New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-28

THE NEUS-D DEALERS md THE PUBLIC
The action of the news-oealers, IN raising
prices to the public after being cut down by the
ne wspapers, brings M question new III the world
of journalism though not in other lines OF trade 1t
has brought about delicate and serious state OF
affairs.
In early days in New York newspapers were
delivered to houses aud places oil business by car
rer boys specially employed by each Office The
system is still in vogue IN small clties and even III
n few of the larger ones like Philadelphia. New
York long ago outgrew the practice. The immense
circulation of the incoming papers FORBADE the use
of such expensive and cuinbrous machinery. Pub
fishers fixed rate at which their papers should be
sold 10 tn, public, and also a wholesale rate at
which they sold large bundles 20 the carriers; and
the latter planting themselves throughout the
city took up the business OF insect aneOus
delivery of all the papers TO the whole BODY
of Gus omers in their several localities. They also
carried OH a general sale to transient customers
from their stands. This system has met the needs
of New-YOrk Tor more than a generation. II Is
capable of indefinite expansion and seemed likely
10 continue The best proof that it worked well IS
the fact that the public have never had their atten
ton called to it, The best proof that mans lungs
are in order ia that he is not aware be has any,
The machinery was simple and inexpensive; and
publishers have been able to give their whole atten-
ton to making good paper and winning the good
will OF the public, with whom their success almost
wholly lies.
A reduction of retail prices has been brought
about of late by the petition OF the larger papers,
the starting Of several cheap ones and the fall IN
the prices of materials. In some of the recent
changes the newsdealers have either been entirely
ignored or wifully taken advantage of. The whole
sale rate has not fallen i'll proportion to the
retail rate. The newsdealers have been forced
down to a point where they are threatened
with being driven out of business altogether No
one submits tameiy to extinction. The dealers have
shown spirit They have resolved TO charge iair
priee for newspapers In their meetings, the last
two days they have III their turn ignored the puO-
fishers and the advertised retail prices, and fixed
rates of their own. Have they right to do SO :
Oupht the papers and the public TO SUBMIT
In general mercantile business there many
cases where producers have dictated the retail
prices of ther goods. There can DO cited the makers
of pianos, cabinet organs Saving machines and
books In all these cases wholesale or manu-
facturers price has been fixed, low enough to allow
the retailer to pay freight, handling damage aud
general expenses, and have something left for
profit The margin has usually been from 33 1-3
TO 90 per cent. Whenever producer has
been driven to fix materially smaller
margin, he has, as rule, struck dow
at all engaged in his line of trade, and exhibited
the strongest light the decay of his own business,
or the embarrassing effects of competition, Or both.
We believe il has also been rule that where the
published retail rates have been too low to allow
respectable profit, the retailer has exercised his
lnalenable right to do 10 he pleased, and has sold
the goods at his own prices II is in fact growing
somewhat out of fashion for the producer to fix
retail rate at all If he insists on doing it, and is
unwilling to concede living rate of profit, he Is
obliged to become his own retailer
Publishers of papers are manufacturers. They are
ubiect to the laws of trade operative in other
branches of business. They cannot control the
prices at which papers sold outside of the cities
of their publication nor can they within those
cities unless they either allow the retailer fair
profit. or deliver their goods to customers them-
selves The newsdeacrs, therefore. in their
recent action, TO have the morality
of the matter entirely their side. And
the public will probably the more cheerfully sub
NIT TO II because the profits Of the not
extravagant customers are well served by them,
and prices fixed by them are, in most cases. cheap
enough.
The TRIBUNE, by the way. IS the one morning
paper that gave the newsmen not only a satIsfac-
tory but a liberal Wholesale Tate-allowing them
profit OF 80 per cent.