Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-29
PAPER AND PULP.

of the New York Times today contin
ued his testimony before the House
special news print paper and Woo
pulp committee. His testimony related
especially to the shutting down o
ne quoted from various newspapers ir
suhstantiation of his statement.
Mr.. Norris quoted a great many
statements from newspapers to show
that the mills did not control theil
own output, but that on the contrary
there was :; complete understanding
among them as to the distribution OF
the product and the fixing of prices
He also asserted that the manufacture
era met annually to determine prices.
Mr.. Norris also quoted from a NAM
Der Of publishers statements in re-
gard to the product Of independent
mills which he said had been merged
for the purpose of shutting out conipe-
tition.
A nunbcr of statements from pub
fishers regarding their efforts to Sc
cure paper from Canadian mills were
introduced by Mr.. Norris, evidently
fo~ the purpose of showing that there
was IN understanding between the Ca
madam mills and the mills in the Unit
ed states. Mr. Norris was. unable to
give statistics as to the Canadian mills
which had been closed. but understood
that some had been.
Mr. Mann asked why if the Canadian
mills were being closed and paper
was so high the publishers in the
seized the n
portunity to purchase these closed
mills for their own use. Mr.. Norris re-
piled in effect that they had had no
lack of such opportunities. He quoted
a consular report to show that one
such chance had presented itself in the
province of Quebec where it was claim
ed that the opportunity embraced 40,
0O0,0oU cords of wood pulp timber
which Mr. Norris said was sufficient to
supply the United States for 200 years.
He intimated that he did not share in
the apprehension regarding the deple-
ton Of American forests
Mr. Norris was questioned concerning
the prices which Mr.. Hearst paid for pa
he had heard was paid, and which We're
low cf In3n ltle average. Ilt 'ttiiii't'N
that Mr. Hearst's figures We're about the
same rs those paid by his own paper, the
New York Times. whose contract was
made about three years ago. He said Mr.
Hearst was not in sympathy with the
present inquiry. Shortly after l O'Clock
the bells rang in announcement that there
was no quorum in the House and this
caused Mr.. Mann to remark to MI Nor
ris. THAT means that your self-appoint-
ed prophet and special ally (Mr. Will
liams) has demanded that we stop here
ANA he is doing it to help you to hasten
this hearing
For the first time Mr.. Norris today
made reply to remarks of this character
He said:
'If our professed friends in the major
ity would do what they avow themselves
extremely anxious to do this proposition
would have been passed about four weeks
ago and there would not have been any
roll calls on that account
Mr.. Mann responded that he did not
see how the publishers could claim to
have any friends in the ma jority consid-
erins the abuse they had given that side.
MT. MOTIFS uecldItu tildl 'iiSIc iiai pc0ii
no abuse unless you consider me the
representative of a number" (referring to
the publshers).
At this point a recess was taken
During the afternoon sitting Mr.. Mann
stated that he has notified members of
the House that if they had constituents
who We're interested in this inquiry the
committee would he glad to hear them.
Mr. Mann also read communications from
Melville Il. Stone, secretary and general
manager of The Associated Press. trans
resolutions adopted by the asso-
citation in which immediate relief from
asked Continuing his testimony. Mr..
Norris said he had been assured by pub
fishers all over the country that the pa
per makers were in collision and he
thought this information was borne out
by the uniformity in prices.
Replying to a question by Mr. Mann,
Mr.. Norris explained the method of
naming contracts for paper. In gen
aral way. he said. the large contracts
are made by the paper makers directly
with newspapers and that the smaller
houses on a brokerage or commission
basis.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Stat
ford. MIR. Norris declared it to be the
contention of the publishers that GUS
toners have been apportioned to par
Iicular mills
The vast forest resources of the Pa
cific coast available for pulp were re-
rerred to by Mr. Norris, but he said
that because of an insufficient factory
power advantage could not be taken of
he opportunity to use that timber
For the purpose of combating the
claim of the paper makers, that the
price Of the paper was due in part
TO increased freight rates, Mr.. Nor
ris READ a statement from the Inter-
state Commerce Commission dated