Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-21
DISCUSSION OF
TARIFF on LUMBER.
Those Interested in Business by
No Means Unanimous in
Their Views.
FARMERS FOR FREE LUMBER.
Principal Reason for Advance in Price
Is 10 Make More Money. says a.
II. Rogers of Minnesota.

| Washington, Nov. 2O--"A UNIVERSAL
| grab game was the appe,lation CIV
| en- the tariff by Representative Champ
| C,larl, of Missouri today at the hearing
4 before the ways and means committee
| on the tariff schedules for wood ana
| wood manufactures. The admlnistra-
! tons policy for tine preservation OF tire
forest figured largely in the argument.
several lumber men said they wanted
!, protective tariff on lumber because
| other articles are protected by the law.
| This called forth the term graf" from
MI Clark.
Representative Boutel or Illinois as
serted in defense of q protective taritt
that the government must secure $780,
900. 900 in revenue, and that as result
industries must be protected.
That free trade for lumber would
tend to prevent the devastation of the
American timber lands was the opinion
expressed by Mr.. Clark, who said that
it did not matter II Canada devastated
the American forests would have to
supply the lumber for both countries IL
the Canadian forests should be dcplet-!
ed, and suggested that some broader
scheme than the tariff should be adopt.
ed for reforesting the United States and
Canada.
AS the agricultural schedule OF the
tariff was disposed Of by the committee
on ways and means of the house at a
lengthy session yesterday, the work OF
considering possible changes in the tar
if on wood and manufactures of wood
was taken up today. About 20 Wit
nesses were listed to be heard OH this
schedule. but it is not expected that
many changes are, desired. A number
of lumbermen from the northwest want
the tariff on timber taken off. The
National Association OF Furniture
Manufacturers has declared that there
should be immediate reduction in GER
tain tariff rates, which they claim HAYS
enabled q few beneficiaries to combine
and destroy competition.
This association, which represents 300
manufacturers, having an annual out
put of about 40,OOO,000 worth of furni-.
ture, also has gone on record in. favor OF
maximum and minimum tariff law.
The paragraph of the wood schedule
providing for q so per cent reduction
on orange and lemon boxes made Of
American shocks will be changed 50
that the secretary of the treasury will
prescribe the regulations under which
proof of the identity of such shocks
shall be made.
Changes will be made in the tariff
covering manufactures of wood, INCLUDE
ing furniture, In order to overcome ths
effect of certain decisions regarding
the meaning intended by the present
tariff law. Manufactures of bark will
be specified to take the same rate Of
duty as wood manufactures.
I'VE have already crossed the verge
of a timber famine so severe that it's
blight viii be felt in every hamlet in
the land" said Theodore NJ. Knappen,
a real estate dealer. Of Minneapolis at
today's hearing. ..In five years every
sawmill in Minneapolis will be aban-
doned. Yet this industry in its primo
employed 5000 to 10000 men,
He spoke for repeal of the duty on
timber, saying that American labor had
nothing to fear from free trade, as
Canadian labor Is as high as labor in
this country Mr. Knappen said he
represented the National Forest Con-
.servation league, but when asked by
Representative Fordney who the League
consisted Of, he said:
Mostly of myself"
ana, during one of the amusing Incl
dents If the hearing, indicated that he
favored tariff revision downward.
Are the farmers of the northwest in
favor of free trade in lunber?" asked
Mr. Crumpacker Of A. r. Rogers Of
Minneapolis, who appeared in favor of
free entry Of timber.
Yes the witness replied
do you mean Washington and Orc
pOn p,ta n SJSed Mr. Forllney
NO; they are producing states re-
piled Mr.. Rogers. + mean the prairie
states"
You may include Indiana among
those states, said Representative
Crumpacller.
there was a monopoly in the lumber
business.
What is it that has caused the enor-
nous advance in the price of lumber?"
asked Representative Champ Clark of
Missouri.
There are several reasons replied
Mr.. Rogers, .'but the principal one is to
make more money"
It. p. Lynch of st. Paul. NJ. ]. Scan
Ian of Minneapolis. and A. W. Gilbert
Of Duluth. Mimi, also spoke in favor
of the repeal of the duty on lumber.
Chairman Payne took occasion to re-
iterate his remarks of yesterday re-
sarding the desires of the committee to
hear both sides of the question.
THE majority of the committee wants
the facts" said Mr.. Payne. These
facts will be used in considering the
framing of Il new tariff bill.'
''Mr. Chairman, YOU say the majority
of the COMMITTEES wants the facts said
Representative Champ Clark. on the
Democratic side Of the committee II
want to say the minority are MS fully
interested In getting the facts as the
majority. il not more So
If the tariff on mmper is removed"
asked Mr.. Boutel of Illinois. will
man be able to buila a six-room cot
tage any cheaper as far as the tariff
is concerned?
Mr., Seaman replied in toe negative.
Mr.. Payne wanted to know what the
effect of retaining the present tariff
would be.
I'VE could. think, have abnormal
advances in the price OF lumber" said
the witness.
State of Ohio, City OF Toledo
I sntt,t g |. : =. p. H. ~ 4