The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-29
REPORT IS MADE
 0N INVESTIGATION Committee Says There Is No Evidence of Paper Trust MORE STUDY OF QUESTION Majority Report of Committee Recom- nends. Taking Tariff Off Paper
 But Not at Present-Fear of
 Paper Famine Past.
MORE STUDY OF QUESTION

Washington, May 2S.-The special com mittee of six members of the House, ap- pointed upon complaint of the American Newspaper Publishers association, to ln- vestigate the wood pulp and print paper situation in relation to the tariff and with regard to an alleged conspiracy in re- straint of trade, today submitted ma jority report and a minority report.
 The majority report, which is signed by Representatives Mann of Illinois, Miller of Kansas, Stafford of Wisconsin aud Ramon of Ohio, is a preliminary report and recommends that no legislation af- fecting wood pulp and print paper be enacted until the committee has further investigated and reported. The minority report which is signed by Representa- lives Sims of Tennessee and Ryan of New York, recommends the passage of the Stevens bill, to place wood pulp and print paper on the free list
 The majority report is summed up in the following words:
 AS the present price of paper would not to any considerable degree be imme- diately affected by the repeal of the tariff, and as the passage of the Stevens bill in its present form might spell ruin to the paper industry, and ruinously high prices for paper in the near future, your committee believes it the part of wisdom before making recommendations for posi- tive legislation to wait until it's investi- gation has been completely and thorough ly digested.
 "rhe committee listened with interest, attention and care from April 20 to May i4' says the report, ito the witness ss appearing in behalf of the contentious of the American Newspaper Publishers association, and followed with painstak- ing care, the statements made and evil dence presented by MT. John Norris. who appeared as the special representative of that association. Every opportunity has been given to the newspaper publishers to present evidence before the committee, though not all of the publishers who of- fered to appear or whom the committee would like to hear, have yet been cX- ;Lmined."
 Heavy Users of Paper.
 The report says that tabulation of rs- turned schedules of newspapers by the census office covers but few metropolitan dalies, which are the heavy consumers. From these returns, the average price at present. including in many cases freight charges, to 919 newspapers is s2Ss per 100 pounds; that of these, 361 using paper in rolls have an average price of s2 54 and 55S have an average of $3.O7 for paper in sheets'
 It seems probable that publishers pay ing high prices most readily responded to the inquiries of the committee.
 The report continues:
 While there appears to have been com rlaint on the part of the paper manu- facturers that the selling price of paper for 1906 was too low to be fairly re- munerative, yet we are inclined to think it was not until the summer of 1907 that there was general increase in print paper prices. That general increase was in fact, put into effect on new con tracts appears to be unquestioned."
 As to the charge of the existence of a combination in restraint of trade. the report says:
 Combine Not Proven.
 "The evidence before the committee 50 far fails to prove any combination of print paper, offers to advance prices or otherwise in restraint of trade, but con siderable evidence was presented which might excite suspicion that such com- bination had been made and was in ex- :stence."
 Tn the course of this preliminary report there are discussed the increased cost of wood pulp, cost of ground pulp, hours of labor in mills. some increase in the price of paper justified" Canadian competition, exportation from Canada, removal of the tariff, and the Stevens bill. Under the sub-head removal of tariff," the report in part says:
 "The question as to the removal of the tariff on print paper and wood pulp Is in- timately connected with the conservation of the forest resources of the United States, as well as it's effect on the paper manufacturing industry and the news paper publishing industry. The commit tee is not prepared to make recommenda- ton as to the permanent policy of the United States In regard to the duty on paper and pulp, except that the commit tee is firmly of the opinion that the tariff on news print paper and on wood pulp should not be removed as to paper or pulp coming from any country or place which prohibits the exportation of pulp wood or which levies any export duty on paper pulp or pulp wood, or makes any higher charge in any way upon wood pulp or pulp wood intended for exporta- ton to the United States.
 Removal of Tariff. .The evidence taken so far would seem