Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-06
SOME OF THE PAPER
TRUSTS PRACTICES
Shown Up By Mr.. Norris and Others
In the Wood Pulp and Print Paper
Hearing At Washington.

Washington, May 5.-John Norri:
of New York, the representative of the
American Newspaper Publishers AS
ISOLATION today repeated his Statement
before the House committee investi-
eating the wood pulp and print paper
industry that the American paper
manufacturers have bought large
tracts Of wood land in Canada ant
charged that instead of cutting the
timber on this land, which they have
bought with almost recklessness,
they have gone into the market and
artificially marked up prices on them
selves He protested that the Am
erican consumers should not be sad
died with the penalties of any such
speculation. Mr.. Norris produced
figures to show that there has been
a reduction in the price of pulp wood
exports from Canada. He expressed
the opinion that paper can be made
for $40 a ton. The investigation will
continue tomorrow.
Washington, May 5.-When the
House committee investigating the
MOou pup anu u III pstpCi NuOSlioil
met today a telegram was read from
Herman Ridder, president of the
American Newspaper Publishers AS
sociation, addressed to John Sharp
Williams, the Democratic leader in
the House, stating that Judge La
combe in New York had discharged
the Manila Fibre Paper Co., which
had been brought before grand jury
ard ordered to produce its books. The
company claimed that it's books had
been given to an official who had TAX
en- them to Europe. The telegram add
ed:
"They, (the paper company, now
claim that they have done everything
in their power to recover the papers.
On this showing they We're allowed to
60 free What a farce. Our only hope
is the Stevens blu
Mr.. Stafford of Wisconsin asked
John Norris of New York, who took
the witness stand, if he regarded that
telegram as meaning that the inabil-
ity to prosecute the manila and Fibre
Trust" was a failure of justice.
"Not a failure but serious embar-
rassment," replied Mr. Norris.
There was a practice many years
ago, said Mr. Norris, prior to the Gre
alton of the International Paper Co.,
of paying for paper on the production
basis-that is, the newspaper instead
of buying paper by the pound bought
upon the basis of so many pounds,
making so many thousand SPACE
sheets II the manufacturer increased
the weight of the paper unduly he did
so at his own cost. On the other hand,
ii he decreased the weight Of the pa
per the benefit would go to the news
piper. Following the creation of the
International Paper Co, he said, all
of the paper manufacturers agreed up
on a standard basis of weight for ev
cry newspaper; that standard being
81 pounds for 500 sheets, meaning
24x36.
There is a natural tendency in the
MILL" continued Mr.. Norris. "to run
little heavy if not watched carefully
because an increase in the weight over
the standard increases the output OF
the mill to that extent and measure
ably reflects to the advantage of the
mill superintendent.
with some of the large contracts
in recent years there has been ten
dcncy to secretly break over that
general understanding among paper
makers and charge upon light weight
paper-that is, to furnish a lighter
weight of paper than the standard and
also to charge upon the production ba-
sis rather than upon the gross weight
basis"
"What company to your knowledge
departed from the standard weight"
asked Mr. Stafford.
1.-THE Great Northern Paper Co.," re-
piled Mr.. Norris. There probably are
others, but l cannot recall them now"
Mr.. Norris read kilograms and let
tiers from number Of papers giving
the increase in price they have been
charged for paper.
He also gave quotations from Cana
dian mills received by papers ranging
from $3.50 to $Ssse5 per ton.
Mr.. Norris stated that paper reached
its lowest price in 1897, when it aver
aged between 1873 and $50 a ton. at
was lower then in comparison with
today than seems evident, because the
payment was on the production basis
rather than on the gross weight basis
as it is today" he continued.
In answer to a question by Chairman
Mann, Mr. Norris said he thought that
exclusive of the fixed charges. insur-
ance, etc, paper could be made in a
modern mill at $50 ton.
Reference was made to the hearings
before the ways and means committee
when the Dingley tariff bill was under
discussion and the denial of the paper
manufacturers that combination
was contemplated to raise the price of
paper. "One Of the things we want
this committee to establish" said Mr..
Norris, lis that when the paper manu-
facturers appeared before the ways
and means committee on Dec. 81, 1859,
they misled and deceived Congress"
"A very considerable quantity of the
wood used by the paper makers" he
"a oT fbipk poorIv 60 non cont ne