The Washington herald., 1908-04-21

Not satisfied with the reply Of Attorney
General Bonaparte to the resolution ask
ing what had been found out about the
alleged paper trust and what had been
done to prosecute it for violation Of the
Sherman antitrust law, Speaker Cannon
yesterday supplemented his efforts to get
at the facts by introducing a resolution
authorizing the appointment OF a special
committee to make an investigation. The
resolution went TO the Committee On
Rules, of which the Speaker is chairman.
A long preamble to the resolution re-
cites allegations made by the American
Newspaper Association, and other allega-
tions Among the charges contained in
the resolution are these:
THAT the statistics compiled by the
Bureau Of the Census concerning the
cost and price Of newsprint paper are
erroneous, inaccurate, incomplete. and
valueIess as a guide TO legislation.
That the price of print paper has IN
creased from S5 to so per cent during the
past few months.
Result of Combination.
THAT the alleged increased price OF
| paper is In part the result Of a combina-
tion and conspiracy on the part OF wood
pulp and paper manufacturers and deal
ers to control, regulate, monopolize, and
restrain interstate and foreign commerce
and trade in the manufacture and sals Of
newsprint, manila, fiber, and other kinds
Of paper and paper products.
That the International Paper Com
pany and other paper manufacturers and
dealers have threatened TO advance, and
have advanced the price OF paper SO per
ton during the last few months
THAT this great advance in the price
of paper is made possible by the duty Of
/ IS per ton on print paper, being the same
rate OF duty for the last eighteen years
and in the last three tariff laws.
The preamble recites also. but not on
the authority of the American Newspa-
! per Publishers Association. that 1T Is
/ claimed and asserted that the price OF
print paper is in no wise affected by the
/ tariff. that the increase in price of recent
/ date has not been excessive, and is not
/ the result either Of tariff, import duty,
or Of any combination or conspiracy in
{
the result wholly OF the Increase in the
cost of the raw materials and the IN
/ crease in the wages paid for labor and
/ the shortening of the hours Of labor per
/ day"
/ Other allegations cited are that the
/ combination of print-paper manufacturers
| in the United States have purchased the
output of all the paper mills in Canada
/ in excess of the home consumption,
/ which said purchase is in furtherance of
1 conspiracy In restraint of Interstate
and foreign commerce.
should BE Informed.
The resolution sets forth also that 'ft
is desirable that the House OF Representa-
tives shall be fully informed as to all the
facts in the case and as to whether there
does exist or can exist. beyond the reach
Of the existing power Of the Department
| Of Justice and Of the courts to prevent, a
combination or conspiracy among the
manufacturers or dealers or others 10 so
increase the price, control the character
| of the paper manufactured, or to regu-
| late the output Of wood pulp or the
paper mills in restraint OF trade among
the several States or with my foreign
country to the end that needful legislation
may be enacted"
/ The resolution itself provides that the
! Speaker shall appoint select committee
Of six members to inquire into these ale
cations. The committee is 10 have power
to sit in Washington during the sessions
or the recess of Congress and TO summon
witnesses