The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-21
PAPER PROBE WILL
 NOT BE FINISHED Report Will Hardly Be Made To
 Congress TARIFF WILL BE UPHELD More Witnesses Are Examined for and Against the Manufacturers of Paper But Very Few New Facts
 Are Brought Out
TARIFF WILL BE UPHELD

Washington, May 20-The investigation of the wood pulp and print paper indus try was not concluded today by the House special committee which has been inquir- ing into this matter and the chances for a report being made to Congress in time for action at this session are not as bright as they were few days ago. A number of paper manufacturers were examined today and the committee was informed that several others are due from the west tomorrow.
 The testimony today embraced both the increase of the cost O, the body that goes into the paper and increase in the pay of wages. Arguments against the revision of the tariff on wood pulp paper were also made.
 Charles H. Remington, who testified yesterday, was recalled and questioned regarding a meeting of paper manufact- urers and sellers held in New York last spring. MT. Remington said that at this meeting no agreement was entered into as to increasing prices. although it was intimated that newspaper ought not to bring less than $2.50 per 100
 Our price had been gradually rising since the first of January, 19O7,' he said.
 Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., of Pottsdam, N. Y, temporary receiver of Hanna Way Falls Paper company, manufacturers of ground wood, argued against taking the tariff off ground wood. He said the com pany bought all its wood in Canada and that during the last year the price had advanced materially. He thought the de- sire of the large paper mills, who own timber lands in this country, to save their timber had had good deal to do with l,ic Ha also thought the moval of the duty on wood pulp and print paper would drive the business to Canada.
 John G. Luke president of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper company, pre- scented a statement showing that tho advance in the cost of book paper from 1895 to 1907 had averaged 62 per cent. His company, he said, did not manufacture print paper.
 Mr. Luke's attention was called to tho trades custom agreement which MT. Nor ris had placed in the record and which the paper trades journal reported as hav- ing been adopted. The witness said that such an agreemnt had been adopted, but when asked by Chairman Mann to tell by what vote it was agreed to he said he did not believe there had been any vote. MT. Luke said in the report that the book paper manufacturers of the country were going to combine was without foundation, and reverting to the question of price made the statement that the price of paper Is too low.
 statement made by the witness a few later caused Chairman Mann to intimate that collusion was being prac- ticed. MT. Luke said that he had made known to other manufacturers amounts he had bid for certain wood. This, he said, was done as a matter of courtesy.
 '.T do not see what purpOse you would have to furnish such information except us matter of collusion," said Mr. Mana
 The witness insisted that what he had done did not show collision.
 A. G. Paine, second vice president of the New York and Pennsylvania company, was still on the stand when the commit- tee adjourned.