Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07
Herman Ridder Believes Wood
Pulp Will Go On Free List.
FROM PAPER TRUST
It All Depends on Representatives
Payne and Dalzell.
HAS PLEDGES FROM MEMBERS
Senator Hepburn Wants President to
Veto Bill for Dam in Snake
River. =

Herman Ridder. representing the News
paper Publishers Association of. the coun-
try. Is confident Congress will not adj
journ without placing wood pulp on the
free list. so as to release the newspapers
and publishers of the country from the
nominations of the paper trust Mr.. Rid
der called upon the President today and
discussed with him the status of efforts
making to induce Congress to take action
at this session. To newspaper inquirers
Mr.. Ridder said that he had the written
pledges of sixty-eight republican menu
bers Of the House that they would vote
for free wood pulp If given the oppor-
tunity. "These. with the democrats OF
the House. would make a large ma jority
in favor of putting wood pulp on the free
list" said Mr.. Ridder There are a
number of other republicans who have
promised me to give consideration to the
matter should It come to the front.
THE question is now simply one OF get
ting the ways and means committee to
report a bill So far as I can find the
whole fault lies with Representatives
Payne and Dalzell. They told me posi-
lively a few weeks ago that they would
not report a free wood pulp bill, but I
hope that they may change their mind.
upon realizing the strong sentiment for
such action. not only throughout tho
country, but In the House. Speaker Can
non is apparently doing nothing against
us. He Is q man Of great ability and fair
ness and undoubtedly wishes to do the
right thing. He has left the whole thing
in the hands of the ways and means COM
mittee, which must sooner or later be
forced to favorable consideration. 1t 10
all well enough to suggest that the paper
trust should be proceeded against in the
courts, but the newspapers cannot wait
for the long processes OF the courts when
the paper trust is robbing them OF fair
profit on their business. The courts can
go after the trust In their own good time
and will no doubt do so.
THE Senate is favorable to taking OF
the duty. Senator Aldrich has shown a
friendliness to our request. / do not
believe that any serious attempt would
be made in the Senate to enter into gem
eral tariff amendment. The justice OF
our contention is recognized in the Sen
ate and it would not be fair to try to
defeat free wood pulp by putting other
articles on the free list.
THE removal of the duty on wood pulp
would mean a saving of at least ope-half
cent a pound for white paper. The trust
would be forced to cut the price that
much to meet the competition from Cam
ada.
Il am trying hard to keep the request
for action at this session within nom
partisan lines The newspapers OF the
country represent all the parties and
hence do not wish to have party politics
mixed with their demand for relief from
the most oppressive trust In the country"
Opposes Snake River Dam.
Senator Hepburn OF Idaho discussed
with the President today the bill passed
by Congress at the request Of Senator'S
Piles and Ankeny of Washington pro-
vidng for the Benton dam across the
Snake river between Lewiston. Idaho.
and the sea The object of the dam. 1t is
claimed. is to provide irrigation by pri-
waite company for citizens of Washing
ton. Senator Hepburn asked the Presf-
dent to veto the bill. He asserts that the
dam would seriously interfere with nav1-
cation to Lewiston and with the control
of the river. On general principles he
holds that a. navigable stream should not
be damned by private corporations. II
is quite likely that the President will take
the same view and veto the bill. He has
vetoed similar measures In the past.
Mr., Maddox Declines Solicitorship.
Fletcher Maddox. the Great Falls.
Mont, lawyer who was recently nomi-
mated for solicitor OF the treasury 10
succeed A. B. Hayes, the Utah lawyer
who retired from the place to enter pri-
vate practice. has declined the position.
and the President has not so far filled
the vacancy The Montana senator's,
who presented the name of Mr.. Maddox.
have not suggested any other man from
the same state. Other senators. however,
have found out that there is a chance
for a good piece of patronage. and will be
Iay1f fnr ct
ents. The position is a good one and ID
usually I'm demand.