New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-01

vear and n half ago the paper manufacturers
had held several conferences with view 10 CON-,
bnng their properties and erecting cer'a'i,
economies hut with no view to an advance Oh
prices The project was abandoned. because tney
could not agree on the valuations to De piaceu
upon the respective properties more restmas
and in fact the subject was still under cohs,ueI
ton. efforts had been made to erect an arrays
ment for the establishment OF central seI,ns
agency Mr.. Russell thought II not likely tha'
these efforts would be successful. Inc manu-
facturers did not want to advance prices nor a ,
they ask for an increase Of duties. but they ala
desire to have the rates made SPECIFIC.
WARNER MILIER's STATEMENT
Ex-senator Miller then made statement III
which he fatty denied every material allegation
made by the publisher Of The World. he was
reminded that when he first appeared pelore the
Ways and Means Committee twenty years ago.
when Ferna ado Wood was chairman the price
Of paper used by newspapers was y cents
pound. and he had then predicted that II duty
OF 10 Ter cent were placed on pulp ana i' per
cent on paper Uhe rates now existirg), the price
would fall. That prediction had proved true
Paper was now selling lower than II ever uiu
before. The World was paying lower price
than II ever Ola before-he would not mention
the price.
1T is 1S7-1OO cents" interjected Mr.. Morris.
Mr. Miller then went on to say that the idea or
establishing selling agencies for the output or
the factories originated in a desire to reduce ex-
penscs and in the hope Of building up trade IN
concern alone could undertake. There had been
no idea Of advancing prices. as Mr.. Morris well
knew. Within few weeks contracts AT the ex-
listing rate had been of red to him TO cover one
year or five years or any other reasonable PERIOD
and he had not accepted them. The trade had
been threatened with the establishment OF sepa-
rate factories by the great newspapers. Such
experiments had been tried before and had
turned out disastrously. He would be glad to
have great newspaper try another one.
Mr.. Morris who had been growing FESTIVE. here
q fept nd Sxed porm;cSiOD a
question. which wa whether one of the obstacles
20 the contamination of the impending arrange
ment had not beer the demand Of the Manu-
facturers' Paper Company through Warner Mil
Ter. its secretary. that the valuation Of that con-
Germ should be fixed at 100000.
Does :he committee ask that question:"
asked Mr.. Miller. who continued: II am ready to
answer H. never was an officer OF the Manu-
facturers Paper Company; never owned dol
lars worth Of its stock. and never have been
concerned. directly or indirectly. in It's affairs"
LIVELY COLLOQUY.
well. obtained my information from so ard
so'' persisted Mr.. Morris. naming two of Mr..
Millers business associates
That cannot be-" replied Mr.. Miller. Every
statement that Mr.. Morris has made is untrue.
/ do not say that he does not believe it TO be
true but he is simply mistaken"
but you occupy the same offices with the
Manufacturers company" exclaimed the pub
Usher.
That also is not true replied the ex-senator.
Il DO not and never have occupied the same
Office"
Mr.. Miller then ended his remarks with an in
teresting statement in regard to the pulp and
paper industry. the average profits of which, at
the present time he said. did exceed per
cent year. Some manufacturers were making
more and others less tnan that.
Wellington Smith. Of Lee. Mass. submitted
an argument in favor Of the restoration Of
specific rates of duty tissue and copying
papers. In reply to question by Mr. Russell
of Connecticut. he said that the cost Of fine
tissue papers before tho industry was estab-
lished in the United States wa; 81 ream. and II
is now less than 81 a ream.
William g. Reed. of Boston. appeared In behalf
OF the manufacturers Of photographs paper
who had succeeded under tho tariff OF 1890 in
establishing that industry in tho United States
The industry was languishnf under the exist.
ing tariff and as Mr.. Reed expressed IT, tho
manufacturers have nearly reached the end Of
the rope.'
Thu committee adjourned until Saturday.
when those interested in fax hemD and lutte
and the manufactures thereof viii be heard