The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-27
And Supply All the Information
That Is Desired.
THE PUBLISHERS SIDE
Of the Inquiry Is Beng Pre-.
sented by John Norris.
Many Statements Regarding the
Advance in Price Are Read.


complaint of the American Newspaper
Publishers association, regarding the
price of print paper in the United
States, continued it's hearings today
At the outset Chairman Mann an
nounced the receipt of letter from
President Burbank of the International
Paper company, expressing his COM
plete Willingness to send to Washing
ton suitable officials with full infor-
nation regarding affairs of this COM
pany, as you will be apt to wish.
With the consent of the committee
Chairman Mann replied by telegraph
saying the committee would be glad
to have any officials or interested per-
sons at the hearing and that the COM
mlttee was deSirous of obtaining the
fullest information possible. He added
that the committee would be pleased
to have the International Paper COM
pany appear Immediately after the tes-
tlmony of the Publishers Association
shall be considered. Chairman Mann
stated that it was the committees de-
sire to have each of the publishers
now here testify as to his personal
knowledge of the several matters COM
planned Of
committee of the American Newspaper
Publishers association resumed his
testimony begun Saturday. He at once
asked to be relieved. from exhibiting
liiC COlihOSulldl paper arrangement OF
the New York Times by which that
paper enjoys rate of $38 per ton and
suggested that perhaps the informa-
tion might be obtained from the In
ternational Paper company.
THE committee" replied Mr.. Mann,
"does not desire to embarrass the New
York Times or you. We can not get
the data from the International COM
pany in any event before they COM
mence to testify and therefore the
70 cix
the information in your possession.
AS bearing upon the determination
of the paper manufacturers to raise
prices Mr.. Norris read a number of
statements made at the meeting of the
publishers in September. 1907. One of
these was made by General Felix Ag-
nus of the Baltimore American. who
said that while he had at one time
enjoyed favorable paper contracts he
had been forced to pay $3.50 per hun
dred.
Blood Money.
THAT was blood money" General
Agnus was quoted saying. Another
statement was made by Editor Haines
| of the Paterson News, who said that
a director of the International Paper
company. after he had a few drinks
| in him. said they were going to check
up the price of paper to $3 hundred.
Still another statement by the busi-
ness manager of the Journal of Com
l
eral increases in the prices of paper.
| until after the expiration of an exist
| ing contract, the price was run to
$3.50. The price was objected to and
from other manufacturers it was i'm
possible and a contract was finally
made at $2.47 for one year.
| Mr.. Norris submitted to the commit
\ tee a list of 202 newspapers to whom
| the price of paper has been raised, ac-
| cording to a report made to him. The
| list showed that these increases ranged
| from 81 to ST. ton in the last two
| years.
| Asked by Mr.. Mann if he knew how
| much print paper is used annually by
| these 202 papers, Mr.. Norris said he
had not the slightest idea. For the
most part these papers were published
| in the smaller cities.
/ 1t was not altogether accurate, said
| Mr. Norris, to say that as a rule the
larger newspapers have been able to
| buy their paper supply at less cost
| than the small papers, because the
| small paper could get the net benent
of competition between 80 or 40 small
mills, while in the case of the big pa
pers this competition was restricted by
| the smallness of the number OF mills
capable of manufacturing in lndlvldual
quantities sufficient to supply the large
users. Mr.. Norris said the average OF
increase in price to the 202 listed pub
locations was substantially $3.50 a ton
in the last two years. Mr.. Stafford OBJ
jected that the striking of such an
average was mot a fair epitome of the
list. inasmuch as the list showed, for
the most part, that the increases to
the small papers were much larger
than the increases to the big papers"
Asked to Explain.
| Asked by Mr.. Mann to explain the
variation between 81 and SIT a ton Mr..
Norris said that it was in furtherance
of determination that there was to be
| established a uniform rate in price to
$3.50 per hundred. That was, he said,
the avowed purpose in 1896, when the
, paper manufacturers appeared before
. the Dingley committee.
You are making the claim remark
ed Mr.. Mum. that the paper manu-
| facturers have entered into a combine
by which they absolutely control the
price of paper throughout the country
, and thereupon you present to us list
of increases in prices which vary from
50 to ST a ton.' On its face, then de-
, clared Mr.. Mann, that would not seem
to indicate anything of combination
to regulate the prices. Mr.. Mann said
that a commission to regulate the price
, of anything meant some sort of uni
formity. This" he said, would seen
to be directly the reverse of your pro-
, position
Mr.. Norris insisted that the paper
companies were attempting to establish
a uniform price for everybody on the
a basis of $3.50 and that during the pas
: year many contracts had been read
v justed at prices up to $2.20, because
0 he said, two years ago they made f1v,
! year contracts with Pittsburg, Buffalo
a and Chicago papers, whereby at the
n end of one or two years there would b,
S | a readjustment of the price
e THE readjustmcnt," he asserted
8 has taken place"
If" said Mr.. Mum, you desire. u,