Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-11
Special ot Democrat.)

| lew days appealed to the members fronu the state for relief against the
 high price of paper. They are ask ] ing for an investigation of the so-
 called paper trust, and Congressman
 Lilley has presented a resolution
 calling for an investigation of this | question. It is claimed in some quarters that the tariff is responsible for this trust and is causing all the
 trouble. In this connection it is in
 tcresting to note the opinion of the
 members of the ways and means com
 mittee, who have investigated this l question on several occasions, for this is not new subject. It is em- phatically stated by the republican
 members of this committee that the tariff is not responsible for the exist 1 ing conditions and facts are set forth to prove this.
 Under the Dingley act pulp woods are free. Pubs of wood, which is | the ground pulp, which, according to the fluctuations in price, amounts to an ad valorem equivalent of about | 121a cents per pound. The specific duty is 1-12 of one cent per pound. Over 25O,OOO,oOO pounds of pulp were l imported in 1903. The duty on pa per suitable for newspapers, where they are imported at a value of not above two celts, has averaged trihe over fifteen per cent equivalent ad yalorem for the past rour years. Three or four years ago demo- cratic member, moved by the repre-, sentations of a publisher of a New York newspaper introduced reso- lution in the committee on ways and means to investigate. When he was referred to the actual duty of wood and also paper suitable for newspa- pers, he withdrew his resolution, be- ing convinced he was on the wrong track Tn addition to this the amount of wood pulp, free of duty, that is be- | ing important, is constantly on the l increase It's value last year was $1,- 541, ,679.74.
 Kimberley Avenue Bridge. The attention of the war depart
  decision of Judge Thayer in relation to the famous Kimberley avenue bridge, and the fact that lift bridge has been ordered built at this point. The chief of engineers said that this decision would be satisfactory to the department. Tn fact they have noth- ing to do with this part of the mat fer. All the denartment had to do was to see that the order of the sec retary of war to remove the bridge was complied with After that is done, then the plans for the new bridge will have to be submitted to the department for approval and of course will have to be submitted to the department for approval and of course will have to be such that the secretary of war can satisfy himself there will be no obstruction to the river
 The time originally given by the secretary of war for the removal of the bridge is fast approaching, and still the bridge is there. The mayor of New Haven wrote the secretary of war on March 4th and asked for ex- tension of time. He was backed up with an opinion of the corporation counsel of New Haven. This letter was referred to Major Powen of New London for his opinion and report. This is all the department knows the case at the present time. The report has not as yet been received from Major Powell, but probably will be in few days.
 There is no disposition to compel the city of New Haven and the town of Orange to pay a fine for not remov- ing the bridge. The department of ficials recognize the fact that two large bodies like the city of New Haven and the town of Orange move slowly, and the department will un- doubtedly extend the time. The mayor did not ask for any specific time lim- it. but requested reasonable time, and the department will probably grant six months more. At the expiration of that time six more may be granted "a disposition to do something. If not, action may be taken to compel them to remove the bridge.
 Tn the meantime. if the selectmen of Orange want to tear the old bridge down they can do so without being interfered with by the war depart- ment. When it comes to building a new bridge, however, the war depart ment will have something to say about it, and the plans must be an- proved by the secretary of war The new secretary, Governor Taft, of course knows nothing about this case but it is presumed he will follow the recommendations of the engineers. Here, too, a change has heen made since the order was originally issued and new men are at the head of af- fairs. However, the case has been so long before the department and there has been so much correspondence on the subject, nearly all the officials are more or less familiar with the case So it looks down here as though the old bridge would have to go in the near future, and new one started.
 Connecticut Claim
 Tax Commissioners Andrew r. Gates and Attorney General William A. King are in Washington in consul tation with the auditor for the war department relative yo fine claim If