The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-21
WOOD PULP SOLUTION
TO INvEsTIGATE HIGH PRICES OF
 WHITE PAPER.
Speaker Cannon Introduces Resolution In House to Appoint Committee to Begin investigation of
 Allexed Paper Trust.

Washington. April 20--A definite stel
 was taken today toward a solution o
 the wood pulp and newspaper cost
 question. in the introduction by Speak.
 CT Cannon of a resolution for the ap- pointment of a select committee of sis
 members to investigate and obtain all possible information as to the reasons for the high prices of white paper ''to the end that needful legislation may ha enacted."s
 The discussion. which was referred to the Committee on Rules, of which the Speaker is Chairman. empowers the committee to sit in Washington or elsewhere" during sessions of the House and Congress. and confers the usual authority of subpoena, admins terfng of oath. etc.
 l Following is the resolution in full: Whereas. 1t is alleged by the Amer ican Newspaper Publishers Associa- ton that the cost of paper to the users thereof. is at least $50 .O0o.o0o per an- mum greater at the present time than 1t was two years ago, and
 Whereas, it is alleged by others that the cost of news print papers to news paper publishers, magazine publishers and printing house managers will. un- der the present price be $65,00o. 900 greater for the current year. than heretofore. and
 Whereas it is alleged by the Amer ican Newspaper Publishers Association, that the staff compiled by the Bureau of Census concerning the cost and price of news print paper are erron- eous, inaccurate, incomplete and value less as guide to legislation: and.
 Whereas. it Is alleged by the Amer lean Newspaper Publishers Association that the price of print paper has in- creased from thirty-five to fifty per cent during the past few months. and.
 Whereas. tsis alleged and asserted that the alleged increased price of paper is in part the result of a com bination and conspiracy on the part of wood pulp and paper manufacturers and dealers. to control. regulate mon- opolize and restrain interstate and for eign commerce and trade in the manu- facture and sale of news print, manila. fibre and other kinds of paper and pa- per products, and,
 Whereas, 1t Is alleged by the Amer ican Newspaper Publishers Associa- ton that the International Paper Com I pany and other paper manufacturers and dealers have threatened to advance and have advanced the price of print paper S22 per ton during the last few months: and
 whereas, 1t is alleged that this great advance in the price of paper is made possible by the duty of $6 per ton on print paper. being the same rate of duty for the last eighteen years and in the last three tariff laws; and
 ''Vhereas. 1t is claimed and asserted that the price of print paper is in no wise affected by the tariff. that the increase in the price of recent date | has not been excessive. and Is not the 1 result either of tariff import duty or of any combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade or otherwise. but Is the result wholly of the increase of cost of raw materials and the increase in the wages paid for labor and the | shortening of the hours of labor per | day: and
 fiswhereas. on May ii. tsos judgment l was entered in the Circuit Covrt for | the District of Minnesota. dissolvins | the General Paper Company as com bfnation, in restraint of trade: and
 "whereas the increased price of pa per has occurred notwlthstandiug the | dissolution of the said General Paper Company or paper trust. and the De- pa rtment of Justice, though appealed tn. reports that 1t has obtained no ev- idence sufficient to justify the inssitu- ton Of legal proceedings. either civil ] or criminal against the alleged combi- nation of wood pulp or print paper manufacturers, and
 '"Wh ereas. 1t is stated by tho Sttor- | new General of the United States that after complaint had been flsj with
  called paper combination or trust. the complainant refused to furnish legal proof or give the names of witnesses having. personal knowledge of the facts: and
 '"Whereas. It is alleged that the com bination of paper manufacturers in the United States have purchased the output of, all the paper mills In Canada in excess of the home consumption. which said purchase. It is alleged. Is in .furtherance of conspiracy in r0- straint of interstate and foreign com merce: and.
 "Whereas. it Is alleged that the great production of wood pulp in the United States is rapidly depicting the forests of this country, and that legislation ought to be enacted which will permit and encourage the importation of wood pulp upon more favorable terms SO as to conserve our national forests. and.
 Whereas. it is desirable that the ]