Evening star., 1949-04-27
Press Supplies Check
On Big Government :
Publishers Are Told
BY The Asseeieisd Press

ty The Asseeieisd Press
NEW YORK, April 27.-The
president Of the American News
paper Publishers Association said
today that "the press supplies
that check upon government
which q free people must have
and which no constitution has
ever been able to provide"
David w. Howe, retiring head
of the ANPA and business man
ager Of the Burlington (Vt) Free
Press, told the associations SD
annual convention that the his
toric function OF the press has
been to audit government.
THE advocates of big govern
ment have been gnawing away at
the press" he said.
"Curtan its freedom, its
strength, or its independence and
there will be less vigilance. less
resistance to corruption and the
abuse of power"
Mr.. Howe said that "for nearly
a generation, MARKHAM inspired
text book writer's have created
the assumption that the power
of government Is inherently good.
Sees Need for Checks.
Previous generations for three
centuries have known that 1t was
inherently evil. required consti-
tutional checks and balances.
probing from all sources of in
formation and opinion. and con-
tinuous auditing by the press"
The ANPA president said "the
welfare state - so-called - i'm
poses an enormous additional bur-
den upon the press. There are
several times as many public off,
cials to watch. Tending to
smother in some degree all objec-
tive and searching reporting is an
enormous Government propa-
ganda bureau"
The Budget Bureau reports
more than $74,800. 900 is now spent
annually for propaganda by Gov
eminent executive agencies. A
total Of $4,000 Federal employees
were found by q congressional
subcommittee last December to be
engaged In such propaganda
work"
Says Profits Are Lower.
Mr.. Howe also touched on
sharply increased costs of news
paper production which have been
. main topic at the convention.
THE past year has seen new
tops ir newspaper publishing in
daily circulation. in Sunday cir
culation, in advertising Image and
revenue" he said.
1T has been generally accom-
panied by a greatly lowered net
profit. The infiationary period
has fastened high break-even
points. et
I'VE are especially vulnerable in
general to shrinkages Of advertis-
ing volume. Labor scales, labor
costs, taxes and newsprint have
given high fixed charges and high
unit costs: and circulation prices
have reached a ceiling which ap-
pears difficult to pierce.
Economies and greater pro-
ductivity ,unare recognized %
urgent" ........-,......-,
Newsprint Emergency Passing.
The publishers at the conven-
ton were told in a report present.
ed by Cranston Williams. ANPA
general manager. that the news
print ADE1ergency EhicN y Has
plagued Vapers since The wsr is
passing.
For the first time since 1942,
supply and demand are nearing 4
balance" = Mr.. Williams said.
THE spot market for~newsprint
at high prices has vanished"
The general manager explained
that two factors-increased pro-
duction and division Of newsprint
to the United States from coun-
tries all over the world-had about
ended the shortage. The diversion
has come about because of the
price here, 500 a ton as against
$40 before the war. he said.
Mr.. Williams said that one mill
at Lufkin. Tex. had increased its
capacity by go, 900 tons q year with
new machinery and that . plant
ut Soosa River. Ala, will add
100, 900 tons In 1850.
Urges Sharp Watch.
The ANPA Committee on Social
Security, headed by A. v. Miller
Of the New York Herald Tribune.
urged members to keep q sharp
eye on the National administra-
tons proposals for greatly ex-
Josh L. Horne. of the Rocky
Mount IN. Co. Telegram. chair
man of the groups Postal Com
mittee. advised the publishers
that the committee had some rea-
son to believe new. increased sec
ond class mail rates proposed by
the Post Once Department will
not be enacted into law"
panded social security coverage.
by failing to exercise any posi-
tive influence we can let ourselves
be rushed along to a state of Ma
tional bankruptcy" the committee
asserted.
Newspaper Trucks Set
n Rf n