Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-29
Special Congressional Committee
Against Placing Wood Pulp and
Print Paper On Free List.
no LEGISLATION TaIs SESSION
Figured Out by the Republicans to
Their Own Satisfaction That u
Would be injurioue to Reduce Tariff
on Articles Needed by the News.
paper Publishers.
tBy Associated Press


WASHINGTON, ID. C.. May 2S-The
special Cnmmittrr of six members of
he House. appointed upon complaint
"i III" American Newspaper Publish
err Association to investigate the
wood pulp and print paper situation
III relation tn the tarir and with re
card I" an alleged conspiracy in res
'r%int # trade today submitted II ma.
jnliy and minority report.
TIL" majority report. which Is Sign
ed by Representative Mann. of Hin
OILS; Miller. of Kansas: Stafford. Of
Wisconsin and BanpOn, or Ohio. is 4
PR iiminary report that recommends
nat no legislation affecting wood
rnlp and print paper be enacted until
h" committee has further investigat
ed and r. norted. - Il
TIL" minority report which is sign.
ed by Representatives Sims, OF Ten
neSSee and Ryan, of New York, recon
In"nds tho passage Of the Stevens bill
to place wood pulp and print paper
on the free list. The majority re.
port is summed up In the following
words: AS the present price Of pa
per would not to any considerable de:
gree be Immediately affected by the
repeal Of The tariff and as the passage
of the Stevens bill in It's present form
might spell ruin to the paper industry
and ruin0nsly high prices for paper
IN IN" near future. your committee be.
ii"v"s II Is the part OF wisdom before
making recommendations for positive
legislation to await until it's investi
cation has been completed and thor
orghly dicnSted'
Tn" report says that the tabulation
Of returned schedules CT newspapers
by IN" census office covers hu. few Of
III" metropolitan dailies which are
he heavy consumers
How Il is Figured Out.
Prem these returns the average
price n present. including in many
cases freight charges to 9l9 newspa-
p"rs is 1886 per hundred; that OF
his. "Gl using paper in rolls have
an av"rag" price OF $2.54 and SIS have
an avcrag" of $500 for paper In
,h,"is. Seems that publishers pay.
ing high prices most readily respond
I'd I" the inquiries Of the committee"
As TO the charge OF the existance
Of combination in restraint of trade.
tn" I. port says: The evidence be-
f'rr tn" committee 50. far fails to =
prove any combination of print pa
per manufacturers to advance the
prices or otherwise in restraint Of
trade. hut considerable evidence was
presented which excited suspicion
hat such a combination had been
made and was in eXistarce Such
of Inc paper manufacturers AZ have
arp"ar. Il before the commission dur
inS its hearing have sirenuously and
completely denied under oath the ex.
stance Cf any combination agreement
or understanding of any nature what.
ever among the paper makers or
heir selling agent To regulate. control
~ adv tn" price of papsr. the as
~lErm"ni nf customers. or for any
ether pHrT"S' in restraint q! trade"
Committee Ood les the Question.
Under the subj head removal Of the
t8riT' tho report in part says: The
QUESTION AZ to the removal Of the
ain on print paper ard wood pulp
8 Intimately connected with the con-
rvltion Of the forest resources Of
~" United States. as well as It's effect
un,n the paper making industry and
= u I''NSiIdlH-E
Tin" committee IS not yet prepar-
II To- make recommendation as to
~. unlicy Of tho United States as to
80" duty on paper and pulp except
.h.' III" committee IL firmly 81 the
r,uiru that tho tariff on news print
7u-'- and On wood raIp shon'd not
'~ moved as 10 paper CT pulp com
r-~ r ~ any country or place which
rrrhi.ifS tho expectation OF pulp
p,s d. " which lCviss any export duty
or paper pulp. or pulp wood. ar makes
~, higher charge in any way upon
u I'd pulp W pulp wood intended for
..vrr,rta alton to the United States.
The evidence taxa Sd far would
I'm 10 indicate that the temporary
u-r"neion or entire removal Of the
r., 80. ~ iarif would rot have any
-~ ~ immrdiai. effect.
Y"ur commission proposes dnring
;Ac GUNNER vacation to continue IT'S
rycsfiga'ious and expects TO be able
20 p-rS"nt 10 The House ~ the nett
a~es;on of Congress definite recon-
mcrdat ions based upon complete ~
formation Thoroughly considered"