The Washington herald., 1908-04-28
TO CONFER ON PAPER
Republicans May Consider
Removal of Duties.
PROBE INTO TRUST GOES ON
sIr. Norris, of n New York News
paper, Again Takes stand and Pro-
duces Statements from 2O2 Papers
as 20 Advance Or Wood Pulp.
Sees Hand on Monopoly in Price.

There is a probability THAI at the cor
ference To be held by the House Repub-
licans this week or early next week on
the subject Of currency legislation. con-
sideration viii be given the Stevens bill
placing wood pulp and print paper on
the free list.
This measure has the approval of the
American Newspaper Publishers Asso-
citation, which is insistent that the tariff
shall be revised to the extent that print
paper shall be admitted at American
ports duty free.
Speaker Cannon Is said to have indi-
Gated that he viii interpose no objection
to a discussion OF the Stevens bill at the
conference which is to be called pri-
marily to consider emergency currency
legislation.
Fortified with strong stand-pst sFgu-
ments. he is said 70 be willing 10 take a
chance on having the whole subject
thrashed over at a Republican confer
ence. He is Of the opinion that the ma
jority OF the Republicans in the House
are opposed to piecemeal revision at this
time. either in the interests of the puh-
fishers or any other industry.
Norris only Witness.
John Norris, of the New York Times,
was the only witness yesterday before the
select committee, appointed By Speaker
Cannon. TO investigate the operations OF
the paper trust. He appeared for the
Publishers Association. He took the
stand early in the day, and except for
a brief recess for luncheon. remained on
it until after O'Clock Mr.. Norris was
armed with figures. and he reeled them
of from printed statements hour after
hour, without. apparently. losing any in
terest in the subject.
Mr. Norris undertook to show that
unity of action In fixing the price and
distributing print paper. is everywhere
apparent His testimony was based upon
data collected from newspapers by the
publishers Association. From this data
Mr. Norris proceeded TO build case
designed to show that the trust divided
up the business OF the country and as
signed Il to certain concerns in the va
rious sections, that il enforced short
time contracts at high prices on the
publishers, and that II restricted the out
put Of print paper
At the outset Of the hearing Mr.. Nor
Tis submitted a list Of 202 newspapers
throughout the United States, which list
was supplied 10 him by the newspapers
themselves. This showed that Ia the
past two years the price OF paper had
been increased in various instances from
g to S17 a ton under contracts now IN
force.
Chairman Mann, OF the committee, in
terjected the remark that Mr. Norris
figures were on their face a contradiction
Of the charge that the price OF print
paper was fixed or controlled by some
central agency. THE figures vary" said
Chairman Mann IF controlled by a
single combination why are they not uni
form"
Increases Under Contracts.
Mr.. Norris reply was that the figures
submitted represented increases under
contract, most Of which have been in
existence since January !, 1907, or earlier
Witness. denied in response to a ques-
ton that the big newspapers got better
rates from the paper company than the
small papers.
About 4.30 three rings were heard in
the room where the hearings are being
held. indicating that the House. in ac-
cordance with a demand made by Minor
ity Leader John Sharp Williams was
about to take a yea and nay vote on a
motion to take recess until tomorrow.
Il guess well have to adjourn" said
Chairman Mann. addressing Mr.. Norris.
''YOur ally In the House is working at
the yeas and nays again"
AT the outset Of the hearing Chairman
Mann announced the receipt Of a letter
from President Burbank, of the Interna-
tiOnal Paper Company. expressing his
willingness to send to Washington Off
cials with full information regarding the
Affairs of the sn-calleti trust