws OF trade are
making themselves evident with every year lie
cOnscied the Convention u 40 way u array tuo Idue
in opposition 10 them.
Mr. u + Simmons business manager of the American
Tract Society and one OF the live pnshers OF the trade
reported re ios publication societies III such sat
sfactory fashion call out from Mr. Randolph the
characteristic remark that though some people thought
religion didn't amount to much in these days. religion
had kept Il rules better than anybody else.
Reports sections OF the trade local organ
zato g. &C. were then called for, Mr.. A. c. Barnes OF
NewYork speaking first for the Central Booksellers As-
sociati0n resolution passed by that organization,
ureing the Convention recommend the reduction OF
retail prices OF trade discounts rs the most practical
means Of reform, heartily appauded; as was also
Tin. brjef but outspoken address OF Mr. A Armstrong
head OF the house. In which he said frankly that
The increasing trade discounts demanded undor the
tom Of allowing discounts TO al sorts Of purchasers had
tended decidedly the retail prces He would
by all means down both together. The publishers
nave gained by the present system he said Tor his
profits are lower than they ever have been before.
Addresses were made also by Mr. Hsmmett Of Boston,
who gave a rather discouragns report from New En-
gland; Mr. HI Of Robert Clarke Co.. Cincinnati Mr.
Csuiug Of Baltimore, experience In the Maryland
agsatlre makes him the best parliamentarian in the
Convention, and most useful the Chairman OF the
com littee Of Thirty Mr.. Knight OF II. b. Minis Co.,
Toy. and Others Letters were read from Augustus
Flag q. IAttle, Brown Co.. Boston Robert Carter,
goSe. CLARKE, Fletcher Harper. whose alluded
t. .t veneraon and other veterans pleasant epi-
sode wa the reception and pretty speech tn Enssh, OF
N R6ne Fouret Of Haohete Cie the leading publishing