The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-05-14
GARFIELD AND THE PAPER TARIFF.

las very "dioIlAhy 1aV0h1I1 50 sss~ 49,
few months is printing paper-ths advance
having been about fifty per cent. In some
instances publishers have advanced the price
of their publications, in others diminished
the size In all other cases publishers are
sufferers to that extent in their net profits
or net losses. A Publisher using the size
and quality OF paper on which the New
NORTH WEST Is printed and working an
edition Of 4s, 900 would lose $500 each issue
by the advance. which is rather more loss
than the average country newspaper eau
afford and is worthy Of the sympathy ex-
tended to the grasshopper refugee and
other sufferers who have been eminent In
the charitable eye Of America While this
has been grievance it has been borne with
Spartan fortitude. Considering the oppor-
tunity he has and the amount of growing
done at him the American editor IL the
most accomplishing Of all snimals. Per-
haps familiarity with this weakness as be-
trayed by others has Disguised him. An
instance is in point where he even declined
the growl when the verbal collie was pre-
pared for his use and offered with spacious
sophistry by cunning adopts in the art, and
where political feeling as well as personal
Interest were relied on to accomplish the
purpose.
The New York advertising firm Of Geo.
p. Rowell g. Co. sent out to some 5000
publications the following note and ready
written editorial .-m
To ne Editor:
We are requested, by the publishers of severalead
ing New York dailies as we'll manufacturers Of
paper incose TO you the paragraph printed below.
II you read 1t our object will have been attained
Your own interests viii dictate what further USE II
any, you will make OF the suggestion Il contains We
have no personal interest except to friends
the publishers Of newspapers in this and other States
GEO. P. RowELL g. co,
New York, April 81, 1880.
Whatever else may be doubtful about the intention
of the authors of our tariff laws, they undoubtedly
meant 10 place on the free list al materials used In
the manufacture of paper 1t happened that the pulp
OF wood which 10 BY far the most important element
In the manufacture Of paper used by the daily and
weekly press OF the country, not specifically and
by name exempted from duty. Under a Treasury de-
cison which held that this verbal omission fatal
to the free admission Of wood pulp, few manufac
turers Of that article have been able TO impose
brilliant tax on the general body Of paper makers. by
whom IL IL of course shifted the consumers, the
newspaper consumers of the country and the burden
falls with special hardship publishers outside oil
the great cites-we consequently being impoverish
ed so that handful of monoposts may grow rich
The powerful champion Of these monopolists ID
Representative Garfield. We're his opposition TO the
bill withdrawn, the restoration Of wood pulp to the
free list. where II belongs would be accomplished In
few days While his opposition coutin ues the mo
nopolists are secure. Can Mr.. Garfield afford to con.
time his support Of most odious and oppressive
tax which brings in no revenue to the Government
but which interferes very decidedly with the dissent
nation of knowledge among the peoplef
1t Is estimated not one in twenty who re-
ceived this used it or the subject matter Of
1t. While all would be gladly lid Of the
onerous tax the editors resented this sys-
tematic attempt to bull-dozs Mr.. Garfield
and manufacture q sentiment against q
member of Congress who iC 10 fair to as
sumo 10 conscientiously doing his duty, by
consigning the Rowell g. Co. illumination
TO the waste basket.
The matter finally came to Mr., Garfeld's
notice and IN the House May LIST he expos
ed the purposed crusade. He stated the
Ways and Means Committee consisted OF
thirteen members Of which FIVE are Repub-
I,nan, ,cd v>ro,o,n,ad tho ata at I'm nj
he held the controlling vote a. intimated
In the circular absolutely false and
without any shadow Of foundation" He
further said that he and several other mem.
bers had been perfectly willing for weeks to
have this subject brought before the House
as Q separate measure, but there was q
disposition TO bring II In in general tariff
bill; that the tariff laws average about Al
per cent. ad calorem !; that the duty on pa.
per pulp and printing paper is about &c
per cent, and that he and other members
were and had been favorable to reduce this
latter duty to rs low figure as could be
done without destroying or Gripping the
industries with which it is connected.
This exposition shows how unfair would
have been the general disse nination Of the
TRADE against Garfield and the figures
given raise the question whether the ex.
traordinary price Of paper may not arise
from causes independent Of the tariff on
paper and chemicals used in its manufac.
ture. If the tariff were absolutely removed
there would still be thirty per cent. Of an
advance over the prices Of q year ago and
it looks as though the paper makers were
to some degree associated with the emo
nopolists." We trust the Ways and Means
Committee will let the paper repeal come
up as separate measure, and stand or fall
on its own merits. The press has patiently
stood the hardship for some time and some
thing more lie due than to sink its hopes ol
relief IN tho fierce struggle over quinine and