Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-21
LUMBER MEN
WANT TIMBER
TAX REMOVED
TARIFF ON WOOD IS LATEST
ISSUE AT HEARING
FURNITURE MAKERS FAVOR
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
Orange and Lemon Boxes Made of
Shocks. to Be Assessed at Less.
Forest Supply Discussed.
Famine Far Felt

-NN''NAt'ANhA
" ASHTNGTON, Nov. 2O.-As the
w agricultural schedule of the tar
iff was disposed of by the COM
mittee on ways and means of the house
at lengthy session yesterday the work
of considering possible changes in the
tariff on wood and manufactures of
wood was taken up today.
About twenty witnesses were listed
to be heard on this schedule, but it
is not expected that many changes are
desired.
"A universal grab game" was the
appellation given the tariff by Repre-
sentative Champ Clark of Missouri.
The administration policy for pres
ervation of the forests figured largely
in the argument.
Several lumber men said they want
ed a protective tariff on lumber be-
cause other articles were protected by
the law. This called forth the term
grab" from Mr., Clark,
Representative Boutei of Illinois as
serted in defense Of the protective tar
iff that the goyernnlent must secure
$S00,0G0,000 inSrevenue and that as a
result industries must be protected.
Free Trade Urged
That free trade for lumber would
tend to prevent the devastation of the
American timber lands was the opin-
ion expressed by Mr.. Clark, whr aid
that it did not matter if Car IA de-
Vastated her forests.
Mr. Boutell argued that the Ameri-
can forests would have to supply the
lumber for both countries if the Ca
madam forests should be depleted, and
suggested that some broader scheme
/ ha oH ta6
reforesting the United States and
Canada.
A number of lumber men from the
| northwest want the tariff on timber
taken off. The National Association of
Furniture Manufacturers has declared
that there should be immediate reduc-
tion on certain tariff rates which they
claim have enabled a few benehciaries
to combine and destroy competition.
This association, which represents 300
members, having an output of $4O,-
| 000 900 worth of furniture, also has gone
on record in favor of maximum and
minimum tariff aw.
| The paragraph of the wood schedule
providing for a so per cent reduction
on orange and lemon boxes made of
| American shocks will be changed so
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 manufacture of wood, includ-
| ing furniture in order to overcome the
effect of certain decisions regarding
the meaning intended by the present
tariff law.
Discuss Timber Famine
1--WE have already crossed the verge
of a timber famine so severe that it's
| I9rrI,f 1NO faIf In IA lat
the land" said Theodore M. Knappen,
real estate dealer of Minneapolis,
at today's hearing.
'In five years every saw mill in
Minnesota will be abandoned; yet this
industry in its prime employed 5000
to 10000 men"
He spoke for a repeal of the duty
on timber, saying American labor had
nothing to fear from free trade, as
Canadian labor was as high as labor
in this country.
Mr.. Knappen said he represented the
National Forest Conservation league,
but when asked by Representative
Fordney who the league consisted of
he said:
mostly of myself"
Are the farmers Of the northwest
in favor of free trade on lumber?'
asked Mr.. Crumpacker of A. r. Rogers
of Minneapolis, who appeared in IA
Vor of free entry OF tlmDef.
"Yes," the witness replied.
"Do you mean Washington and Ore
gon?" asked Mr.. Fordney.
mo; they are producing states" re-
piled Mr.. Rogers. II mean the prairie
states"
Mr.. Rogers said he did not believe
there was a monopoly in the lumber
business.
Cause of Advance
4t.a4 r.o- ao,,.o5 4Ia apor-
nous advance in the price of lumber?'
asked Mr. Clark of Missouri.
"There are several reasons" replied
Mr.. Rogers, "but the principal one is
to make more money"
r. P. Lynch of st. Paul, M. ]. Scan
Ian of Minneapolis and A: w. Gilbert
of Duluth, Mimi, also spoke in favor
of the repeal of the duty on lumber" !"
"If the tariff on lumber is removed"
asked MIR Boutell of Illinois, will
man be able to build siX-room cot
tage any cheaper as far as the tariff
is concerned?"
Mr. Scanlan replied in the negative.
Mr.. Payne wanted to know what the
effect of retaining the present tarlr
SWe could, I think, have abnormal
advances in the price of lumber" said
the witness.
/ serted DY j. d. Wlllltt a luAiibNA
facturer of Kansas City, in asking that
the present rate of duty on lumber be
retained, if not increased.
He argued that protective tariff
would tend to conserve the forests of
the country on the theory that every
stray log in the forests would be USED
in manufacture.
'How about President Roosevelt, Gif-
ford Pinchot and these other gentle
men who are arguing for free trade in
lumber in order to conserve the forests
of the country?" asked Champ Clark.
Haven't Heard Him
"They have not heard me talk" was
the reply
Edward Hines, large lumber manu-
facturer of Chicago, argued for protec-
tion on the ground that Canada has the
advantage of cheaper transportation
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