The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-21
AFTER THE PAPER TRUST.
Speaker Cannon Proposes = select Com
mittee 10 Investigate Charges Against II.

mittee 10 Investigate Charges Agalnst II.
WASHINGTON, April 2o.-Not satisfied
with the reply Of Attorney General Bona
parte TO the resolution asking what had
been found out about the alleged paper
trust'and what had been done 10 prosecute
II for violation Of the Sherman antitrust
law, Speaker Cannon to-day supplemented
his efforts 10 get at the facts by introducing
a resolution authorizing the appointment
Of q special committee TO make an investi-
CATION. The resolution went to the Com.
mittee on Rules, Of which the Speaker is
chairman.
A long preamble to the resolution recites
allegations made by the American News
paper Association and others, Among the
charges contained in the resolution are
these:
That the statistics compiled by the Bureau
Of the Census concerning the cost and price
Of news print paper are erroneous, inaccu-
rate. incomplete and valueless as a guide
to legislation; that the price Of print paper
has increased from SO to 50 per cent. dur
ing the last few months; that the alleged
llfNEh5FN ~ Nt VI ia Hbi " VI HulN w "
suit Of a combination and conspiracy on the
part Of wood pulp and paper manufacturers
and dealers TO control, regulate, monopo-
lie and restrain interstate and foreign
commerce and trade in the manufacture
and sale Of wi print, manila fibre and
other kinds Of paper and paper products;
that the international Paper Company and
other paper manufacturers and dealers
have threatened 70 advance. and have adj
vanced. the price Of print paper So per
ton during the last few months; that this
great advance in the price Of paper il made
possible 10y the duty OF % per ton or print
paper, being the anne rate Of duty for the
last eighteen years and in the last three
tarih laws.
The preamble recites also, but not on the
authority Of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association. that 1T is claimed
and asserted that the price Of print paper
il in no wise affected by the tariF; that the
Increase in price Of recent date has not
been excessive and IL not the result either
Of tanf import duty or OF any combination
or conspiracy in restraint of trade or other
wise. but Is the result wholly Of the in
crease in the cost Of the raw materials and
the increase In the wages paid for labor
and the shortening Of the hours OF labor
per day
Other allegations cited are that the
combination Of print paper manufacturers
in the United States has purchased the
output Of all the paper mills in Canada in
excess of the home consumption, which
said purchase is in furthersnce Of n con
spiracy in restraint Of interstate and foreign
CO lmerCe.
The resolution sets forth that 1T rs
desirable that the House Of Representatives
shall be- fully informed as 10 al Of the facts
in the case and az 10 whether there does
exist or can exist, beyond the reach o.
the existing power Of the Department of
Justice and " the courts TO prevent, n
combination or conspiracy among the
manufacturers or dealers or others TO 40
increase the price. control the character
Of the paper manufactured or regulate
the output Of wood pulp or the paper mills
in restraint Of trade among the several
States or with any foreign country TO the
end that needful legislation may be ell
The resolution itself provides that the
shall appoint a select committee
ak members 10 inquire into these nllega-
tons. The committee is 10 have power to
sit in Washington or elsewhere during the
sessions or the recess Of Congress and 10
witnesses.