The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-15
THE PAPER MONOPOLY.

The manufacturers Of paper In the United
States were doing flouriehing business.
they we're making money and making II fast,
but III an evil day they grew rapaclous They
had heard Of corners In cotton and wheat and
corn and they cay to themselves, "Why not a
corner In paper" The Idea struck them
forcibly, and they were not slow to put 1t Into
practice. Not much fDeese was required: 1t
was In fact very simple matter for few
manufacturers to meet and cay. I'VE have the
power to make the people pay; lets exercise
It; let's combine and all put up our prices, and
we have a cure thing" Visions Of princely
fortunes, rapidly acquired, tloated through
the brains Or the monopolista and imme-
diately the screws were applied. The VIC
tins were quiesoent for time and
stood the rise without murmur,
thinking 1t only another evidence
Of the business boom, One more turn made
them vince little. but they were patient
and long suffering until the price jumped up
about 80 per cent. and then there was gen
eral and vigorous expression OF disapproha-
tion-a violent kick. 80 to speak, against
what had become rRlpable and inexcueable
wrong. The newspapers all over the coun-
try have very naturally taken the matter up
In the interest of publishers generally. and
really In the interest VI the public at large,
for the enormous increase In the price Of pa.
per amounts almost to an embargo Oh knowl-
edge, Rs It will largely increase the price OF
school books and literature Or all kinds.
There is no excuse whatever for this increase
Of price, for the duties on the chemicals used
In the manufacture of paper have not been
raised, the price u raw material is not mate
rally above what 1t was last year, and labor
is quite rs cheap.
Examination into the matter proves con-
clusively that the only cause VI the rice In
price is the determination on the part OF the
manufacturers to squeeze the newspapers
and publishers willie they9can do 90 with
impunity. The impudent threat on the part
OF the peper-makers to oppose the reduction
Of the tariff on soda ash. ON the ground that
they desire to be permitted to reap rich
harry eet from the people OF the entire coun-
try. should be met by the representatives OF
the people In Congress by the Immediate re-
peal Of that duty and Of the duties on all
other articles that enter into the manufacture
OF paper. The government only receives
from the duty on such articles the sum OF
$l,1sl, 900 per annum, and but part Of that
amount comes out or the pockets az the
paper manufacturers. Let all such articles
be placed on the free list, to the great benefit
OF our glass and woolen and soap manu-
facturers, and In order to stimulate the
manufacture Of paper. Our representatives
In Congress should not hesitate to give their
earnest and enthusiastic support to the bill
which has been introduced by Mr.. Fort, u
Till noie, and which is now before the Ways
and Means Committee Of the House, for 1t Is
measure that will greatly rebound to the
benefit Or the people Of the whole country,
who are at present at the mercy OF q con-
sciencelees set Of monopolists. The follow
Ing is the Fort bill:
"A Bill to place certain articles imported and
and OF wooden tAbrtce, on the free list. aud to
reduce the import duty on printing paper used
for books. pamphlets. magazines and news
Be II enacted Etc.. That on and after the firat
day OF July 1880, all soda ash and impure car
bonate OF soda imported to be used IN the man.
ufaciure of pap"r. or OF lass. or OF cloths or
fabrics composed wholly or In part Of wool. shall
be admitted free at duty.
X cotton y That ali nnsised printing paper
uesd for ROCKS, pamphlets. magazines and
newspapers exclusively shall BE- subject to an
import duty OF per centum nd valorem."