Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-26
Hearing Even Refused the
Newspaper Publishers
Who Desire Tariff Legislation
on Paper and Wood Pulp
That Will Be In Interests Of Papers
and the Public.

New York, March 25.-The effort on
the part of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association to secure leg
islation by Congress putting print pa
per and wood pulp on the free list has
received a sudden shock because of
the absolute refusal on the part of the
ways and means committee to even
give them a hearing.
Mr. Ridder, president Of the Amer
lean Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton, has made public the following
correspondence on the subject:
New York. March 49, 1905
Hon. serene +. Payne. Chairman.
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washing
ton.
Dear Sir-On behalf of the Amerl-
can Newspaper Publishers Assoca-
tion | respectfully ask that a hearing
BE- granted to us upon the bills reiat-
ing 10 free paper and pulp.
Yours Faithfully,
"HERMAN RIDDER, President,
American Newspaper Publishers AS
sOciatiO
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives,
Washington, March a. 1903
Mr.. Herman Riddcr, New York Staats
Zcitung, Z. O. Box, No. 1907. New
York City
Dear Sir-Your letter of the 10Th in
slant received. The majority of the
committee determined early in the
session that it would not be wise to
enter upon q revision of the tariff dur
ing this year thus adding to the I'M
certainty and diSquiet always caused
by a Presidential election. They also
had in mind the disturbance caused
by the recent panic. In order to avoid
all agitation, they decided that they
would have no hearings upon any sub
jcct affecting the tariff rates After re-
ceiving your letter | again talked with
a majority of the members of the COM
mittee and they adhered to their opin-
ion. | therefore feel authorized to say
to you there will be no hearing upon
tariff rate until after the Presidential
election.
Yours very truly.
SERENO Il. PAYNE.
Mr.. Ridder, speaking on the subject
today. said:
Il have seen President Roosevelt on
this subject repeatedly and he gave
me the most positive assurance that
he would send a special message to
Congress. urging that print paper and
wood pulp be put upon the free list.
on the strength of his statement, I
have urged the newspaper publishers
of the United States to support him
in his efforts to do US justice.
Congressman Williams. leader of
the minority, yesterday announced on
the floor OF Congress that he would
refuse TO allow any legislation to go
forward until the majority would give
assurance that it would pass three or
four measures, among which this was
one. We have assurance from q ma
jority of Congress that they will vote
before the House.
apparently the sole obstruction is
the senator's on the ways ana means |
committee and l hope the publishers
of the country will take immediate |
steps to bring Il majority of that COM
mittee to n realizing sense of their
duty in the matter. Unless prompt and
vigorous action is taken the measure
Is likely to fail. If it does the paper |
combine will maintain the present high |
prices or may even make an excuse for |
advancing these prices.
IF We fail to put the manufactured |
article on the free list the Canadian |
government may impose n prohibitive |
export duty on the logs and then the |
situation would become most serious
1t would not only prove disastrous to |
Tie public interests. but it would |
mean that there would be n still great
er destruction of our forests with all |
The attendant evil consequences