St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-03
PROTESTING LUMBERMEN.
Report Of the Committee Regard
ing Bryan's Bill.

report Oh the COmfnltCeo heRafu-
ing Bryan's Bill.
WASHINGTON, March AT the OPEN
ing of todaY's session of the lumber
mems convention a communication was
read from the Tonawanda (New York;
Lumber association, in which they
strongly protest against the passage OF
the bill recently introduced i'll the house
of representatives by Mr.. Bryan, of Ne
braska, placing lumber OH the free list,
and ask for the imposing of duty OF 81
per thousand feet. A series of resOlu-
tons contending against the passage OF
the bill were also read from the TacOm a
washington Lumber Manufacturers
association.
G. w. Goodyear, of Buffalo, the chair
man of the committee on resolutions,
read the report Of the committee. 1t is
addressed to the house of representa-
tives, and after showing that the con-
ventlon represents the interest 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 says:
The lumber industry of the United
States is the largest single manufacture
ing industry of the country, represent
ing an investment of capital of not less
than S750, OOO, 900, furnishing the means
of livelihood to at least 100000 of our
people. In this connection it is proper
to invite your attention to the
fact that official statistics here
tofore published have simply
comprehended the manufacture of lum-
Der by milling establishments 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
aggregate to at least $500, 100000 an
hualiy. equal in value to the total prod
ucts of all the mines in the country, in
GLIDING gold. silver, copper, lead, iron,
coal and all other minerals. The lum-
Der industry, not being confined to one
section of the country, cannot become
combined in 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 compete with us in the markets of
the world.
The summing up of this whole case
presents the question. Shall the forest
resources Of Canada and British C0lum-
bia be developed while those of our own
country 1.-THE Pacific and Southern states
in particularly lie dormant? Or shall
this vast industry in our country enjoy
to limited extent the protection which
the present duty affords? And the ques-
ton in its entire breadth also presents
the fact that the bill against which we
now protest proposes to open the en-
tire northern boundary of the United
States from sea to sea. to the forest prod
ucts of the British possessions in North
America, ignoring the extensive inter-
estS not only of our resources along our
middle and eastern border now being
operated, but Gripping the vast inter
ests of the Pacific slope and rich
forests covering a vast area of
our Southern states, the influence of
which is awakening the most serious
apprehensions of the thousands who
have invested their all in purchasing
this stumpage from the same govern
ment through which it is now proposed
to discriminate so unjustly against them
and to the irreparable injury of hun
dreds of thousands of labOrers holding
allegiance to the United States govern
ment. and giving preference to foreign
labor and capital that contri butes moth
ing to our institutions or country's
wealth. 1t is therefore
Resolved. That we respectfully and earn
estly protest against the removal OF the pres
ent duty on lumber.
The report was adopted by unani-
nous vote. Several brief addresses
were delivered, when the subject of a
permanent organization was taken up.
A committee to formulate plan of Or
ganization was finally appointed, with
instructions to report at a subsequent
meeting.