Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-27
Norris Insists That Paper Com
panies Are Trying to Estab-
lish Uniform Price
SAYS MANN ANTICIPATED HIM
Chairman Mann, Of House Committee,
Demands Proof That Increases Were
Made for the Purpose of EquaIizing
Prices, or Raising Them to Certain
Fisure-Testimony in Detail.

Washington, April 27.-The select
committee Of the house, appointed by
Speaker Cannon to inquire into the
complaint of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association regarding the
price of print paper in the United
states, continued it's hearing today. AT
the outset Chairman Mann announced
the receipt of letter from President
Burbank, Of the International Paper
Company, expressing complete willing
ness to send to Washington suitable
officials with full information regarding
the affairs of this company, as you will
be apt to wish"
John Norris, representing the paper
committee of the American Newspaper
testimony begun Saturday. Norris sub
mitted to the committee a list of 202
newspapers to whom the price of paper
had been raised, according to report
made to him The list showed these in
creases ranged from 81 to SIT a ton
in the last two years. Asked by Mann
if he knew how much print paper is
used annually by these 202 papers,
Norris said he had not the slightest
idea For the most part these papers
We're published in the smaller cities of
the country. 1t was not altogether ac-
curate, he said, to say that as a rule
the large newspapers had been able
to buy their paper supply at
less cost than the small papers, be-
cause the small paper could get the net
benefit of competition between thirty
or forty small mills, while in the case
of the big papers this competition was
restricted by the snallneSs of the num-
ber of mills capable of manufacturing
in individual quantities sufficient to
supply the large users.
Norris said the average increase in
price to the 202 listed publications was
substantially $3.50 per ton in the last
two years. In explaining the variation
between 50 and ST per ton Norris said
il was in furtherance of determina-
tion that there was to be established
a uniform raise in price to $3.50 per
hundred
"You are making claim" re-
marked Mann, that the paper manu-
facturers have entered into combin-
alton by which they absolutely control
the price of paper thruout the country,
and thereupon you present to us a list
of increases in prices which vary
from 50 to S17 per ton" On its face,
declared Mann, that would not seem
to indicate anything of a combination
to regulate the price. Mann said that
a combination to regulate the price Of
anything meant some sort of unifor-
nifty. "This," he said, "would seem to
be directly the reverse of your propo-
sition. Norris insisted that paper
companies were attempting to establish
a uniform price for everybody on a
basis of $3.50, and that during the past
year many contracts had been read
justed at prices up to 1920.
"1f," said Mann, you desire us to be-
lieve that these increases were for the
purpose of equalizing prices or raising
prices to a certain figure, you owe it
to us to present some testimony on
that subject" Norris readily respond
ed that he would do SO, and remarked
that Mann was anticipating what was
coming in that direction
AS result of the representations of
the American Newspaper Publishers
association Speaker Cannon has agreed
the subject Of the removal of the duty
on wood pulp and the price of print
paper in the United States shall be
discussed at the caucus of republicans
to be held this week. provided a reas-
enable number of republican members
make the request to that effect.