The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-04-26
NEWSPAPER CREDIT SYSTEM.

1--WE have recently sent out state
ments of accounts to those subscri-
bers who are in arrears, and shall
expect them to settle at once. After
this issue we will not send the paper
any longer to those who are as muc!.
as one year behind. We would like
for you to have the paper. but We
are unable to furnish t free"
There is much discussion with the
State press about the credit system
In running newspapers. We clip the
quotation above from an exchange,
and think it just what every man
who reads q newspaper without pay
ing for it ought to see. We are ever
ready to say anything that We think
IS to the interest of our readers. And
nov we will say word about the
newspaper credit system with ref
erence to the interest of newspaper
readers. The ma ority of the com
ments on the system by editors is in
defense Of their own interest. which,
is rightaad proper. But re dennunce
the system not only because 1t is a.
much an impossibility to run news
paper without money as it is to run
any other business on the same prin.
chile but because it has tendency
to injure our readers as we'll. 1t en-
courages spirit of careiessness
about business matters. Amy one
knows that carelessness in one thing
begets carelessness in another. Bust
ness is business-with a newspaper
as we'll as anything else. We den' u c.
the system for s still greet reason. 1t
is unfair for those engaged in the
business. But perhaps some one
will say, why not the editor wait for
his money we'll as the merchant ?
This is ar unfair view ut the matter.
The merchant takes mortgages In
many cases from the very men that
take the newspaper W.. nut paying
for it.
In this view OF the matter the mer-
chant has the advantage in two par.
ticulars. In the first place, he is safe.
for he gets his pay at the fall before
the editor does even if the editor gets
bis at all-the mortgage must be
raised first, you know. In the second
place, the merchant can much better
afford to wait for the money for the
goods he sells, for he buys them Oil
time himself in many cases. But vino
ever heard of an editor ordering
paper, ink, coal, po stage stamps &C.,
and letting the account run till the
fall. or till the crop is gathered !?
And well may the vendors of paper.
ink, coal, &C., refuse to wait for their
money till the "crop is gathered" for
the newspaper. for if they should
trust to such pay as that the "faiP'
would not be long off with them.
Then there is no "cropping it" with
printers and devils in newspaper
Office. They must have the cash at
the end OF every week. The truth is
the newspaper man must have the
money for his paper. advance the
money without much hope of ever
getting it back, Or let his paper sus.
pend. Now, what would be the com.
ments Upon the members of the eli
torial fraternity If every man who
does not pay up promptly for his
paper should fail to get it any longer?
And yet we think this is exactl,
what ought to be done. 1t is just as
grea wrong to subscribe to a news.
paper and not pay for it as it is to|
hire man to work a year in Your
shop or in your field and then not
pay him. Let the press speak out
and say whether or not newspapers
suall still food the country a: the ex.
pense Of the editors. We are willing
to cut down our list to those who pay.
IF every press will set r.ght down ON
every man who does not pay for his
factory arrangement about paving
for it in the future, there will be
more profit to newspaper men and
less remorse of conscience with de-.
linquent subscribers. We want to see
an expression from every newspaper
in the State.