Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-01-23
LUNBERMEy HIT CARRIERS
Want Railroads to Pay Double Mine
Price on Coal Confsoated.
WILL ASK LEGISLATURE FOR LAW
Nebraska Association I'm Convention
want Congress TO Compel Conn
merce Commission to Hear
shippers.
OFFICERS OF LU1r1BRMEE.


president.
George n. BALDWIN, Crete, vice president.
Lars Larson, st. Paul, director for three
years.
j. G. Eewoomb, Friend, director for
three years.
Lumbermen attending the convention Of
the Nebraska association, which apjourned
two days session Wednesday afternoon.
at the Rome hotel. most of whom sell coal,
propose to supplement advantageous laws
secured at the last Legislature by haw
requiring the railroads to pay double the
mine price for all coal confiscated for the
use Of the carrier
Resolutions recommending that the legis-
lative committee OF the association take up
the work Of securing such a law at the
next session of the Nebraska legislature.
together with a resolution urging the pas
sage OF a satisfactory reciprocal demur-
rage law. were adopted at the closing ses-
sion of the association. The parcels post
bill now before congress was condemned.
Say Amend Interstate Law.
In the matter of national legislation
which the lumber dealers believe they need,
il VIII be suggested to congress that the
Interstate Commerce law be amended,
making it necessary for the commission to
hold a hearing for shippers who might
object to proposed rate changes, before
railroad rates may be advanced or lowered
or before the classification on any kind
of merchandise can be changed.
In view OF the fact that northern lumber
is practically off the market in yards
of Nebraska, the lumbermen resolved TO
send a copy of resolutions urging the In
terstate Commerce Commission use all
possible haste in deciding the case OF the
northern lumbermen who are seeking to
prevent an advance in rates.
An excursion to the big lumbermen's
meeting in Tacoma. wash, February q,
. and %. which the Nebraskans proposed
TO take, was found impracticable and the
association decided not to attempt the
trip to the north Pacific coast this year.
Defense of the Association.
Actual proportions of the increase in
lumber prices were given by c. c. Flans-
burg, a Lincoln attorney.
while the wholesale price of lumber has
advanced 100 per cent, the retail price has
advanced above "a per cent. and the profits
10 the retailer have decreased in proper
tion. said Mr.. Flansburg. whose address
was on the subject of Nebraska Lumber
Dealers Before the Law"
The attorney predicted that the court
which now has the ease TO dissolve the as
sociation under consideration. would hold
with the dealers. and il not, the lumber
men would carry the case to the supreme
court believing that what any one man
had right to do under the law, any two
men could do together and keep within
the limits of the law.
Your constitution and bylaws show that
ha 10 nd 81
the law" said the speaker. "In your pre-
amble we find the following
% The object Of the association shall be
to secure and disseminate to its members
any and all information which may be of
interest TO any member thereof and his
or their business as retail lumber dealers
Now, with all its effort the state of
Nebraska did not and cannot show that the
association stands for anything else than
what is stated in the preamble.
No Chance 10 DisObey Law.
your bylaws and constitution go on to
saw that no regulation shall be adopted
which will i'm any manner be said to be
Sitting trade, limiting production. re-
straining trade or regulating prices and
pooling profits. They also say that you
cannot and shall not in any way seek to
force lumber dealers 10 join the assoeia-
ton or encourage any boycott on either
a retail dealer or wholesaler. In all your
constitution and bylaws l have been un-
able to find where it is within the power
of this association TO disobey the law. and
l do not believe the state of Nebraska can
find a single instance in which you have
disobeyed the law"
President Fries spoke on the necessity
Of working for a reciprocal demurrage law.
saying that two bills were drawn at the
last session of the Nebraska legislature
and while the sentiment OF the body was
favorable 10 the enactment OF such a Law.
the supporters OF the two bills could not
get together on either measures and the
attempt 10 secure the adoption Of the law
failed. Ho predicted that the reciprocal
demuTrage Law would be enacted at the
next session OF the Legislature.
The legislative committee was continued.
with George w. Baldwin OF Crete as chair
man. Mr.. Baldwin addressed the associa-
ton, asking cooperation in securing the
demuFrage laws and reminding the dealers
that the law requiring the railroad compa-
MES TO weigh coal on arrival a destination
was in effect and the dealers should have
their coal weighed and force the railroad
companies 10 make good the shortage.
The meeting of the Nebraska Lumber
mans Mutual Insurance association occu-
pied the afternoon session, when Officers OF
the main association were alactad