The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-03
GREED OF THE
PAPER TRUST
Twelve Dollars Tackled on to
the Price to Offset Out
lay of So Cents.
NORRIS GIVES THE FIGURES
SOME FACTS CONCERNING THE
RATE OF WAGES.

Washington, May According to
figures submitted today by John Nor
| ris, representing the American News
paper Publishers association, to the
select committee of the house on wood
pulp and print paper investigation re-
gardlng the increased labor cost Der
ton of paper produced. the increase
amounted to but 80 cents a ton. In
spite of statements of the paper men
10 the contrary, he said his calculation
was correct, and yet he charged that
the papermakers had put on an in
| creased price of S12 a ton. alleging that
the increase was due TO the higher cost
of labor.
In the case of the Hudson River mill
MI. Norris presented data showing
that even though the mill changed
from two to a three-tour basis" the
cost OF production of paper actually
had been reduced S1.13 per ton. 1t was,
he said. a matter about which he had
personal knowledge.
Mr.. Norris continued for some time
10 discuss the change of base from a
two tour or two shift basis to a three
tour or three shift basis, contending
that the increase in cost was not suffi-
cient to Justify the advance in prices.
Poor Wages Paid.
Mr. Norris. replying to questions by
Mr.. Mann, gave evidence showing that
the average wage of union paper work
ers in the state of New York for the
third quarters of 1906 was s10.94 per
week, which, he said, was very low.
He would not enter into a discussion
with Mr. Mann as to the latter's sug-
gestion that it appeared to be about
time the wages should be increased.
Answering Messrs. Ryan and Ban
non, the witness said that his wage
calculations had reference to union
helpers, workers and skilled laborers,
exclusive of women and children. In
the state Of Massachusetts, he said,
the average weekly wage for 1906 was
1920, and that this figure took into ac-
count employees of all classes. includ-
ing those under q years of age.
Some Statistics Given.
In further refutatiOn of the claim of
the paper manufacturers regarding the
high cost of labor, Mr. Norris read
from reports of the United States bu-
reau of labor since 1t appeared there
was decrease in the wage of paper
workers in 1906. as compared with 1905.
and that paper working was the only
industry that was decreased.
As showing the slight increase that
had taken place in the wage of paper
workers, Mr.. Norris offered statistics
for the year 1901, which fixed the paper
production at 2.7S2.219 tons, at an av-
erage labor cost of $7.45 per week. In |
1905, he said. the 65.964 paper workers |
in the United States received an aver !
age wage of 1892 per week. |
Protection and Wages.
Some people say that protection in |
creases the wages of working people |
Of the United States. remarked Mr.
Ryan. one of the Democratic members /
Of the committee, but Mr.. Norris would |
not permit himself to be drawn into a |
discussion of that question.
Further disDuting the claims of the
papermakers as to the wages paid. Mr. /
Norris presented in evidence official |
statistics regarding the printing and |
binding group which he said were re-
ceivfng IS per cent more wages than
were being paid to the paper workers.
At this juncture adjournment was
taken until Monday morning.