The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-03-25
!: AN INVESTIGATION
LuMBER ~ ANths ~ > OUTH ARE
- - /. mr. All !. 80 -
Suits Of Ter a. ssversI states May
Folio 1eHspigsye e ,ontref
Prf aHd Stfee g.. petit

st. Louis March 2l.--An investigation
which may be preliminary 70 suits of
custer. in several States against q
number Of lumber companies, on the
ground that they are In conspiracy to
control prices and stifie competition,
was begun here today before Special
Commissioned Robert @. MITCHELL of
Macon. Mo.
The investigation follows custer pro-
ceedings recently instituted in the Su-
preme Court by Attorney General Had
ley. In which forty-seven lumber COM
panies were named as defendants. Mis-
souri, and Texas are the only two
States In the Union that have the pow
err, through enacted legislation, of con-
Quoting such an Investigation prelim-
mary to contemplated suits. Assist-
ant Attorney General Jewel P. Light
foot of Texas Is here to listen to the
evidence adduced from the, hearing.
The Inquiry Is being conducted by
Assistant Attorney General Rush c..
Lake. and Attorney Franklin G. Fer
ris. The first witness was George K.
Smith OF St. Louis secretary Of the
Yellow Pine Manufacturers Associa-
tion and of the National Lumber Assoc
citation.
Mr.. Ferris started the examination
of the witness, who during the course
Oh DIS cNlQt0Cts Btdtto tnat .dH d8ttU~
ment was made at the Worlds Fair
in June, 1904, in which the product Of
the member companies OF the Yellow
Pine Association was reduced 100000
900 in six months from June 1.
In the Inquiry Mr.. Smith maintained
that while the order was effective. there
was nothing compulsory. The attor-
neys for the State maintain that the
schedule Of prices was liked at the
New Orleans convention OF the Assoc
citation. This was admitted by the witt
ness who, as in the other case. stated
there was no way OF forcing dealers
to agree to the price.
Smith said the Yellow Pine Associa-
tion operated in Missouri, Arkansas.
Texas. Louisiana. Mississippi. Alabama,
Georgia and FIorida. He said the As
ISOLATION established grades which were
adopted at the conferences OF the As
ISOLATION. In 1898 travelling inspectors
were established. Their purpose is to
Investigate grades and report every
thirty or forty days. He said there
ments are published. and 1000 dealers.
He said that freight claim and adver-
Using departments are maintained. The
witness declared that the 331-s per
cent. reduction agreed to as a result
OF the Worlds Fair meeting. waS for
ninety days. and that it was after
wards extended ninety days.
Extended by whom"
by general consent"
You mean that for six months In
seven States the reduction OF yellow
pine output was SO 1-3 per cent7s
ut was the intention. but we don't
know whether It was done"
'.You were satishedr'
yes.
The witness said the output of the
companies in the Association amounted
to about s.S00.Oo0.00e to 4.eo0.o09. 900
feet per year. Pro rating 1t, he said,
the reduction Of 1915 pc cent.
amounted to 100000 feet per month
or a total of 5o0.oO0,o0 feet for six
months.
At the annual meetings in New Or
leans. the witness said. the convention
adopted the scale Of prices recommend
ed by the committee appointed to ar.
range scala.
The members used the price list7.
"If they wanted to. They generally
used 1t as . basis. They would use IL
as basis--above or below. as the
member desired