The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-21
Speaker Cannon Presents ResO- IuHOn In House Directed To-
 ward An Investigation
PAPER CONSUMERS CLAIM
 THAT PRICES ARE BOOS TED
Newspaper Publishers Association Claims That Present Cost of Paper Is $6o.ooo,ooo More Than It
 Was Iwv Years Ago.

was WO I cars H9os
 Washington April 2o.-A definite step was taken today toward solution of the wood pulp and newspaper cost question in the introduction by Speaker Cannon or resolution for d select committee of six members to investigate and obtain all possible information to the reasons for the increased prices of white paper and that needful legislation may be en- acted.
 The resolution, which was referred to the committee on rules, of which the speaker is chairman, empowers the con- mittee to sit in Washington or else- where" during sessions of the House and the recess of Congress, and confers the usual authority of subpoenas. the admin istration of oaths, etc.
 Cannon's Resolution.
 Following is the resolution in full:
 Whereas, it is alleged by the American Newspaper Publishers association that the cost of paper to the users thereof is at least $6O,oOO.OOo per annum greater at the present time than 1t was two years ago, and,
 Whereas, it is alleged by others that the cost of news print paper to news paper publishers, magazine publishers and printing house managers will, under the price now asked, be s65,Ooo,oo0 greater for the current year than heretofore, and.
 Whereas, 1t is alleged by the Amefl- U that the statistics eompiled by the bn- leau of the census concerning the cost and price of news print paper are erroneous. inaccurate, incomplete and valueless us d guide to legislation, and,
 w. ereas, it is alleged by the Amer ican Newspaper Publishers association that the price of print paper has in- creased from 30 to 50 per cent during the past few months, and,
 Result of Combination.
 Whereas, it is alleged and asserted that the alleged increased price of paper is in part the result of u combination and conspiracy on the part of the wood pulp and paper manufacturers and dealers to control, regulate, monopolize and re- strain interstate and foreign commerce and trade in the manufacture and sale Of news print, Manila fibre and other kinds of paper and products, and,
 Whereas, it is alleged by the American Newspaper Publishers association that the International Paper company and other paper manufacturers and dealers have threatened to advance and have ad- vanced the price O. print paper $22 per ton during the last few months, and,
 Whereas, it is alleged that this great advance in the price of paper is made possible by the duty of s6 per ton on print paper, being the same rate of duty for the last IS years and in the last three tariff laws, and.
 Whereas, it is claimed and asserted that the price of print paper is in no wise affected by the tariff. that the in- crease in the price of recent date has not tcen excessive. and is not the result either of tariff import duty or of any combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade or otherwise, but is the result wholly of the increase of cost of raw materials and the increase in the wages paid for labor and the short ening of the hours of labor per day; and,
 Pape- Trust Dissolved.
 Whereas, on May Il, 1906. judgment was entered in the circuit court for the District of Minnesota, dissolving the Gen eral Paper company as a combination, m restraint of trade; and,
 'Whereas. the increased price of paper has occurred notwithstanding the dsso- hton of the said General Paper company or paper trust, and the Department of
 
 it has obtained no evidence sufficient to justify the institution of legal proceed ings either civil or criminal, against the alleged combination of wood pulp or print paper manufacturers and,
 Whereas. it is stated by the attorney general of the United States that after complaint had been filed with said attor- ney general against the so-cal led paper combination or trust, the complainant re- fused to furnish legal proof or give the names of witnesses having personal knowledge of the facts; and.
 'Whereas. it is alleged that the comb- nations of paper manufacturers in the United States have purchased the output of all paper mills in Canada in excess of the home consumption, which said pur- chase, it is alleged is in furtherance of a conspiracy in restraint of interstate and foreign commerce: and,
 Wood Pulp Decreasing.
 whereas. it is alleged that the great production of wood pulp in the United States is rapidly depicting the forests of this country. and that legislation ought to be enacted which will permit and encour- age the importation of wood pulp upon more favorable terms. so as to conserve our national forests; and.
 "Whereas, it is desirable that the House of Representatives shall be fully informed as to all facts of the case, and to whether this exists and can exist beyond the reach of the existing power of the department of justice and of the courts to prevent combination or conspiracy among the manufacturers or dealers or others to so increase the price, to control