The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-21
JUST A GRAB GAME SAYS CHAMP CLARK MiSSeurian Applies TerSe Title
 to the Tariff PROTEST BY LUMBERMEN Lumber Dealers Appear at Tariff Com mlttee Hearing and All Want Tariff
 to Stand Just as It Is at
 Present.
PROTEST BY LUMBERMEN

Washington, November 20.-"A universal grab game" was the appellaton given the tariff by Representative Champ Clark of Missouri today at the hearing before the ways and means committee on the tariff schedule for wood and wood manu- factures. The administrators policy for the preservation of the forests figured largely in the argument today.
 Several Iumbermon said they wanted a protective tariff on lumber because other articles are protected by the present law. Representative Boutell of Illinois assert ed, in defense of a protective tariff, that the government must secure s3Oo,oO0,Oeo in revenue, and that, as a result, some in dustries must be protected
 That free trade for lumber would tend to prevent the devastation of the Amer ican timber land was the opinion ex- pressed by MT. Clark, who said that it did not matter if Canada devastated her for ests. MT. Boutell argued that the Amer ican forests would have to supply the lumber for both countries if the Cana dian forests are devasted and suggested that some broader scheme than the tariff should be adopted for reforesting the United States and Canada.
 A. R. Rogers of Minneapolis, Minn., who appeared in favor of free entry of lumber said he did not believe there was a monopoly in the lumber business.
 What is it that has caused the enor- nous advance in the price of lumber" asked Representative Champ Clark.
 "There are several reasons" replied MT. Rogers, but the principal one is to make. more money"
 During the hearing Representative Bou- tell asked MT. Scanlon: If the tariff on lumber is removed will d man be able to build a six-room cottage any cheaper as far as the tariff is concerned?' ?'
 MT. Scanlon replied in the negative.
 MT. Payne wanted to know what the effeet of retaining the present tariff would be.
 we would, I think, have abnormal ad- vances in the price of lumber,' said MT Scanlon.
 J. B. White of Kansas City, Mo-, argued that a protective tariff would tend to conserve the forests of the country on the theory that every stray log in the forests would be 1ndHuldclultu.
 How about President Roosevelt, Mir. Clifford Pinchot and these other gentle men who are arguing for free trade in lumber in order to conserve the forests Of the country" asked Champ Clark.
 ''They haven't heard me talk was the ready reply.
 T. A. Brown of North Carolina claimed that on account of the higher cost of la bor stumpage and supplies for the lum- Der industry. 50 per cent of the Jumper mills of North Carolina are shut down, their operation proving unprofltapie. Champ Clark claimed that the high price of lumber was due to speculation on the part of lumber producers The witness argued that the price of stumpage. one of the principal cost items in producing lumber was too high.
 C. w. Nibley of Oregon said that the profits in his business were 10 to b per cent under protective tariff.
 The committee held night session.
 Representative Clafk at the night ses- sion, which lasted until nearly midnight. took occasion to ask for information from the witnesses regarding the alleged pur- chase of 100000 acres of timber lands by Frederick Weyerhauser, millionaire lum- Der dealer of the northwest, at S6 an acre, more than 15 years ago. After it had been brought out that this same land Is now worth about $50 an acre, MT. Clark asked J. D. Lacey of Chicago, the witness, whether there was any danger of MT. Weyerhauser going to the poorhouse if he used careful management. Representative Forney. who is also Michigan lumber man, indignantly defended MT. Weyer- hauser by asking if there was any reason why the lumberman should be criticised for his foresightedness.
 Do you think that there is any reason why the lumber industry should be given a bonus of $2?" asked Mr. Clark, referring to the tariff on lumber.
 Cant we get along without a tariff if such large profits can be made in the lum- Der business?"
 Chairman Payne stopped the argument at this point, stating that the hearing was not a criminal prosecution. T. B. Walker, another lumber man, of the northwest was asked by MT. Clark: How much lumber do you own?"
 "I don't see that that is necessary" an- swered MT. Walker.
 "It is necessary to the credibility of your testimony if you want to know the bald truth about it." replied MT. Clark
 Mir. Dalzell objected to MT. Clarks ques- tons saying that what amount of tim Der MT Walker owned was his private business. The witness also attempted to defend Mir Weyerhauser, but Chairman Payne interrupted him. Please do not say anything more about MT. Meyer hauser," he said. we tried his case and acquitted him."
 J. s. Gerens, representing the Pattern Makers association. asked that patterns be specifically mentioned in the tariff.
 
 Gotch Reqsters a Kick.