Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-22

#. -. s".. a. 80. '.T-A.. ri-.r.
"ResuFfecupg the Dead
Topic Assigned Editor
ChafmIey
THE EVILS OF FEE-sPL,TT,NG."
BY David Larin Of Ryder.
In having assigned to me IS Il Up.
lI The Evils of Fee 1!itlil &, ]
fcel confident, speaking for the craft,
we are all Of one mind as to it's UNI
d~esirability. take it the subject has
reference in particular to q division
q the price fixed by law for the
printing of legal publications. This
price is but a fair one for the labor
ana space used, consequently when a
rebate, or discount is given it is al
ways at the expense Of the newspa-
per publisher who, in SO doing, lends
himself to a species of fraud or graft
Who OF us old in the business has not
gone through the humiliating expert
ence OF having a mortgage or his
attorney approach us with Il proffer
OF a number OF mortgage foreclos.
ures at a three-4uarter or one-half
rate, or maybe he asks his rake-off
under the guise Of a liberal dis
count?" That the thing is done is the
reason these people have the effront-
cry to propose this graft, for it is
plain graft and nothing more. The
mcrtgagee or attorney simply charge
the unfortunate foreclosed on with
Tue h!!l:legal price. pocketing the re-
hate and discount. The whole pro.
'ceedhg is identical with a bride pre-.
tered and taken. That is about what
1t amounts to. Poor themselves, did
III" poor devil forecl0sed on receive
TINS ~price.cutting newspaper me-
coU!d become reconciled to the trans
action on the score of alms:giving,
but well he knows this is not the case
there is a feeling of depreciation in
Icing approached for a cut in pr'cs
Of legals by owners of mortgages, or
ny attorneys who have this patronage
t. Glve and pocket the difference. The
conclusion strikes home one is 4
Cheap skate, That, Or the publishers
mode OF business procedure has giyen
grounds in some way for the impress
SION he is open to underlan,l meth
II what / have said thus far
seems to attack wholly the lesser par.
st'Gipant in q Nubious transaction, 1T
is because publishers are primarily 70.
blame in suceumbing, to bribery of
this kind. I have my opinion CT the
.l.or, sage shark or attorney who thus
preys on the cupidity, and oftimes
hclplessness of newspaper mel but
am going to keep that option under
ny hat don't think it would be
safe to express. it right out loud.
There is considerable to be said TO.
many newspaper men who give the
Sc1t rate, for cften..ft happens Bat INC
ora dozen publishers in a county
makes the pace in giving rebates,
forcing the others to do likewise in
meeting this kind OF competition
What haNs> SO, far said we, as pub.
fishers are all well aware of, hut
now best to apply a remedy is ute
a different mattefs. To be perfectly
frank l have but lioae idea. how best
to 80 about it..
1t has occurred to me this ~associa
ton, taking the initiative, might send
q form to every publisher in Che state
wherein the publisher pledges him.
self for the year 1914 to not cut the
price OF legal publications a cent Il
anyone. A pledge of this kind. would
necessarily place reliance in his honor
Action of this kind might be prolific
OF good by Installing the thought of
unanimity in opposition to the cut
rate pirates, fir ! am convinced the
cut rate is always obtained through
representation Of what ones olpposi-
ton is willing to do Embraced in this
pledge should be a request to report
to the association any; and every
case Of infraction 49,,
Possibly, a scheme could be evoly,,
whereby legal patronage. could bey
handled through the instrumentality
OF county associations
Another step might be through leg.
islation recurring the publisher to
make affidavit lie IS receiving full
legal rates for, legal publications.
Since legislation dictates what we
shall charge for service Of this kind
II is but fair to safeguard the pub.
Usher so that he shall receive what
the law permits 1t should be made a
felony, or at least a misdemeanor. for
anyone to propose or solicit a rebate
on legal publications, for reduced to
an analysis the offer of. business on
such a basis amounts to- a bride Pre-
cautions of this kind would have it's
effect
Stating it Us a bald fact, every pub.
Usher is averse to 4 division of price
Tor legal publications That a pub.
Usher accepts less is always in self
defense from his point of view-he is
no getting his share OF that kind Of
business or has to meet the competi.
ton OF u lowered rate made by oppo.
sition 1t may be said this is true in
other branches Of the business-price
cutting on advertising or job work,
but advertising and job work are not
subject to q maximum price by law
am convinced the solution of price
cutting i'll any branch of our business
lies In the, closer relations of publish
ers, such as county associations wher
they meet and mingle and become per
sonally acquainted To talk shop in
this wise is what knits mel togeth-
er, and engenders a better feeling for
Al.~ lSk1s-.s - A