The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-10
A PAPER TRUST HEARING.
Mr.. NewIands Proposes an Enqutr
Into I,ubIisherS, COmDia fnts.

Mr.. NevIands Proposes nm Enqutr1
Into I,ublishers' Complaints.
The petition OF the American Newspaper
Publishers Association asking for an en-
quiry into the paper trust was taken up
yesterday by the House Committee on
Ways and Means and Representative New
lands proposed resolution as follows.
Whereas complaint is made that the
price Of paper in the United States has
within recent period been nearly doubled:
Whereas the Association Of Americans
Newspaper Publishers has appealed to tha
Congress Of the United States for relief.
claiming that the increase in price has
been occasioned by a combination of tho
various paper mills and pulp factories OF
the country:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways
and Means fix the last Wednesday Of
May. 1900. for the hearing Of such COM
plants. and meanwhile the secretary Of
the committee is directed to give notice
to such Association OF American Newspa-
per Publishers and to the various paper
companies and pulp companies of such
hearing. and the 81 cretary of the commit
tee be directed to all on such paper COM
panies and pulp companies TO file with
the committee written statements show
ing the amount of capital stock and bonds
amount paid during the calendar year
ending December 81, 1899. by such COM
panies for interest on bonds. dividends ON
stock. taxes and wages to employees. the
rates paid for wages to be classified ac-
cording to the amount paid. and also state
ments showing the total receipts for pa
per sold and the expenses Of operating
during the year.
The resolution was referred to the sub
Committee on Customs, consisting Of
Messrs. Payne. Dalzell. Hopkins. Gros.
venor, Russell. Richardson. and Robertson.
On May . a delegation representing the
American Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton presented the petition of that associa-
ton. adopted in New York. February %,
1900, to the Senate Committee on Finance
and the House Ways and Means Commit
tee,
The petition recites that the price Of
printing paper used by newspapers has in
creased from so to 100 per cent without
reason or warrant to be found in the con-
dition of the industry. which was believed
to be the working Of trust.
The association appealed to Congress to
enquire into the matter to the end that
suitable legislation might be provided to
remedy the conditions complained OF. Az
newspapers are sold at a fixed price, tie
petition declares. their publishers cannot
put the increased cost Of the paper OF tho
consumer, and in many instances this in
creased cost means the coniscation Of
profits and in others it creates actual loss.
1t is the understanding at the Capitol
that the proposition to give hearing to-
the publishers will be agreed to. but that
it will probably come to nOught so far as
positive results are concerned. The Re-
publican members CT the Ways and Means
Committee publicly say that it is too late
in the session to attempt TO bring about
the legislation petitioned for
well-informed public man said to o
Times reporter last night: I'VE would
as soon think of picking up rattlesnake
as of taking hold of this matter We can
not go too hard on the trusts. The Repub-
lican newspapers dare not make any OUT
cry about the paper trust, and the Demo-
cratic newspapers-well, their kick can't
move the Fifty-siXth Congress