The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-01
Arguments Before Ways
and Means Committee.
Newspaper Publishers Enter
Vigorous Protest.
Lumber Men Ask for the Rest0ra-
tiOn OF Former Tariff.

washington, Jan. 1.-The disputed ex-
istence OF paper trust was a bone OF
contention before the ways and means
committee yesterday afternoon. and fur
nished the most interesting episode OF
the tariff hearings up to date. There
was a warm controversy between Mr.
John Norris, the business manager OF
the New York World. who attacked the
alleged trust. and ex-Congressman Will
fam A. Russell OF Massachusetts,. who Is
reputed to be at the head OF the corbi-
nation, and ex-senator Warner Miller
OF Herkimer. ~. Y, who has large inter-
ests In paper manufacturing. Mr. Nor
rls gave a detailed description Of what he
understood TO be the purposes OF the
trust Ii was formed by 20 or 25 OF the
managers of the largest mills In the
country, he declared, controlling SO per
cent OF the output OF white paper used
for newspapers. and had for one OF its
objects the advancement of the price OF
the product from the present rate OF
cents pound TO 21s cents. The combina-
tion had first been talked of at meeting
OF the manufacturers held year and a
half ago, and all it's details had been
agreed upon by the paper men. while
the lawyers were now engaged In draw
been informed, would be perfected with
In IS hours. The agents who would rep
resent the trust in London. New York,
Chicago and San Francisco had been Sc
lected, and Mr.. Russell had been de-
cided upon for the presidency Of the cor
roration.
The result would be increased profits
of four or five millions TO stockholders
and tax on knowledge coming out OF the
pockets OF the public. He suggested that
publishers might start paper plants or
their own IL the trust succeeded. and
while making no recommendations as to
duties, said that congress should take
action against the combination.
Messrs Russell and Miller denied alb
solutely the existence OF a trust. They
told that the manufacturers Of paper had
met year and a half ago. thinking that
by means OF q combination they might
reduce expenses a million and q half
year by dispensing with many agents
and supplying all orders from the nearest
mills. This project had failed because OF
their inability to agree upon valuation
upon their plants. There was now under
consideration an arrangement by which
all the mills would be represented by
the same agents. but Mr.. Russell and Mr..
Miller declared they had no hope that 1t
would be consummated. and In any event
there had been no talk among the manu-
facturers OF raising prices.
Mr.. Miller. being asked by Mr.. Norris
whether the formation Of the trust was
not being delayed by the demand OF the
American Manufacturers company TO
be appraised at 3400, 900. denied that this
was the case.
The lumber and pulp and paper sched-
ules were the order OF the day. During
the morning session a big delegation OF
iumbermen appeared with c. w. Good
year OF Buffalo as spokesman. Speak,
ing for 81 000, 000, 900 capital and 100000
workingmcn he asked to have white
pine. hemlock, bass and sycamore re-
stored TO the rate of 50 per 1000 feet. from
the existing 81 rate. The Wilson bill, ho
declared. had given a market for SIS. .00o.-
900 worth OF Canadian lumber and d.
verted 81, SOC, 900 Of revenue.
Representative Boutelle OF Maine
epoke at the request OF the lumbermen
ui the east The others who appeared on
behalf OF the lumber trade were Judge
Tage Morris, congressman elect from
Duluth. j. Il. Enochs Of Jackson,
Miss. T. u. Walker OF Minneapolis and
ii. winchester OF West Virginia. All
asked to have the raw material kept on
the free list
other speakers were c. II. Lang OF
Boston. for the rattan manufacturers:
Louis G. Wagner OF New York, regard
ing cigar labels; Walllngton Smith OF
Lee, Mass. for tissue and copying paper
manufacturers; William O. Reed OF Bos-
ton. the maker of Photographic paper.
and Henry Ives OF New York for the book
o. ha tnr ti.,y,
OF Mckinley schedules or higher rates.