Connecticut western news., 1880-02-25
An Appeal to Congress.
CRY FOR CHEAP PAPER MADE BY TRE
 PUBLISHERS OF THE WEST.

The following circular has bee n is- sued and circulated generally by the newspaper publishers of the West:- Herewith find blank memorial to the Senate and House of Representa- tives in Congress, praying for the en- actment of law placing wood and straw pulp, soda-ash and other bleaching chemicals used in paper making, Oh the free list, end also for the reducti ion of the duty on imported uns1zed paper, which, if it meets your approval, please sign and mail immediately to your Rep resentative.
 The extraordinary advance in the price of printing paper within few months past, and the strong probability of the still further rise of several cents per pound, must occasion all publishers serious concern, and steps should be taken to arrest it.
 The principal cause alleged by the paper-makers (who have combined and "pooled their issues J for putting up the price so high is that pulp, soda ash and other chemicals used by them are artifcially dear by reason of the duties levied thereon, and they say that if said pulp and chemicals were placed on the free list they could afford to make paper considerably cheaper. There is un- doubtedly some truth in this claim, and the basis for it should be removed. They will resist the repeal or reduction of the duty on imported paper so long as the onerous taxes on pulp and chemi- calls are retained. If those duties were repealed it would be difficult for the paper-makers to name 8 reasonable or decent pretext for opposing 8 reduction of the tax on printing paper. They would be stripped of their chief excuse for practicing extortion on publishers.
 It is proposed to place wood and straw pulp and the chemicals employed in the manufacture of paper on the free list, and to reduce the duty on print pa per at least to five per cent. ad valorem. It is now twenty per cent, in addition to freight and other charges. A bill combining these objects has been intro duced into the House of Representa- tives, and will be enacted into Q law during the present session if the press of the country act together promptly and energetically in urging upon Con- gress it's importance and necessity. If the bill is passed it will place the busi- ness of paper-making on footing that will enable it to successfully defy foreign competition and at the same time pro- tect publishers against destructive prices and combination raids upon them. The bill is based upon the "live-and-let-live principle. It will relieve both interests of existing abnor. nal burdens and iberate the public from an odious tax on knowledge.
 The revenue derived from the duties on pHlp and chemicals used in paper making is no longer needed by the Treasury, which is now in receipt of a surplus income of many millions a month. Such 8 surplus is demoralizing to Congress as it leads inevitably to ex- travagance, proaigacy and corruption in it's expenditure. The policy of wisdom is to repeal injurious and unnecessary taxes.
 If you are disposed to do anything towards arresting the rise in the price of paper by removing it's cause, or at least it's pretext, let it be done quickly A personal letter. to your Representative in Congress, with the memorial, and some editorial notice of the subject, would advance the object in view.