Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-18
OPPOSES LIMITING
SIZE OF PAPERS
Score of Newspaper and Maya.
zine Publishers Object to
Anthony Bill

Washington, Dec. 1i.-Provisions of the
Anthony bill which would limit TO twenty
four pages daily newspapers and per-
iodials using the second elias mail
privilege in order to conserve newsprint
paper were commended and opposed by
more than score OF newspaper and
magazine publishers to-day before the
House postoffice committee. Opposition to
the measure came chiefly from the repre-
sentatives Of the larger newspapers who
declared that restriction on the size would
do little to remedy the situation resulting
from the shortage Of paper and would
serve only to work great II not fatal
hardship on the large newspapers Of the
country.
The bill was supported by publishers of
small newspapers, who declared they
would be forced to suspend publication
unless something were done.
In opening the hearing Representative
| Anthony Of Kansas. author OF the hill
| declared that from $500 to 500 small
newspapers face suspension ana, perhaps
extinction should the present shortage Of
newsprlnt paper continue. Tho shortage.
the Kansas representative charged, was
due to the action Of the great publishing
concerns in buying up practically the
| entire available supply.
Speaking for the Chicago Tribune 4
| large user OF paper. !. Medill Patterson
| declared that the A-page restriction would
affect only 50 to 60 newspaper. but to
pat 1t into effect immediately would
bankrupt many Of the papers. The larg-
er papers, he told the commt'tea were
willing to accept a ten per cen. cut. but
were strongly opposed to the Anthony
proposal, which he estimated in some
! cases would amount to a cut of sixty per
| cent. Navy Of the la,ger papers he ae-
det afro ady had instituted reductions In
sizs amounting 20 r,ore tha7 ten per
| cec,.
Suggestion that an embargo be plac-
ed on coal to Canada until Canadian
newspapers which he said, were using
all the newsprint they desired agreed
to submit to the same conservation
program forced on the newspapers of
the United States was made by H. L.
Rogers business manager OF the Chi
cago Daily News. His action could be
justified. he added by the fact that
Canadian pulp mills used American coal
in making their product.
The prospective shortage of print
paper for 1920 was estimated at 200,
900 tons by Frank P. Glass. publisher
Of the Birmingham Alabama News and
President Of tho American Publishers
association. He predicted. however
that relief from the shortage would
come within six months.
Congress. Mr. Glass. declared, either
should give the federal trade commits.
sion full power TO handle the entire
newsprint paper situation or should APP
point paper controller with powers sim
liar 20 those Of the fuel administrator.
THE Anthony bill" asserted Bradford
Merrill. business manager of the Hearst
group Of newspapers. would destroy
sumo s. great newspapers. representing in
every case a lifetime and In some cases
thrce or more generations Of effort 20
benefit in only a sma' degree the rest of
the newspapers Of che country. 1t would
place an embargo on initintive AMI lend
to encourage slug ~ rds"
| SDtsleing for tho Ksrgas-MissouYt Pub
ltsttrs association IN SUPPORT Of the BIZ.
Esr,N,rt Cavaness denied statements by
Metropolitan publish, that the country
dai,ias and week 'es could obtain p,unty
cs inlnt paper II thev had the initiative
and courage to contract for It. Scores
Ct plb ishers In his section, he said. were
rurc.ng on q day to dor basis, had no
visible supply and were utterly unable
to MAZE contracts at any price for the
coming year.
Many of them must cease publication
unless something is done" Mr. Cavaness
declared. They do not ask class lsgisla
ton only a chance to live. We have In
the United States the only real country
newspaper system that exists In the
world II is endangered. The end is In
sight. The country newspapers are hght-
ing a losing fight for their very lives.
The large newspapers can save them by
cutting down the size Of their own editions
and II tho large newspapers will not
do this voluntarily then the country
dailies will keep at Congress until that
body. which we have been taught to be-
lieve ID all wise and all powerful, takes
some action.
Representative Randall, prohibitionist
California. suggested that the situation
might be remedled II the newspapers
would all refuse to accept cigarette ad-
vertising and thus save paper.
Hearings on the bill were concluded to-
day aud the committee will start holding
executive sessions tomorrow preparatory