The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-04-01
GREEDY PAPER MAKERS.
Letter From Mr.. COwles Exposing the Plans
Of the Paper Combination,

The question of the abolition Of Of the duty on
wood pulp used in the manu- aCture Of paper will
occupy the attention OF the Ways and Means
Committee. Letters and petitions from all parts
of the country advocating the abolition OF the
duty on wood pulp are constantly being received
by the members of the committee and there is no
doubt that a majority are desirous Of affordiDg
the relief asked for. Two Congressman, who are
the principal owners of the wood pulp monopoly
are endea, nring to frighten the committee into q
refusal TO take action on the subject by threaten.
ing that II an attempt to take off the duty be
made, thev will add all sorts Of amendments to
the bill, and interfere with general legislation by
proposing wide variety of changes IN the exist.
ing tariff laws.
General Garfield, who is a member Of the Ways
and Means Committee, has received letter on
the subject from Edwin Cowles, esq, editor OF the
Cleveland Leader. 1t is well understood that Mr.
Cowles expresses the views of vast majority Of
the publishers OF Ohio and the neighboring
States and that his statements are not in the least
exaggerated Following is the letter in full:
CLEVELAND, March 49,
MY DEAR GENERAL: The paper combination
have raised the price Of paper again-this time Il
per cent member of the ring has given Out
that after Congress adjourns they will raise the
price still higher-33 per Cent-making the price
u cents, an advance of 100 per cent. over what
we are now paying under a contract which ex
plres May lst. Our contract is So cents pound
There was a scramble among paper.makers to gel
the contract at that price at the time it was made
last April, which shows that there must be prof
in it. At present price it will cost us for paper
the l2 months after May 1st S2 900 to S27 600 more
than here tofore. II they raise the price to Il
cents, as they most certainly will If the duty on
chemicals and pulp are not repealed 1t will cost
US $3.50 0G0 a year more. The increase In cost, oi
course, will be the same in proportion with all
other newspapers, and many will be driven to
the wall have given these figures merely 10
show the enormity Of the increase, and also to
show how 1t is out of all proportion, During the
war the combination raised the price to q cents a
pound, an increase of 800 per cent, when gold
averaged about l6O This will show the grasping
character Of the combination. The cost OF man
ufacuring paper is at least so per cent less as
compared with what 1t cost before the war, when
1t was made out Of pure cotton rags This de
crease in cost is owing 10 the use OF straw, wood
and other materials which were not then in use
and also owirg TO improvement in machinery
II you cannot vote to reduce the duty on paper
you certainly can to admit chemicals and wood
pulp free. This will encourage the building Of
new paper mills, resulting in breaking the com'
bination, II is not contemplated by the spirit
which favors protection to protect combinations
and monopolies 1t has always been understood
by the advocates Of protection that internal com
petiOn will regulate prices and prevent undue
exhorbitanCy, Chemicals and pulp can be ad'
mltted free on the same principle that raw mate
rials are admitted think you can consistently
vote for such a measure. You will be doing II In
the interest OF free internal competition. Please
read this letter before the Ways and Means Com.
mittee. Yours very truly
EDWIN CoWLEB
President Leader Printing Company.
The Honorable James A. Gdrteld, House Qf Rep
reSentatives, Washington.