Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1920 — SAYS PAPERS MUST RAISE THEIR PRICES [ARTICLE]

SAYS PAPERS MUST RAISE THEIR PRICES

Indianapolis, Feb. 6.—Replying to criticism from sources offered against the action of many newspapers of the state in again raising subscription and advertising rates, Thomas Donohue of Lafayette, Secretary of the Indiana Committee on Public Utility Infonnation, issued this statement to utility men thruout the state: ~ “It is. just as absurd to say that a newspaper should stick to old time subscription and advertising rates, in these after-war times, as. it is to say that the average electric, gas, street car, water or telephone company can operate on the old rate basis. White paper, ink, labor and all other costs of newspaper making have soared to undreamedof heights, just like coal, oil, steel, copper and labor prices and taxes and all factors in the operation of the utilities. , - . ‘• “Financially sound and healthy newspapers are as necessary to the progress and well-being of a community as financially healthy utilities are. They can no more be expected to serve their communities . e__ciently, unless permitted to thrive—keep their plants in good working order and their credit good —than Should you expect a utility company to do so. They depend upon rates —prices fixed for subscriptions and advertising—for their revenue, just as utilities depend upon their service rates. If these rates are not fair and high enough to cover costs and leave a profit, newspapers must deterioriate. No community can afford to have its newspapers in that condition. Starved and therefore inefficient newspapers are a handicap to any community, just as starved and inefficient utilities are.”