The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-28
FAULT OF THE TARIFF
Finding of the Minority of the Com
mittee Investigating Paper Prices.

Washington, May 28.-The minority
! report of the wood pulp and print
paper Investigating committee says in
regard to the tariff:
the hardships and the inability of
publishers to have their customers
share the added cost of paper presents
case of urgency that difrerentIates
this request for tariff removal from
other pending propositions of similar
character. The price of newspaper
is like the price of a postage stamp.
1t is measureably fixed. 1t can not be
| raised or lowered to meet the con-
stantly changing prices of raw ma
ter1al. In this respect it is unique.
Evidence of concert of action on the
part OF paper makers in obtaining high
er prices are furnished by reports from
many newspapers located in every part
of the country, although an actual vio-
lation of criminal statutes has not
been shown. However, the paper max
ers failed to explain the uniformity
of price or to entirely justify their ad-
vance in price.
The testimony also showed that the
reduction in the hours of labor, was
not general throughout the entire coun-
try, though all mills raised their prices
upon the allegation that their labor cost
had thereby been increased. The claim
that pulp wood had increased in price
has more merit than the claim of in
wood cost did not justify the advances
which the paper makers ultimately
adopted
After calling attention to the fact
that IAN extraordinary and unaccount-
able secrecy" marked the relations of
manufacturers and publishers and that
contracts with large consumers were
made under obligations of confidence
and secrecy, the report concludes:
I'VE find that the existing duties
h X-n roiS hn ,rio of r,rrIr, md
print paper. not only in itself, but by
giving to the paper manufacturers a
shelter behind which they could organ
ize combinations, which If not tech
nically susceptible of proof as unlawful
trusts are in our opinion in reality
such. 1t is true that the tariff Of itself
perhaps might not account for the full
advance in price, but the tariff plus
the tariff engendered combinations, do
account for all of it.
I'VE find that the revenues derived
| from import duties on pulp and print
| ing paper are so small and the benefits
to be obtained from the abolition OF
those duties are so considerable that
we urge the placing of pulp and print
! ing paper on the free list. We believe
| that relief from existing conditions can
| be fully and promptly secured only by
the immediate consideration and pas
sage of H. B. No. 1S60S introduced by
Mr.. Stevens
The minority report IS signed by
| Messrs. Sims, (Tenn.) and Ryan
! IN. W
| When Mr.. Mann called up the re-
ports in the house and sought to have
| them read Mr.. Sims desired to know if
| it was intended to follow that action
by motion to adopt the majority re-
port. The reply of Mr.. Mann was
that that question could be answered
| later Mr.. Sims then moved the
adoption of the minority report, but
| the proceeding was cut short by Mr..
J Hitchcock (Neb.) objecting to the
| reading of the other report. 1t is be-
| lieved that Mr.. Hitchcocks action will
| have the effect of preventing the
question from coming up aagin this
session.