Evening star., 1918-07-20
ECONOMY IN PAPER
SHOWN MORE RIGID
Federal Trade Board Gives
Figures for Tonnage From
Publishers for June.
SOME SHOW HIGH RETURN

Though tables Of circulation statistics
from publishers for June show q de-
crease in the percentage Of returns"
free copies and leftover papers, both in
newspapers and magazines. some i'm
portant daily and Sunday papers still
show high returns. according to a state
ment of the Federal Trade Commission
today. .....
THE figures for tonnage also indi-
cate that more rigid economies were
practiced. especially by publishers using
news PRINT" the statement says.
II such effective results can be obtained
from volunteer cooperation, it Is expect
ed that tho returns for July, when
standardized economies were ordered by
the War Industries Board. effective
July Is, will show considerably increased
savings
As to Excessive Returns.
Speaking Of the excessive returns still
shown by few papers, the commissions
report states:
One showed about Is per cent.
another Is per cent and three others
is. 13 and IL per cent, respectively.
The percentage of unpaid and service
copies, overs" and copies to subscrib-
ers in arrears three months or more
showed a marked decrease.
Because of the serious situation now
confronting the nation in respect to
its paper supply. and because of the
urgent and vastly increased needs of
the government. paper economy is be-
ing urged, not only upon publishers,
but upon business houses of all kinds,
and upon individuals.
Paper is one of the most widely used
commodities. next to food. and the de-
creased production, due to lack of
coal. wood, chemicals and other raw
materials, and also an effort to save
unnecessary transportation, has led
the government to name the pulp and
paper section of the war industries
board, which has been in conference
with various paper manufactures re-
Soon direct appeals are to be made
to the public to save writing, wrap
ping and all other kinds of paper.
Text Of Boards Report
hTe Federal Trade Commissions re-
port states:
Some Of the monthly magazines
using book paper continue to show
excessive returns One reported re-
turns of more than 40 per cent, an
other 10 per cent and two more than
Is per cent each. One monthly trade
magazine also reported free copies
amounting to almost 40 per cent, to-
gether with IS per cent in arrears
weekly magazines also showed high
returns, two showing returns of more
than 20 per cent Two gave as high
as IL per cent unpaid and service
copies and one reported as high as 81
per cent to subscribers '.in arrears''
figures indicate that some publishers
are not yet curtailing wastes as much
as might be done.
During the month of June there
was marked Improvement in condi-
tions, the consumption of paper by
thousand tons less than heretofore.
There was little change. however. in
the consumption of book paper.
Order for Future Economies
"In the matter of future economies
attention is called to the following
preliminary order of the war indus
tries board to newspaper publishers,
effective July Is, 1918:
Discontinue the acceptance Of
the return of unsold copies
pies or free promotion copies.
Discontinue giving copies to
anybody except for ofiice-workfng
copies or where required by statute
law In the case Of official advertis-
ing.
sDiseontinue giving free copies
to advertisers, except not more
than one copy each for checking
purposes.
"Dfscontinue the arbitrary fore
ing of copies on news dealers Il. e..
compelling them to buy more
copies than they can legitimately
sell in order to hold certain terri
tory).
Discontinue the buying back of
papers of either wholesale or re-
tail selling price from dealers or
agents, in order to secure prefer
entail representation.
Discontinue the payment Of sal
aries or commission to agents.
dealers or newsboys for the pur-
pose of securing the equivalent OF
return privileges.
discontinue all free exchanges.
"-The prompt compliance of all pub
fishers Of daily newspapers with this
order will result in q saving OF at
S-.-r ,,ar cant of their naDer con-