Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-06

about. This paper would like to spe-
city one schedule which we want in
vestigated by a republican tariff COM
mission or republican committee of
congress.
Why, we want to ask, should there
he tariff of three-tenths of one cent
per pound on white print paper and a
tariff OF one-twelfth to one-fourth cent
Per pound on wood pulp when there is
not today competitive market in the
United States in these articles which
are of such vital Importance to the
great newspaper publishing interests.
Competition in the manufacture and
sale OF white print paper has been
throttled in the United States. and this
commodity is being sold under a COM
Lined arrangement at an average
price of % cents 100 pounds higher,
as we have every reason to believe,
than is necessary to return fair and
reasonable profit to the mills and
dealers. The writer recently placed
an order for many thousands of dol
lars worth of this commodity. He
found it impossible to get competi-
tive bid or proposition that could be
considered from any source except
from what Is known as the paper
trust which dictated the price and in
dicated with what jobbers to place
the order. Now. this paper and every
other newspaper in the United States
is vitality interested in this matter. If
there is no longer competitive mar
ket for white print paper in this coun-
try we want somebody to tell us why
tariff should be maintained which pre-
vents importation from Canada or
elsewhere, and which we believe en-
ables the combine that controls the
market to maintain a price 25 cents
higher than the normal price should
be under competitive conditions
Here then is a definite specification
Oh tariff schedule that we want con-
gress to investigate from republican
standpoint. If it can be shown that
this tariff is necessary in order to
maintain paper mills in the United
States and pay the difference between
the cost Of production-that is, the
cost of labor-here and abroad" or if
1T can be shown that this tariff is nee
eesary to prevent foreign industries
having an advantage in our market,
over American industries or foreign
capital over American capital or for
eign labor over our own labor" then,
in that case we are willing to stand
loyalty by the republican principle of
protection ard willingly pay our share
of the tax in order to preserve the
American standard of wages and
keep up American Industries.
But, we want to be shown. We want
TO be shown with facts and figures
that cannot be gainsaid. This is but
one item of the thousands on the tar
iff schedule. 1t directly affects our
business. We assume that there are
many other items that similarly affect
other lines of business. We assume,
indeed we know, that there are many
others who are ready and anxious to
suggest tariff schedules which they
think should be changed These people
also want to be shown. The only way
that this can be done is by congress
s1Onal investigation under republican
auspices that will go to the bottom of
the matter. and make all the facts
known
We repeat again that in our judg-
nent the republican party is unequiv-
ccally committed ito thorough and ex-
kaustive tariff investigation. Then will
come tariff revision by republican
congress if general business condi-
tons demand it; if they do not, the
people will know it and all true re-
Lublicans will be satisfied.
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