The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-28
NEWSPAPER OWNERS
ASK FOR FREE PAPER
AND WOOD PULP.


WASHINGTON, Dec. E.-The American
Newspaper Publishers Association mas
presented To the Angia-American joint high
commissioners q carefully prepared argu-
nent in favor OF free paper and tree pup.
The following Is the syllabus OF the argu-
nkn..
..The directors Of the American Newspa-
per Publishers. Association, Representing
f57 daily newspapers OF the lnaea Siatcs
aud representing the bulk CT tie total con-
sumption Of print paper, are In favor q
free paper ana free pulp. TIE tarfn OF y
per ton on print paper is prohth:tery, ara
we believe that the rate OF Sles pet Non
for mechanically ground wood pulp - sN-
cessive, that the American paper manu-
faciurers need no protection because .nss
can manufacture paper cheaper than =
done in any other part OF the woria, s, anu
lian Japanese and British markets IN
competition with Swedish and German
Inc 'ha ,s 10 pns pas that
during the last year the export has aver
aged ! 600 tons per week, and that the en-
tire revenue received from the importa-
ton OF mechanically ground wood pulp
was only 81 ,S42 last year 50 that no Geri-
Gus question of national economy could be
urged in opposition to free pulp and free
The American manufacturers are pro-
tected to the extent of x160 per ton by
reason of their proximity to their custom
ers, The difference in the cost o. trans
tee OF security against Canada or any for
eigp country. 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 obtaina5ls
In the Canadian forests.
I'm January. 1895. all the large and
profitable paper mills OF the United States,
with few exceptions. were merged into the
International Paper Company a concern
that absorbed twenty-foar mills. prodr-
cfng about 10 per cent. Of the entire Amer
ga an
capitalized upon q basis OF 5e,0Q0.90Q. The
pretext given for the organization az the
trust was the inability OF mills TO make
paper at prevailing prices: that bankrupt
cy stared them in the face. The comhin-
alton was really formed to protect the pro-
prietors whose mills were in poor localities
or on streams that are running dry. Ev-
cry mill owner who entered that trust In
yited a withdrawal of government favor.
Excessive and improper prices were paid
for many mills that were located on ex-
hausted water courses and that were trib-
utary to denuded timber tracts
'Organizers of the trust frankly admit
ted 1T the outset that its common stock
represented no investment. yet dividend
or ! Der cent. on the common stock was
declared in November. payable December.
1855 This common stock Is now selling
uD9a information from officers of the In
ternationai Paper Ccmpany.' showed that
in July the trust was making a profit Of
SIC a ton On its OUTPUT
THE entire output Of this corpuration
representing ,fzp tons per day OF theoreti-
cal capacity could be reproduced by a
present investment OF sIa. COO oo0 50 that
the American consumers of newspaper are
forced 10 pay dividends upon an inflated
and wholly fictitious valuation OF at least
fia,sEe $50,
immediately after the organization az
tie trGst 1t raised the price OF paper
wherever possible. In three cases IL
raised the price SO per ton, and has aver
aged an increase OF s. per ton o.. its
daily output Of APO tons equaiing an I'm
creased tax Of s.. 80 90 per ansum upon
the newspapers OF the country which now
pay total exceeding SEQ 90 90 per an
mum for their paper supply.
The present consumption of pulp wood
bs the pulp and paper mills Of the United
states, including Manila. book and writ
ing paper, ss stated at 100000 cords per
annum, which consumption requires the
entire stripping OF pulp timber on s25
square miles Der aIlnum.
our spruce wood supply IS limited Wa
therefore urge that the commission should
take advantage or the present opportun-
lily and Immediately secure Sufficient
supply OF spruce free from tariff coynpII-
ca tsssaS."
The enlightened policy OF New York ard
ofaer states IN protecting forests should b.
encouraged by putting Canadian pulp ard
paper on the free list. Every increase of
n quarter Of cent per pound in the price
Of nswssJa pers adds ss4 GA 90 to the ya,us
OF The trusts securities.