Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-20
The Duty on Print Paper.

from white paper. This clamor is
raised by newspaper men generally,
and is occasioned by the very great
advance in the price of print paper;
which advance has been brought
about by combination among the
paper makers Of the country. Both
protectionists and frcc-tradcrs join
their voices in calling for this just
roform-and generally the protcc-
tionists are the loudest in demand
ing that paper be put upon the free
list, and are also the most severe in
consuming the paper dealers for ex-
torting the present exorbitant prices.
While the manufacturers have done
nothing To astonish free traders, be-
cause frcc-traders always look for n
combination wherever and whenever
il is possible and profitable, their
action has greatly surprised and in
oenscd the men who, all their lives,
have been repeating such meaning
less phrases as protect home in
dustry," protection is the shortest
road to low prices undue foreign
competition, etc. For instance,
the Chicago Evening Journal, which
has always favored the highest
duties possible, now comes out III
favor of this reform and speaks
very harshly OF the uncomfortable
manufacturers. The Journal does
not condemn the protective system,
but blamcs tho monopolists for
"taking advantage " Of it, and tells
them that by so doing they are
liable to get up boom for free
trade. Of course the high price of
paper will not make prosclytes of
publishers whose minds have be.
come thoroughly muddlcl by the
fallncics Of protection, but il will do
more to shake their faith in high
tariff than the strongest argument
ever made by an advocate for free
dom Of tradc And If it will
only be The cause OF starting
a reform which will ultimately
substitute "a more civilized sys-
tenn ? for our present one of pro-
tcction--i. e. u system under which
all duties viii be removed, Mt
lcnst rs flr rs protection goes 1T
will prove an incstimable blessing;
and il somo newspaper mon 50 to
the wall during the present crisis
they will not be sacrificed III vain,
OF course it would please MS to see
paper imported free, but we cannot
forget that the cost of protection to
paper is but II drop in tho bucket
when compared with the sum total
cxtortcd from the consumers of the
country by our unjust tariff laws.
However, if u single step in the
right direction il possible it, should
DO taken. Let tho clamor be kept
up until the paper monopolists are
forced to compete with foreigners.
Then the buyer MS we'll as the seller
will have something to say in regard
to prices.
The duty on type should also be
removed, il possible, For printers
are MS much ut the mercy of the
type founders rs of the paper
dealers. The prices of type are
fixed by the type founders associa-
ton, and whoever wants type is
compelled to pay the prices SO fixed,
or do without. Remove the - per
cent. duty now imposed, and the
prices Of type would come down
worry greatly And cheap type
would be blessing which can
hardly be fully appreciated. Printers
everywhere would be able to replace
old material with now, and conse-
qucntly their work would be better
and more pleasing TO the eye. And
why the reading public should be
compelled to strain their eyes try
ing to read blurred pages, printed
from old Worn out type, III order
Chat 4 type founding firm or two i'll
each Of the larger cities should
grow rich, is more than we can
comprehend, Cheap type is wanted
~ we'll as cheap paper And the
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