The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-13
ORGANIZED ROBBERY.
That Is What Congressman Miller
Says of Lumber Trust.

Washington, Dec 13.-Representa-
tive J. NJ. Miller of Kansas has intro
duced a resolution in the house of
representatives to ascertain whether
present high prices of lumber are due
to trusts and combinations.
Speaking of his resolution Mr.. Mill
er says:
THE resolution offered by myself in
the house is not in antagonism to the
one offered by Senator Kittredge in
the senate. 1 have no pride of au-
thorship in the matter. MY purpose is
TO aid a speedy inquiry
For the last three years lumber
mas advanced by regular steps at an
astounding pace in the southwest
where SO much development is going
on. Lumber has advanced from SIS to
$40 per 1000 feet per annum, so that
common lumber costs as much today
as the best dressed lumber did four
years ago. This is the result of a
number of combines all acting with
one common purpose although hav-
ing no Immediate connection.
The greatest of these com bines is
the yellow Pine Manufacturers asso-
citation of st. Louis. This com bine
fixes the price on the greatest mill out
put in the United States, controls all
mills in Mississippi Arkansas, Ala
oama, louisiana and Texas, the last
two states containing the greatest pine
|
association of Atlanta controls the out
put of the Georgia and Florida mills
The Southern Cypress Manufacturers
association, offices at New Orleans, is
last last met and raised the prices
from 81 to 81 per 1000.
The Yellow Pine Manufacturers
association operates in absolute def
ance of the antitrust laws of Arkansas.
This concern through its secretary pre-
pares regular monthly reports of the
stocks on hand at each mill in the
southwest, the orders at each mill, the
kind Of lumber on hand Tt levies a
tax of from $50 to $1,000 per mill for
membership. It has committee
which meets very often and its meet
ings mean thousands of dollars taken
from the pockets of the farmer as well
as the dweller in towns. Its printed
lists are sent to each mill and to every
retail dealer that pays the fees, and
each new list has continuously shown
steady rise in price from so cents to
SO per 1000, and this has come with
painful regularity to the local dealers,
who are not benefited particle by the
raise, and who dare not undersell
fixed price for each town. This was
conclusively shown in two suits in the
federal courts of Indian Territory, both
in the western and southern districts
This combine also looks after freight
rates and frequently the local freight
rates on lumber in the southwest are
as high for 100 miles as the cost of the
lumber.
Lumber is shipped from Arkansas
into Indian territory and oklahoma at
a lower rate for a longer haul than
from points in the Indian territory to
points in that territory
1.-The secretary of commerce and
labor may well investigate how the
timber lands are settled by specu-
lators. For instance, not a month ago
eight settlers on St. Joe river, Idaho,
sold their lumber on their homesteads
for $4,000, the last one receiving
$4,000 for his $50 acres.
Publicity is needed badly and
many of these combines noted today
for ways that are dark and tricks that
coin dollars will vanish away. In
Kansas New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
western Texas where thousands of
people want to build homes, this
grinding combine has practically held
up the development of this splendid
country, and I propose to do all in my
power to give the people relief from
this organized system of robbery"