Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-03
WHAT is THE REMEDY

OF this fact, we cited the tariff sched-
ule on white print paper and wood
pulp and stated that we wanted to be
shown why this tariff Of 80 cents per
hundred pounds on white paper should
be continued. We were explicit in
Ntating, that if it we're shown after a
careful and complete investigation.
that 1t was necessary to continue this
tariff in order to sustain and preserve
1.-THE paper making industry OF the
United States, we would be willing, as
Iatrepublican newspaper and believer
I1n the protective tariff principle, to
pay our share Of the tax. But we
wanted to be shown and for that rea.
son we asked and we again reiterate
the request that congress under repub.
tllcan auspices shall-investigate the en-
tire tariff schedule from top to bottom
and make a comprehensive report so
that the people will know what should
and what should not be done with ref
erence to tariff revision without de-
stroying the protective tariff principle
In this country
II As announced in the Courier's dis.
patches, the federal governm emit has
begun proceedings against the paper
trust asking the court to grant an in
junction to restrain the General Paper
company, OF Chicago, from continuing
to control and operate the paper bust.
mes OF the west as a trust organization.
Some republican papers claim that this
IS the only way by which the paper
trust can be reached and that the legal
proceedings that have been instituted
Will effectuaiiy solve and settle the
question and will again restore the
print paper business to normal com.
petitive conditions. Such papers as the
Burlington Hawk-Eye, claim that the
tarlf has little or nothing to do with
lie paper trust. On the other hand.
newspapers like the Chicago Tribune.
claim that, even If the Injunction is
secured against the General PAPER
company, the tariff on news print pa.
per must come of in order to bring
about any lasting or effective remedy
to the existing situation. So far as
the Courier is concerned, we are frank
TO confess that we do not know what
Is necessary in order to accomplish the
desired result. We do know that the
existing conditions are very bad and
that some remedy Is imperative. For
that reason we have asked and con-
stinue to ask that congress shall fully
and thoroughly investigate the whole
matter OF tariff revision and trust con.
troll of domestic markets to the end
that the right thing may be done.
The Chicago Tribune in presenting
this matter, again brings up what was
originally known as the Iowa idea"
and gives Its opinion as to the remedy
OF the situation as follows:
the General Paper company Is
en1otned from restraining trade and
from maintaing prices the tendency
Will be strong toward an actual con-
5soltdation of the companies which
unite now simply in the sale of their
product. If q pooling arrangement Is
broken up the next step liz usually
the formation OF a gigantic corpora
ton which really owns all the plants
concerned and which produces on it's
own account and sells for itself. It liz
not difficult to anticipate news print
paper. monopoly which will not rest.
as at present on an understanding be.
tween companies, but on an absorption
into one company.
The tariff on news print paper
must therefore, come off. There is no
other remedy which, without this one,
Will be at all adequate. Under the
present tariff law the rate on news
print paper of the kind In common use
is three-tenths of a cent a pound.
This is almost exactly the measure of
the advance in the price of paper to
the large newspapers since the mo-
nopoly was organized. The price now
demanded by the monopoly is around
about IN cents a pound. With free i'm
portattons the American manu-
facturer establishing mill in
Canada could make paper as
efficiently as the manufacturer in
Maine and could send 1t across the
line into this country to compete on
equal terms with the companies which
are now relieved of competition. 1t is
IN Canada that the available sites for
the manufacture of news print paper
are to be found.
The news print paper monopoly
was not formed until its prospective
had gone down to washing
ton and had persuaded congress to in
troduce the present paper schedule
into the Dingley law The, Dingley
law Isl. If not the mother at any rate
the nllrse. Of the news print paper
mono poly. 70 leaye the DingIey law,
III this respect III to fastens
slpon the ne1sp pers off the United
Stat mono vii ich ii bound In
lime to Increase the prices now paid
BIZ their subser Ibers and adyerti Users. z