The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-24

To the committee rooms come intelligent
and influential men from all parts Of the
country to be heard on matters in which
their interests are specially concerned.
For instance, there have been interesting
discussions Of the steel rail question before
the Ways and Means Committee since /
have been here, and some very strong
men have been examined on both sides as
to the advisability OF reducing the present
tariff OF S2S per ton TO $40. Again, the
newspaper men-that Is, number oil
them-led by Erastus Brooks, OF New
York, have been before the same commit
tee, urging repeal OF the 20 per cent duty
on newspaper, In order, as they allege,
10 defeat combination OF manufacturers
that have advanced the price OF paper
50 per cent In the last few months. Tue
arguments pro and con have been very
interesting. The manufacturers deny that
thew have combined to advance the price
OF paper. On the contrary, they claim
that there has been no need for combi'
nation In order TO advance the price, as
they saw they could have booked enough
orders 10 keep their mills going for the
| next year anu uhIt WibAVuN
order. When asked 10 explain this won
derful demand for paper at high prices
(whenit was drugat low prices last yearl
they said that the revival oil business
brought with it most extraordinary de'
mand for paper. The circulation Of news
papers was largely increased, and there
spfaug up great demand Tor advertising
circulars Of all descriptions. lnadditionl
the book publishers experienced q tidal
wave Of demand for literature Of all kinds
after long season OF depression.
Among other interesting information
that came out before the Committee was
the modern history Of paper manufacture.
refer to the introduction Of wood pulp as
an ingredient. meyears ago the manu-
facture Of wood pulp into paper was &C.
complished by cutting the wood up. into
small particles and then reducing 1t by
powerful and costly chemicals to pulp.
All at ence German happened to think
that he could pulverize wood into powder
} BY holdingi against grindstone, and his
simple process became great success
Great mills were at once put up for itE
manufacture, and pulp and paper went
down to half price as compared to the days
before the war. Manufacturers ran theiI
mills with little or no profit, the same as
the iron men, and nor that business has
revived, their prices, like all other prices
: particularly OF iron, have gone up. Why
break us down, say they, any more than
, the iron men? We have as much right
; 10 protection as they have.
On tho other hand, the newspaper men
F. claim that the advance Of so per cent Ii
! excessive, unnecessary, and ruinous to
J their business. The expenses OF news
paper establishments were never so great
as now. Their OUTLAWS for dispatches
, and composition, and editorial and repor'
torial work are enormous and constantly
increasing. Ifthey are now To pay 90 pei
> cent additional for paper they will either
have to advance their prices OF subscrip,
ton and advertising or submit to great and
perhaps fatal losses.
Thus the issue stands before the Com.
mitlee Of Ways and Means to-day. !
have referred to 1t in order to show your
r readers the kind OF discussions that so OF
in the committee rooms at the Capitol
There arc many committees in session
every day, and this is specimen OF TIT
! process by which they shape the legisla
) ton Of Congress. A. W. O.