Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
LUMBER MEN PROTEST
Against the Bill Placing Their Prod
uct on the Free List, and
ASK FOB A HEAVY TARIFF ON IT.
They Hold q Meeting for the Purpose Of
Influencing Congress
EXTENT OF THEIR MAMMOTH BUSINESS

| WASHINGTON, March AT the open
ing of to-day's session of the Lumbermen'
| Convention communication was read from
the Tonawanda, N. Y, Lumber Association
in which it expresses sympathy with the OBJ
jects of the meeting, and not only strongl!
protests against the passage OF the bill re
Gently introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatives by Mr.. Bryan, of Nebraska
placing lumber on the free list, but asks fol
the imposition of duty of 81 per 1000 feet
A series of resolutions contending against
the passage of the bill was also read from
the Tacoma, Wash, Lumber Manufacturers
Association.
c. W. Goodyear, of Buffalo, Chairman Of
the Committee on Resolutions. read the re-
port of the committee 1t is addressed to
the House of Representatives, and after
showing that the convention represents the
interests Of the lumber manufacturers and
wholesale lumber dealers of the United
States, and stating that the convention was
called to consider the bill introduced by
Mr. Bryan, placing lumber on the free list,
the report sets forth the magnitude of the
business and protests against the passage of
the bill. The report says:
Largest Industry Of Its Kind.
''The lumber industry of the United States
is the largest single manufacturing industry
of the country, representing an investment
of capital OF not less than $3.50, 900, 900, and
furnishing the means of livelihood to at
least 8, 3,00O, 900 of our people. In this con-
nection it is proper to invite your attention
to the fact that all official statistics hereto
fore published have simply comprehended
the manufacture of lumber by milling estab-
lishments only, the cutting of the trees and
transportation to the mills never having
been included.
''The total manufactured products of the
sawmills of the country amount in the ag-
gregate to at least $500, OOO, 900 annually,
equal in value to the total products of all
the mines in the country, including gold,
silver, copper, lead, iron coal, and all other
minerals. The lumber industry, not being
confined to one section of the country, can
not be combin ed in the form of trusts against
the interests of the consumer By the bill
referred to it is proposed to improve the
favorable conditions under which the
Canadian manufacturer is enabled to COM
pete with us in the markets of the world.
''The summing up of this whole case pre-
sents the question, Shall the forest re-
sources of Canada and British Columbia be
developed, while those of our own country
(the Pacific and Southern States in particu-
lar) lie dormant; shall this vast industry in
our country enjoy to a limited extent the
protection which the present duty affords?'
and the question in its entire breadth also
presents the fact that the bill against which
we now protest proposes to
Open the Entire Northern Boundary
of the United States, from sea to sea, to the
forest products of the British possessions in
North America, ignoring the extensive in
terests not only Of our resources along our
middle and eastern border now being oper-
ated but crippling the vast interests of the
Pacific slope and rich forests covering a
vast area of our Southern States, the infiu-
ence of which is awakening the most serious
of thousands who have in
vested their all in purchasing this stumpage
from the same Government through which
it is now proposed to discriminate so uniustly
against them. and to the irreparable injury
of hundreds of thousands of laborers hold
ing allegiance to the United States Govern
ment, and giving preference to foreign
labor and capital that contributes nothing
to our institutions or country's wealth. It
Is therefore
Resolved, That we respectfully and earn
.stly protest against the removal Of the
present duty on lumber"
The report was adopted by unanimous
vote Several brief addresses were deliv-
,red, when the subject of permanent Or
yaniZation was taken up. A committee to
formulate plan of organization was finally
appointed, with instructions to report at q
subsequent meeting.