Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-05-05

tions regarding the wood pulp and
news print paper industry upon which
governmental statistical data is desired
at once. The committee also discussed
the advisability of visiting several
paper mills and conducting hearings on
the spot. They may start on an inspec-
ton tour Friday. 4
On resurning his testimony Mr.. Nor.
ris submitted 17S kilograms from pub
fishers replying to query by Mr.. Rid
der last Saturday giving information
regarding their paper contracts. He al
30 submitted list of Al publishers WHO
have signified their willingness to come
Mann said that rather than set par
ticular day this weekto hear them, it
would be better to hear them as they
appeared. In all likelihood the COM
mittee will be absent on Saturday and
consequently there may be no hearing
in this city on that day.
The recitation by Mr.. Norris of in
creases in cost of paper by contract
prices led Chairman Mann to ask Mr..
Norris IL he had any theory Of what caus-
ed the wide range of prices paid by Illi-
nois papers-from $40 to $40 increase a
ton.
Mr.. Norris replied that Commissions,
purchase at mills. quality of paper, guam
tity contracts and place of delivery un-
doubtedly combined to make the eXpla-
nation.
|, do you know" asked Mr.. Bannon. re-
ferring to newspapers generally, "wheth-
er the prices at mills of given grade of
paper are uniform"
eve are here" answered Mr.. Norris,
attempting to show that combina-
ton has been entered into by the paper
| manufacturers to uniformly raise the
| price of paper two and one-half cents a
| pound and that this combination con-
templates a further advance to three
cents a pound"
Mr. Mann said that in an occasional in
stance it appeared that prices were lower
! some dollars per ton than the existing
prices under contract. Mr. Norris replied
that such quotations were from Canadian
mills.
Mr. Mann asked if it was not apparent
from the contract figures presented by
Mr. Norris that last December the paper
manufacturers themselves, alarmed at
the outlook for slack consumption. went
off into Mysteries" and gave one year
. contracts right and left and that these
| contracts were generally signed by news
papers at the top price then prevailing.
Mr.. Norris agreed that such was the case.
At 12 o'clock the committee took recess.
When the committee reconveGed Mr..
Norris continued the presentation of fig
ures of increased prices. He submitted
| the following telegram to Herman Ridder
| from Thomas w. Lawless. editor and
| manager Of the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle:
"Gonzeles of Columbia states can tell
you of Canada mill which offers him pa
per at $265 delivered. and to reduce price
So ger ton if tariff is taken off. splitting
difference with him on tariff saving"
Mr. Norris read file Of correspondence
between newspaper managers and paper
manufacturers and letters to support the
| charge that custom was appcrtioned by
manufa cturers among themselves and
! that prices as high as s53 ton were
| dictated in connection with such allot-
ments. He also read articles from trade
papers to substantiate the charge that
an arrangement is in view looking to a
| merger of the paper manufacturing COM
paries in a syndicate to fix and control
| the price of paper
| Mr.. Norris declared that in 1907 the In
| ternatonal Paper Co. foreseeing print
paper famine in the United States, made
I contracts with Canadian mills for 1900
tons Of paper for export trade, with the
purpose of Gripping the power of those
mills to supply the prospective deficiency
in the United States and thereby to main
tain the program of high prices in this
country.
] The committee was furnished by Mr..