Evening star., 1953-04-21
Publishers Session
Tackles Big Problem
0fCosts, Competition
By the Assoeioied Pres,

BY the Assoeioied Press
NEW YORK, April 21.-The
opening of the 9th annual con-
Vention of the American News
paper Publishers Association to-
day attracted more than 1000
publishers and editors-most of
them anxious over rising news
paper costs or the threatened
barriers against the collection of
news.
Many of the publishers attend
ed yesterdays Associated Press
luncheon and heard Secretary Of
the Treasury Humphreys as
surance that peace will not bring
a depression in the United States.
Today, the delegates tackled
their own economic problem: !:
How to give American readers
ever-better newspapers in the
face Of constantly rising produc-
ton costs, and competition from
other media such as televiSion.
Take TV in Stride.
George c. Biggers of the Attain
ia Journal and Constitution. vice
president of the ANPA, said,
Newspapers years ago took radio
in their stride and I think they
will do the same with televiSion.
II do believe" he added, that
newspapers will have to extend
themselves to improve their
product learn from their
readers just what it is about the
newspaper that appeals to them"
He said that a problem more
serious than television is the
higher cost of labor and mate
rials such as newsprint-all 60
ing into "a product the price of
which cannot be increased"
Public Expects Much.
David B. Lindsay, jr., of the
Sarasota, (FlaO Herald Tribune
said the public expects more of
newspapers than any other
meQld. he SAID:
I'm charity drives, in political
affairs, in exposure of gangster-
ism and corruption in Govern
ment, the people expect their
local newspapers to take the
lead.
Sometimes these expectations
are exceSsive-beyond the capa-
bilities of a small newspaper
staff. But always they should
be heartening to us. for they
represent real expression of the
vital place given to newspapers
by our readers"
Other discussions will center
on former President Truman's
executive order which the editors
contend interferes with access
to news in Government agencies.
The order authorizes individual
agencies to withhold information
If they think it infringes Sc
curity. Editors fear bureaucrats
may abuse this discretionary au-
thority unless they get guidance
on security matters. !
New Device Inspected.
Economy minded publishers
carefully inspected a revolution
ary device for setting type" on
film. DR.. Vannevar Bush, presi-
dent of the Carnegie Institution
Of Washington, describes the
device as a milestone in civiliza-
ton. Under the system. an op-
orator who needs little more skill
than a typist puts type" on
film, III effect photographing
each individual letter until a
film 100 feet long is completed.
The film then is used to make
engravings for printing.
Says Taxes Must Be Cut.
In his first address since he
took Office in the Eisenhower ad-
miniStration. Mr.. Humphrey out
lined a fiscal policy that called
for a reduction in taxes when
Governmental expenses ARE un-
der control"
Taxes must come down." he
said. "It's simply a matter of
timing geared to reduction of
expense. Both are too high and
both must be reduced.
The reduction of taxes. more
over. is one of the best guar
antees we have against the fear
of depression, in the event that
peace makes possible curtailment
of Government defense spend
ing"
Fears Are UnjuStified.
Mr.. Humphrey said any fear of
q depression if defense spending
is reduced is unjustif1ed. He
said the Nations industrial plant
'is already geared to increased
civilian production"
I'VE are not going to have a
depression in America whether
we have an armistice. a real
peace or continue to develop a