The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-08-04
THE WOOD PULP SENATOR

Miller, Platt's successor in the SEN
ate, served his own interests in the
capacity of representative in con-
gress, Bradstreet, purely business
paper, says:
The most surprising thing about
this incident in the course of legis-
lation at Washington last winter,
was the apparent Indifference with
which the public beheld two repre-
sentatives in congress deliberately
and openly use their positions in the
furtherance of their own private
ends. As indicated, one of these
representative (Mr. Miller) has now
been selected, as the successor of
Mr.. Platt, TO speak for the empire
state in the senate of the United
States. This is a sorry outcome of
the contest which has been going on
for weeks at Albany. The truth is
that neither side in this unseemly
contest has been actuated bv mo-
tives worthy ofpraise. "Stalwarts"
and "half-breeds" have been quite
alike in the struggle for place. In
fact, the Gne good resultant of the
.disgraceful struggle has been to
bring more closely into relief the
disgraceful methods which have OBJ
tanned in the direction of OUR civil
service, and TO bring to the public
mind sharper appreciation of the
need of reform.
The matter turned upon wood
pulp, material largely used in the
manufacture of paper. The process
for its manufacture was patented in
1858 by Voelte, by whom it was as
signed to Payenstock, and the pat
ent expires in 1884. 1t is controlled
by five firms, represented in con-
gress by Warner Miller. Congress
intended to take the duty off all ma
terial used in the manufacture of
paper,.but Secretary Boutwell, ruled
that wood pulp was subject to a
duty of 20 per cent. Such duty ena-
bles American monopolists to real
ize over 200 per cent. over the price
at which foreign manufactur-
ers could compete with them.
The cost of the manufacture
of wood pulp is one cent per pound
the American manufacturers de-
mand four cents, and thus the price
of paper is kept up. 1t was held
that Boutwell's ruling was wrong
and that congress should interfere.
A proposition to practically repeal
the tax was advocated last winter in
congress by representatives Ofnews-
papers, of book publishers, and of
other industries affected by the tax,
and it was successfully opposed by
the owners of the monopoly pulp
patent, and notably by Representa-
tive Warner Miller and Representa-
tive William A. Russell, the gentle
men who control the patent, and
who are especially interested in it.
Their conduct was conspicuous from
the fact that. by rule of the House,
they were forbidden from voting
upon any subject in which they had
a personal or pecuniary interest, and
by reason also of the following
statute of the United States:
SEC. 1871. = Every men,
directly, takes, receives, or agrees to
receive any money, property, or
other valuable consideration what
ever, after his election as such men,
Der, for his attention to, services,
action, vote, or decision on any ques-
ton, matter, cause, or proceeding
which may then be pending, or may
by law or under the constitution be
brought before him in his fficial
capacity, or in his place as such
member of congress, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be imprisoned not more
than two years and fined not more
than $4,000. And any such con-
tract or agreement may, at the op-
ton of the president, be declared
absolutely null and void; and any
member of congress or officer con-
shall, moreover, be disqualified
from holding any office of honor,
profit or trust under the govern
ment of the United States"
Miller lobbyed against the passage
of the measure, and finally appeared
before the ways and means commit
tee and made speech against it. 1t
is known.that he then argued falsely
as to the effect repeal of the tax
would have upon the price of paper,
and he attempted to make the COM
mittee believe the pulp was manu-
featured no cheaper in Norway than
in this country. He forswore him
self as congressman, and yet these
Republicans advance him because,
probably, he was able to pay for
seat in the senate.
THE British house of commons has