The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-24
Friday, April 2i, iD0s.
TIE DUTY ON WOOD PULP.

THE DUTY ON WOOD PULP.
 The Associated Press Is an associa- ton of the representative newspapers of the country engaged in the collec- tion and distribution of the news of the world for their mutual benefit The American Newspaper Publishers asso- citation is composed of the business managers of the representative news papers of the country. Together they can be fairly said to voice the views of tho American press upon whatever subject they take up for consideration. II is on this account that their fierce criticism of Speaker Cannon of the fed eral house of representatives, and the republican members of the house com mlttee on rules. for having sti1ed an inquiry into the action of paper manu- lecturers In advancing the price of white paper takes on serious char acter.
 The American Newspaper Publishers association. of which The Journal Courier Is a member, does the talking in this connection, but 1t has of course the sympathy of the Associated Press, whose members are also members of the former organization. On that &C., count both may be considered as talk ing at this time. They favor the re- moval of the duty on paper and wood pulp as one way to the more effective ly antagonize the paper trust or com bine, which they assert exists. They claim that by suddenly evincing an ln- terest in the subject, on the eve of a presidential campaign. Speaker Cannon and his republican advisers in the house are guilty of subterfuge. Says the Publishers association. speaking of the sudden activity of these gentlemen in recommending an inquiry Into the paper trade: "We charge that this de- vice was inspired in bad faith Since early in December. 1907, a committee of this body has been clamorlng at the doors of the ways and means commit tee for an opportunity to show the power of illegal comtrnations of paper makers to raise paper prices and the effect thereon of existing tariff re- strictions." It is declared that every effort was insolently repulsed, Speaking of the attitude of these obstinate mem. bers of congress last December and to- day, the association says: They say they want the whole matter investi gated thoroughly. though they know that such inquiry will carry over th' entire proposition to the next sessor of congress. They now pose as cham pons who have been eagerly asking fol that which for four months they hat the power to refuse and which they al, refuse"
 This Is what may be called spunk. talk We are not quite so sure that 1t i' well timed talk. The spectacle of tn newspapers of the country, regardless of political affiliations, banding togcth CT to fight alone for that change in th, tariff schedules which affects thei particular business, and ignoring tn other equally reprehensible tariff schedules affecting products in whicl they are not directly interested, is ia from a pleasing one. No wonder tha Mir. Bryan, consistent tariff reformer took occasion at the combination pres dinner held in New York Wednesday t make a little fun of the editors am publishers present There is no question whatever of the propriety of the re moval or the duty on paper and WOO pulp. There is no question whatever 0 the political cowardice of Speaker Can non and his republican associates | lodging the appeal to them last be cember There is no economic or fsce reason why the duty on either ( these articles should be retained. Tn reason that should hasten their repea is the reason that should hasten tn careful and painstaking revision of d tariff schedules, with the end in vie, of first establishing a tariff system fo revenue purposes. and second, takin from favored producers a special ad vantage not commonly enjoyed, It perfectly absurd for a newspaper { encourage the removal of the duty Q paper and wood pulp and keep it's eye closed at tbe same time to other tari iniduites. More than that, a nowspape no matter how influential, cannot cor sistently demand tariff changes al thi time for the benefit of the neWspape