Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-06-01
NEWSPAPERS HIT HARD BY
WAR REVENUE MEASURE


Almost every line OF business that
is being hit by the proposed new
revenue law, which has for it's pur-
pose the raising OF about $4,000
100000 every year to defray war
expenses, is sending lobbyists to
Washington in protest against that
feature Of the law dealing with the
particular industry in which they
are interested. In fact the howl
going up from other lines of indus
try causes such loud "anvil Choir
us" that the average editor and own
er of country newspaper Is very
loath to add his modest protest to
the features of the law that will
work a great hardship on the bust
ness of the country newspaper. The
big metropolitan dailies, which are
largely corporations, owned and best
able to financially stand the added
burden, are making the most noise,
but It is fact that the proposed
taxation of the newspapers Of the
country will work a hardship on the
average country newspaper and will
probably be the cause OF a suspen-
sion OF the publication of some.
For many years the printing bust
ness has been practically the only
business in the country which has
had active government competition.
In almost every city and hamlet of
this wide land, business houses OF
all kinds are using envelopes print
ed In the government printing office
at nominal cost, and have been do
ing so for many years. Printers
throughout the country have repeat
edly protested against this unfair
and discriminating competition, but
the policy has been continued for
many years and through the admin
istration of both political parties. No
other business In the country towns
Is put up against such policy OF this
sort, and there seems to be but lit
tie chance OF ever getting the gov
eminent to consent to quit the print
ing business.
Another hardship ON the country
newspaper In recent years is the
unprecedented boosting of the price
of print paper, and in fact, all kinds
of paper, inks and printers materi-
al. The government did finally con-
duct sort of an investigation and
it was determined that there was no
reason for any great advance in the
price of white print paper except an
unlawful combination to fix prices.
And of late quotations OF white print
paper have been somewhat lower,
although the price Is still almost
twice what 1t was at the start of the
present European war.
And now comes this proposed spe-
cial war tax, which will require the
newspaper to pay an enormous In
crease in postage and will place a
tax Of five per cent on all advertis-
ing receipts, both features of the
bill dating back to the first of the
year. There is no country weekly
50 small or its business SO insight
ficant that it will not feel the added
burden to a business that has been
none too prosperous at any time or
at any place.
And for years the newspapers Of
the country, especially the country
newspapers, have beeh donating ad-
yertising space and giving local pub
licity to all sorts OF government
work connected with the forestry
and the agricultural departments az
we'll % to the work OF various other
departments. Only this week this
paper received a request from the
government for the donation OF ad-
yertising space which Is worth SO q