Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-01
Wouldn't USE OF
NEWSPR|NT PAPER.
Frank A. Munsey, Before
Senate Committee, Urges
Restriction by U. S.

Government restrictions on con-
sumption Of news print paper were
urged before a Senate investigating
committee today by Frank A. Mum
sey of New York. publisher of five
daily newspapers and three maya
zines.
Mr.. Munsey declared that II the
ratio of consumption continued for
the next twenty-five years at the
rate it had in the past quarter of a
century. there would be no wood
pulp forests left in the world.
II know that sounds like a broad
statement. but It is true" said he.
The witness said that even now the
nation must look forward to the
time when daily newspapers will be
selling for and even 10 cents.
ton, I believe" said Mr. Munsey," ia
by restrictions imposed by the ma
tional government for the good of all
the people"
Sees No Other Remedy.
In urging government restrictions.
Mr.. Munsey said there was no possible
remedy left to individual publishers.
No form of voluntary cooperation
between publishers could be made eff
fective. he said.
Every publisher regards questions
of size Of publication. etc, as purely
personal" the witness declared. You
can't get cooperation throughout the
nation. 1t would be impossible In New
York, for instance. to obtain co-opera-
ton that would cut consumption in
half. although 1t ought to be done. 1
would gladly do it myself"
Cutting the size of newspapers would
not materially reduce revenues of pub
fishers. Mr.. Munsey asserted. and
would protect the forests.
There is no substitute for wood
after our forests are gone." he ex-
planned. I'VE must look forward even
now to the time when daily papers
will be selling for and even 10 cents
instead Of 2 cents as at present and
cent as in the past"
Government regulation of size
Mr.. Munsey said. adding that great
step forward would he to limit the
size Of the Jumbo" Sunday editions
to the regular daily issue size.
Sunday Papers "Biggest sinners."
THE Sunday papers are the biggest
Sinners" he declared. THE daily is
sues also could be drastically cut.
Twelve to eighteen pages ought to be
the maximum in the largest cities. un-
der present conditions"
Mr.. Munsey said he was cutting
news print consumption on his peri
odicals 10000 tons this year.
In the face Of the present acute
shortage OF paper newspapers
throughout the country are altering
their plants and preparing to increase
the size of their publications. he con-
tinued.
One remedy suggested by Mr.. Mum
sey was for the government to obtain
control of all forests by constitu-
tional amendment. and apportion the
present timber growth for paper
making until new forests could be
grown.
Agreements Net P0sslbie.
You haven't much confidence in
remedying the situation by agree
ments between publishers?" asked
Chairman Reed.
II know it can't be done. 1t would
be waste Of time to try it. Even
with all the efforts at cooperation
the consumption Of news print is
steadily increasing"
The great metropolitan Sunday is
sues were scored by the witness.
You have to buy FIVE or six papers
on Sunday to get the news" re de-
clared. I'm England they handle that
much better. You don't have to buy
a magazine, a book. two or three days
stale news and scores of pages of ad-
vertising in order to get the news
over there. Lord Northcliffe told me
he thought their system infinitely
better than ours