The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-05
PUBLISHERS WILLING
 ID GIVE TESTIMONY
Mir. Norris Continues His Testimony Showing How Paper Has Advanced and That Dealers Will
 Again Raise Price.

oNpoh VI tSASs5A 1hiS HUH AiSWSpoPCi PuD- fishers throughout the country. telling of tine increased cost of print paper. was submitted today to the special committee of the House Investigating that subject by John Norris of New York, who oc- cupied the witness stand the entire day, Amplifying these telegrahic statemen's, MT. Norris presented a mass of facts and figures substantiative of the charges brought against the International Paper company by the Newspaper Publishers association.
 The committee has practically decided to adjourn at noon of next Friday and go to Palmers Falls, Saratoga county, New York, to inspect the mills ot the Hudson River Paper company and take testimony there relative to the cost of paper pro- duction.
 Forty-six newspaper publishers, Mir Norris informed the committee, have tele- graphed that they are willing to come to Washington and give testimony. Chair man Mann requested that they be in- formed of the likelihood of a noon ad- Journment on Friday in order that as many of them as possible may appear and testify between now and then
 Questions Prepared.
 Preceding the continuation of the ex- animation of John Norris, representing the American Newspaper Publishers asso- citation, the House select committee was in executive session, formulating large list of questions regarding the newspaper ulp and printing industries on which governmental statistical data is desired at once.
 The committee also discussed the advis- ability of visiting several paper mills and conducting hearings on the spot. A tenta- tive understanding was reached that the committee leave here Friday afternoon for an inspection of the Hudson River mills at Palmers Falls, N. Y. and pos sibly one or two others.
 Upon resuning his testimony MT. Norris submitted IFS telegrams from publishers replying to a query by MT. Ridder last Saturday. giving information regarding their paper contracts He also submitted list of fl publishers who have signii1ed their willingness to come to Washington and testify. Chairman Mann said that rather than set a particular day this week to hear them it would be better to hear them as they appeared. In all likelihood the committee will be absent Saturday, and consequently there may be no hearing in this city on that day.
 Not Theory, But Fact.
 The recitation by MT. Norris of in- creases in cost of paper by contract prices provoked Chairman Mann to ask MT. Norris if he had any theory of what caused the wide range of prices paid by Illinois newspapers from $4.40 to $10 in creases per ton. Mr. Norris replied that combinations purchase at mills, quality of paper, quantity, contracts and place of delivery undoubtedly by combinations, would make the explanation.
 DO you know" asked MT. Mann, re- ferring to newspapers generally, whether the prices at the mills on given grade Of paper gre uniform
 We are here," answered MT. Norris, e'attempting to show that combination has been entered into by the paper manu- lecturers to uniformly raise the price of paper 2la cents pound, and that this combination contemplates further ad- vance to cents a pound.
 It was pointed out by Mir Mann that in an occasional instance 1t appeared that quotations were lower by 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 were not apparent from the contract figures presented by Mir. Norris that last December the paper manufacturers themselves, alarmed at the outlook for slack consumption, went off into hysterics' and gave one-year con- tracts right and left and that these con- tracts were generally signed by news papers at the top price then prevailing. a case.
 Mr. Norris said that the figures from the Philadelphia Inquirer-at present prices, 50 cents an inch of 12-meant an additional cost to that publication of $16s,O00 year.
 cess
 Norris Gives Figures.
 When the committees reconvened, MT. Norris continued the presentation of fig ures of increased prices. He submitted the following telegram to Herman Rid der from Thomas w. Loyless editor and manager of the Augusta (Georgia) Chron- icle:
 you of Canada mill which offers him pa per at $2 65 delivered and to reduce price sS per ton if tariff is taken off, splitting difference with him on the tariff saving.' Mr. Norris corrected his testimony given at the morning session relative to the additional yearly cost upon the Phil adelphia Inquirer. He said the increased cost was $12 ton on 13,O00 tons. or S156OO0.
 Chairman Mann suggested that patently the purpose of the sender of the tariff telegram to MT. Ridder was to show that if the tariff should be removed the cost if Darcr would be reduced S9 9 ton.
 If the manufacturers believed that" answered MT. Norris, they would go home feeling very happy. Though this is ! all purely anticipation, my judgment is that the removal of the tariff would low CT the cost $6 and possibly $12 ton" MT Norris read file of correspondence between newspaper managers and paper manufacturers and brokers to support the