Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-28
Mr.. Norris Tells of Methods
Employed by the Trust.
sTlFLING OF COMPETITION
Producers Do Not Control Their Own
Product.
PRICES FIXED BY THE COMBINE
Efforts to Get Relief From Canada
Publishers Give Instances Of
Increased Prices.

John Norris Of the New York Times TO-
day continued his testimony before the
House special committee investigating
news print paper and wood pulp rates. His
testimony related especially to the shut
ting down of paper mills to prevent COM
petition. and he quoted from various
newspapers in substafftiation of his own
statement.
Mr.. Norris quoted a great many state
ments from newspapers to show that the
mills did not control their own output, but
that on the contrary there was a COM
plete understanding among them as to
the distribution of product and the fixing
of prices. He also asserted that the man
ufacturers met annually to determine
prices. The purpose of his testimony was
to show that there was a complete UNI
dersta nding among the paper makers and
that their customers. the newspaper pub
fishers, were entirely subject to their con-
troll in the matter of prices.
Conditions In Canada.
Statements from publishers regarding
their efforts to secure paper from Cana
dian mills were introduced by Nr. Nor
ris, evidently for the purpose OF showing
that there was an understanding between
the Canadian mills and the mills In the
United States.
One instance related was that of pub
Usher in Chicago who had heard of a
Canadian agent who was offering better
price on paper than could be secured in
this country. but who was sought out ana
found to have raised his price and then
left town. Mr.. Norris was unable to
give statistics as to the Canadian mills
which had been closed, but understood
that some had been
In this connection he was questioned
by Mr.. Mann as to why, II the Canadian
mills were being closed and paper was
so high, the publishers in the United
States had not seized upon the opportu-
nifty to purchase these closed mills for
their own use.
Mr.. Norris contented himself by reply
ing to the effect that they had had no
lack of such opportunity. He quoted a
consular report to show that one such
chance had presented itself in the prov
ince Of Quebec, where 1t was claimed that
the opportunity embraced T43.UO.OoO cords
OF wood pulp timber. which Mr.. Norris
said was sufficient to supply the United
States for 300 years He intimated that
he did not share in the apprehension re-
garding the depletion Of American forests.
Further Evidence Submitted.
Mr. Norris submitted further evidence
regarding the shutting down of mills.
Particular attention was called by him
to the statement of the Hamilton (Ohio)
Daily Republican-News that 1t was
claimed that the Niagara Falls mills were
closed down because Of mo water" Mr..
Norris ridiculed the idea OF the claim OF
no water at Niagara Falls.
Leaving this phase of the question. Mr..
Norris quoted a number of publishers as
dependent mills either had been acquired
by large selling agencies or the sale OF
their output merged. ---...
He submitted answers to a number OF
questions propounded to newspapers show
ing that agents had stated that the Wis
consin mills had sold to the International
Company; that the output of the Booth
Mill in Canada is controlled by Allen NC
Emery & Co. Chicago: that. the Car
thage. y. Y, mill (west end is controlled
by the Central Ohio Paper Company. and
that the ]. w. Butler Paper Company
had a special in New York that the excess
Of the st. Croix Company Is taken by the
International Company; that the Inter-
national Company Is buying from the st.
Regis: that the treasurer or some other
officer of the International Company had
bought a block of Finch. Pruyn & Co.
stock: that the Oswego Falls p. & P.
Company. supposed to be Independent. at
tended meetings of the manufacturers
in New York and that the Finch interest
in the Finch Pruyn Company had been ac-
quired by the International, Company
Mr.. Norris Retorts.
Shortly after IL o'clock the bells rang
in announcement of the fact that there
was no quorum in the House. and this
caused Mr.. Mann to remark to Mr.. Nor
ris. THAT means that your self-ap-
pointed prophet and special ally (Mr. Will
iiams) has demanded that we stop here.
and he is doing it to help you to hasten
this hearing
For the first time Mr.. Norris today
made reply to remarks of this character.
He said: IF our professed friends In the
majority would do what they avOw them
selves extremely anxious to do this propo-
sition would have been passed about four
week ago and there would not have been
any roll calls on that account"
Mr.. Mann responded that he did not see
how the publishers could claim to have
any friends in the majority, considering
the abuse they had given that side.
Mr.. Norris declared that there had been
no abuse unless you consider me the
representative of a number" referring to
the publishers). At this point a recess
was taken until o'clock.
Yesterday Afternoons Session.
1t was some time after o'clock yester-
day afternoon when the hearing was re-
sumed After a conference with MedilI
Mccormick, Mr.. Mann designated Thurs
day for a hearing of the individual pub
fishers.
Continuing his testimony. Mr.. Norris
presented a statement of the latest prices
of paper repOrted to the association by ls3