The herald., 1897-01-01

former had been reduced 20 per cent and
the number of days 40 per cent.
In conclusion, Mr.. Goodyear said that
the lumber men believed that IL the pro-
tective idea was to be enforced in re-
gard to any industry none stood on a
firmer footing than they. He estimated
that the schedule they asked for would
be but 20 per cent ad valorem while the
act of 1890 averaged so per cent and the
act of 1894, 40 per cent; that what they
asked for was below the average tariff
for thirty years.
There is an impression" suggested
Mr.. Tawney, of Minnesota, that there
is trust to control the output or the
price of lumber. What do you say to
that?"
There exists no such institution" de-
clared Mr.. Goodyear. "A lumber trust
Is not impossible. There may be iron
trusts and other trusts, but it will be as
impossible to form a lumber trust as to
combine all the people of the United
States in a trust against themselves"
Judge Page Morris. congressman-elect
from Duluth; !. c. Enochs of Jackson
Miss; T. r. Walker Of Minneapolis; A
H. Winchester of Buchanan. West Nir-
ginia, and Representative Boutelle of
Maine. also made brief arguments in
behalf of the lumber interests
The afternoon session was opened by
Mr.. C. H. X.ang of Boston, who presented
q memorial from rattan S~eufactur-
ers.
The pulp and paper schedule was next
announced John Morris. business man
ager Of the New York World. first spoke,
explaining that while the World con-
sumed one-thirteenth of all the paper
used in the United States, he thought he
voiced the sentiments of all newspapers.
He continued: Il appear to formally
apprise this committee of the fact that
the twenty-four or twenty-five manu-
facturers of white paper in the United
States are parfecting their arrangements
for combination by which every news
paper shall be at the mercy of central
agency, by which these manufacturers
shall receive an additional profit of four
or five millions year and tax knowledge
20 that extent.
The purpose of the trust" said Mr..
Norris, was to keep the price of paper
at about IL cents. while the present
ruling price is about cents and by cut
ting off various concessions to newspa-
per publishers to increase their profits
in that way also
Being asked by Mr.. Tawney whether
the trusts had been actually formed,
Mr.. Norris explained that he had been
informed by members of it that all the
details had been arranged by the manu-
facturers it having been in process of
termination for year and half; that
lawyers were now tinkering upon TIL
agreement and had practically finished
it in the last twenty-four hours; that the
central Office had been established in
New York, and, the men who were to rep
resent the combine in London, San
Francisco, Chicago and other cities had
been selected.
Messrs. Dingley, Payne ard other
members of the committee questioned
Mr.. Norris closely to show that if paper
a 81 f,,e vi N
ufacturers would be driven out of bust
ness. If prices We're unduly raised by
the trust Mr.. Norris said newspaper
publishers would establish their own pa
per factories. He had no recommended
tions to make as TO the proper duty, he
concluded. but thought it well that con-
gress should be informed of the situa-
tion. that 1t might make the bill a men
ace to such a combination as the one be-
ing formed.
Ex-Congressman w r. Russell of Mas
sachusetts said: Il deny that any COM
bination has been practically formed ~
that any consideration of such COM
combination by the manufacturers has
contemplated rise in prices
The newspaper publishers knew tina.
no rise of prices was contempla ted. he
cause they had refused to avail them
selves of opportunities TO make corr
tracts for terms of years al the present
fifteen ortweEty gentlemen who came &C.
gether about a year and half ago had
for their object economy in conducting
their plants. They figured that thev
might save million and a half year by
reducing their working forces
Ex-senator Warner Miller of New |
York repeated and practically confirmed |
the statements made by Mr.. Russell.
Mr.. Wellington Smith of Lee Mass,
spoke for the manufacturers of ESSEX, |
and copying paper. They argued for
duties on tissue. copying stereotyping.
japanese and all thin papers. William
6. Reed of Boston appeared in behalf /
of the American Photographic Papar I
company of South Lee. MassA
THE time has come for US to bind the
better class of books in this country
began MI Henry Ives of New York
There is one hindrance. Labor in Eng
land. Germany and France is 60 per cent
cheaper The Mckinley rate Of % per
cent ad valorem has been retained
That is not enough We ask you to raise
it to 40 per cent. Our better methods
VIII offset the difference"
Then the committee adjourned over
New Years.