The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-13
PUBLISHERS
 CLOSE CASE MT. Norris Completes
 Presentation. MANUFACTURERS ARE NEXT Newspapers Refuse to Divulge
 Their Contracts. Chairman Mann Intimates That Testi- meny As To the Wood Pulp Matt ter May Be Demanded by
 Committee.

Washington. May 12-The case of the newspaper publishers has been presented to the special committee of the House Investigating the wood pulp and print paper question,
 When the committee adjourned today, John Norris. the representative of the American Newspaper Publishers As- sociation. announced that he had nn- ished his statement. but he will be on the stand tomorrow. as members ot the committee desire to question him
 The next witness to be examined probably will be the paper manufact- urera.
 MT. Norris today read the formation of the International Paper Company. ufacture of paper Is greater under the consolidation than under the individ- ual ownership of the paper mills. The request of the committee for the contract which The New York Times has with the paper company was de- nied by The Times Company, and in this connection Chairman Mann took occasion to state that while the news papers are insisting on speedy action by Congress on the question under investigation, a great majority of the large papers are showing . disinclin- ation to furnish the committee with the necessary information upon which to base any just conclusions. This raised the question. in hts mind. he said. whether the papers are not well satisfied with the contracts they now have and are putting up this request as a matter of bluff:
 The inquiry into the wood pulp and paper investigation was resumed to- | day by the special House committee. | John Norris. the representative of the Publishers Association, continuing his | abatement.
 Mir. Norris stated that last year the International Paper company's imports of wood pulp from Canada were 10000 tons. He quoted from Q newspaper ar | ticle to show that the company took | the pulp that was imported and put l into 1t export paper in order that 1t might get the benefit of reduced cost as it would save four-ffths of $l.67 on every ton imported by reason of re- | bates from the Government At this point the committee met with the refusal of The New York Times to produce it's contract with the rnterna- l tionaI Paper Company. Mir. Norris had l said that The Boston Herald, accord | ing to his understanding, had con- tract with the International Paper | Company calling for shipment on the | basis of cost of manufacture and pro- | vidIng for audit to determine the cost. s ~Is this similar to The New York Times contract?" asked Mir. Sims.
 "so understand" replied Mir. Nor- ris.
 "By the way" interrupted MT. Mann. i've have not yet had that Times con- tract"
 T have been asked to state that The New York Times Company declined to furnish its contract. replied Mir. Nor ris. "I am, however, willing to an- swer freely and fully every question put to me within my knowledge and to give all the information I have"
 "Yet The New York Times is unwill- ing to furnish testimony on which re- lief can be granted" said Chairman Mann.
 This is a case said Chairman Mann, where the newspapers are in- sisting that speedy action be taken by Congress. preliminary to which there must be action by this committee. The newspapers are making the request, and yet we are met on all sides by disclin- ation by a great majority of the large papers to furnish information upon which to base a just decision. It seems to me there may, be questions whether they desire any action taken--whether they are not we'll satisfied with the contracts they now have and are put ting this investigation as matter of bluff.
 T am not connning this comment to the New York papers. I have letters from many publish CTS who do not want to testify. It is perfectly evident to you and must be evident to every one else, if we have to get this testimony by force we would not end this sum men. We are trying to get through and make a report at this session of Congress Instead of getting the help of the newspapers we have to use force"
 MT. Norris called attention to the statement in a census bulletin showing that of forty one industries named. the paper workers were the only one whose pay had been reduced in 1908 as compared with 1905. He also pro- duced a letter from United States Sena- tor LaFollette bearing upon the pay of labor in the paper and pulp mills of Wisconsin. inclosing a letter from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Lab or and Industrial Statistics of that State, showing an increase up to 1907 as CO., pared with 1897, of 17 per cent in the cost of labor.
 President Ochs of The Chattanooga Times Company. covering his examine = tion of the International Company books relating to the Hudson KIver mill for the years 1906-0T. showing a profit on paper at the price paid by The Times of $7. DO per ton. equal to g per cent.
 The answer of the company's ar- eountant to Mir. Norriss report was read He contended that the cost oG manufacture was not s27 per ton as claimed by Mir. Norris. but $2s at the mHl and that the percentage of profits should not be computed upon the cost at the mill, but upon the cost of de- livery at the newspaper offices. which included the transportation from ths mill to the newspaper offica. MT Norris placed in the record ad. ditional letters and telegrams from publishers of newspapers showing in- cerased cost of their paper. In som' instances the increase was as high al | SIS ton.
 MT. Norris then announced that his statement to the committee was closed | Several members expressed desire te question him and an adjournment wal | taken until tomorrow morning. It Is probable that the paper-maker' will he next examined by the com. | mlttee.