[359] Mr. Greeley. ‘We call the New York Herald a very bad paper-those who do not like it; but that is not the cheapest.’ Chairman. ‘Have you heard of a paper called the “ The Town,” published in this country, with pictures of a certain character in it? Have you any publications in the United States of that character?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘Not daily papers. There are weekly papers got up from time to time called the “ Scorpion,” the “ Flash,” and so on, whose purpose is to extort money from parties who can be threatened with exposure of immoral practices, or for visiting infamous houses.’ Mr. Ewart. ‘They do not last, do they?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘I do not know of any one being continued for any considerable time. If one dies, another is got up, and that goes down. Our cheap daily papers, the very cheapest, are, as a class, quite as discreet in their conduct and conversation as other journals. They do not embody the same amount of talent; they devote themselves mainly to news. They are not party journals; they are nominally independent; they are not given to harsh language with regard to public men: they are very moderate.’ Mr. Ewart. ‘is scurillity or personality common in the publications of the United States?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘It is not common; it is much less frequent than it was; but it is not absolutely unknown.’ Mr. Cobden. ‘What is the circulation of the New York Herald?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘Twenty-five thousand, I believe.’ Mr. Cobden. ‘Is that an influential paper in America?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘I think not.’ Mr. Cobden. ‘It has a higher reputation in Europe probably than at home.’ Mr. Greeley. ‘A certain class of journals in this country find it their interest or pleasure to quote it a good deal.’ Chairman. ‘As the demand is extensive, is the remuneration for the services of the literary men who are employed on the press, good?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘The prices of literary labor are more moderate than in this country. The highest salary, I think, that would be commanded by any one connected with the press would be five thousand dollars—the highest that could be thought of. I have not heard of higher than three thousand.’ Mr. rich. ‘What would be about the ordinary remuneration’ Mr. Greeley. ‘In our own concern it is, besides the principal editor, from fifteen hundred dollars down to five hundred. I think that is the usual range.’ Chairman. ‘Are your leading men in America, in point of literary ability, employed from time to time upon the press as an occupation.?’ Mr. Greeley. ‘It is beginning to be so, but it has not been the custom. There have been leading men connected with the press; but the press has not been usually conducted by the most powerful men. With a few exceptions, the leading political journals are conducted ably, and they are becoming more ’
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