New-York tribune., 1908-05-29
FINDS NO PAPER TRUST
Of House COMMITTEE
against Free Wood Pulp.


SIX members OF the House appointed 70 investigate
the wood pulp and print paper situation in rela
non TO the Tariff and with regard TO alleged
conspiracy in restraint Of trade to-day submitted
majority and minority report. Tie majority re-
port. which is signed by Representatives Mann of
Illinois: Miller Of Kansas Stafford, of Wisconsin,
and Ramon. Of Ohio. is preliminary. and recon-
rnends that no legislation affecting wood pulp
print paper be enacted until the committee has
further Investigated and reported.
The minority report, which is signed by Repre-
sen'atives Sims. Of Tennessee. and Ryan. Of New
York. recommends the passage of the Stevens bill
to place wood pulp and print paper the free
list
The majority report says. IN part:
AS the present price OF paper would not to
me Stevens bill! in its present form might spell ruin
70 fo- the paper industry and ruinously high prices
lleres it the part Of wisdom. before making
~ ITS INVESTIGATION has been completed and thor
The committee listened with interest. attention
and care from April . to May Il TO the witnesses
Americaa Nevspap Pubishers assocao ana
na6s ro9~ed @ With care the sasments
who appeared the special representative OF that
the newspaper publisher to present evidence be
fore the committee. though not all Of the pub
mitJee would like to hear have yet been exam
The report says that the tabuation Of returned
schedules Of newspapers by the Census Ofice
ers few Of the metropolitan dailies. which the
heavy consumers. From these returns 1t says.
the average price at present, including in many
cases freight charges to 91a newspapers is g IS
hundred; that Of these. 9s1, using paper in rolls.
have an average price Of g q. and 55s have an
average of s. o. for paper in sheets. It seems
probable that publishers paying high prices most
readily responded to the inquiries Of the commit
tee The report continues:
-. While there appears to have been complaint on
ing price Of paper for 1905 was low be fairly
until the Summer Of 1907 that there was
genera ncrase va n R5he p ac 1T' pTf no effect on new
contracts appears to be unquestioned
AS 10 the charge Of the existence OF a coTnbina-
ton in restraint Of trade. the report says:
The evidence before the committee so far fails
TO prove any combination OF print paper manu-
Of 70 }rs b or evdsnce m vas
presented which might excite suspicion that such
a combination had been made and was in existence
Such of the paper manufacturers as have ap-
have strenuously and completely denied under
oath the existence Of any combination agreement
the paper nianuFactlr or their selling agents
Tesulate control or advance ne price ot palTr. @
pose in restraint of trade.
Under the subhead Removal Of the Tariff the
report says in part:
The question as TO the removal Of the tariff on
the United states as well as its effect upon the
paper T1snufscturins industry and the newspaper
publishing industry. The committee Is not yer
permanent policy Of the United States in regard
10 The duty on paper and pulp; except mi ta tariT rt
on newsprlnt paper and on wood pulp sholld e noI
& sy C~rIg I ] 0r Pa &c bCiI & el]ias exnoTt duty on
paper pulp pulp wood makes any hlgter
charge in any way upon wood pulp or pulp wood
The evidence taken so far would seem indi-
cate that the temporary suspension or entire re-
great Immediate effect. and if the taTir IS re,
rght 5fo to free ' ezPortson r pup from the
Canadian forests The rsmoyeI of the 1T tariff g 2 On
Rod nrobablv 9 result in considerable
IN the price Of print paper and the early destruc-
ton Of the pulp wood forests in the United states.
to be assured Of low prices for his paper it is es
genital 70 MAINTAIN i 94 p4per od s give In the CANADIAN
1nls Preferential advantage over American mills
must inevitably result in the dsmantng of Amer-
can paper machines and the n5[a'e il 9der
such conditions Canada could levy export dq'!Ts ] on
without the presence Of competition from American
our COMMITTEES proposes during the summer va
cation 10 continue It's investga tons and expects 10
Sion Of Congress definite recommendations; based
upon complete tnfonation J9oFousny re s fPme supply
nils 20 furnish news print paper enough to meet
when CONTRACTS are made duFng RI a6a 6ae e e
year for pulp wood 10 be delivered IN LsoS Ire pi pt
is likely 70 be lower than the prices no" bells
mai
The dec-ea sed consumption Of paper consequent
rJpon the general business condition o. the cours
~ means leseeued demand for pulp Wood anu
ne believe d consequent return TO normal pT4ces-
F2e,-esentative Mann introduced in the House by
request a bill 'equalize the trade OF ihe Chi'"u
s+s-as With foreign countries and their colonies
rrnvinces and dependencies producing and import
ing 70 this country wood pulp mechanically srouho
v-ood pulp chemical wood pulp bleacned ana un
bleached printing paper unsized. sized or sueo
t-..fa for no, ks and newspapers, or any or
,ber7 The bill authorizes the Fresident rom
limo 10 time hereafter to enter into negotiations
witt, governments Of countries exporting Ihes7
articles TO the United States with vie" 10 ths
.-,.,- o- commercial agreements in which
-ecin-r,raI and equivalent concessions may ne CD
-z5,ed in favor Of the products and manufactures
~ the United States. on the making OF sun
,inrocaI agreements by foreign countries the ffes
aa-. - authorized 70 suspend the imposition and
,,r7ao,tor Of the duties on the articles.
SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE ACTED.