Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-28
WANT FREE PAPER
Argument in Favor Of Removal
Of Tariff.
THEY NEED NO PROTECTION
American Manufacturers Have Natural
Advantages Which, Enable Them to
Meet and Overcome All
Opposition.
THEY NEED NO PROTECTION
(By Telegraph J

(By Telegraph
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27-The Amer
lean Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton has presented to the Anglo-Ameri-
can joint high commissioners care
fully prepared argument in favor Of free
paper and free pulp. The following is
a syllabus OF the argument:
The directors Of the American News
paper Publishers Association, rerre-
senting ISL dail- newspapers Of the
United States and representing the bulk
Of the total consumption Of print paper,
are in favor of free paper and free
pulp. The tariff CT SC per ton on print
paper is prohibitory, ard we believe
that the rate Of $1.G7 per ton for me-.
charically ground wood pulp is excess
siEe; that the American papers man
ufactures need no protection because
they can manufacture paper cheaper
than is done in any other part of the
world, and they are now supplying the
Australian, Japanese and British mar
ket in competition with Swedish and
German manufac turers: that no print
paper is brought into the United States,
but that during the last year. the export
had averaged 1000 tons per week, and
that the entire revenue received from
the importation Of mechanically
ground wood pulp was only S41, S42' last
year, also that 70 serious question Of
national economy could be urged in
opposition to free pulp and free paper.
TIE American manufacturers are pro-
tected to the extent of SLIGO per ton
by reason of their proximity to their
customers. The difference in the cost
Of Importation to the market are their
great guarantee CT security against
Canada. They are also protected by
reason of their ability to obtain cheaper
and more convenient supplies of coal
and chemicals, which, as yet are not OBJ
h ajnahleE in the CanaGia nsferests. Fl 7
ssss uar3.s 1sgs, I'll hesbi e ana prom
table paper mills of the United states
with few unimportant exceptions were
merged into the International Paper
Company, a combination that absorbed
twenty-four mills producing about so
per cent. Of the entire American output.
This corporation or trust was carital-
lied upon a basis Of S55. 000, 0GO.
The preteNt given by the organization
of the trust was the inability Of mills
to make paper at prevailing prices
that bankruptcy stared them in the
face.
This combination was really formed to
protect the propristcrs whose mills were
in poor localities or on streams that
We're running dry. Every mill owner
who entered that trust invited a With
drawal of government favor. Excessive
and improper prices We're paid for
many mills that We're located on eX-
hausted water courses and that We're
tributary to denuded timber tracts; for
mills that at periods Of the year have
an insufficient supply of water, or are
under water; for mills that are infe-
rior and worthless in machinery. equip
ment and constructions; for mills that
must pay excessive rental for
water power: for mills that do not con-
troll wood lands: for mill. that have
neither pulp grinding attachments nor
sulDhitc pulp auNiiiaries.
The organizers of the trust frankly
admitted, at the outset that its COM
mon stock represented no investment,
vet a dividend Of l per cent on the COM
mon stock was declared in November.
payable December 31st, 1898. This COM
mon stock is now selling on Wall street
at sixty. A circular based upon infor-
nation furnished by the officers" OF
the International Paper Company
showed that in July the trust was max
ing G profit CT $40 per ton on it's out
put The entire output of this corpora
ton representing 1920 tons per day for
theoretical capacity, could be reproduc-
ed by present investment of $15, 000-
900, so that the American consumers of
newspapers are forced to pay dividends
upon an inflated and wholly fictitious
valuation OF at least $4,000, coo.
Immediately after the organization Of
the trust it raised the price of paper
wherever possible. In three cases it
raised its price SO per ton and has av-
eraged an increase of IS per ton on it's
daily outpu. OF 1920 tons, equaling an
increased tax CT $3.50, GEO per annum
upon the newspapers Of the country,
which now pay total exceeding 500
100000 per annum for their paper sup
ply.
The enlightened policy of New York
and other States in protecting forests
should be encouraged by putting Cana
dian pulp and paped on the free list
Every increase Of quarter Of a cent
a pound in the price Of newspapers adds
$34,0O0,0o0 to the valuation Of the trust
securities.
Bolivian Affairs Serious.