The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-02
PILING UP EVIDENCE
Witness Says Paper Trust Is RuinIng
OMtcrs Of Sninll NcMsnfincrs.

WASHINGTON. .. q, May l.-Testi.
Tying today before the House select
on s11i w9Gd pulp and pape In
Usher OF the Chicago Tribune, explained
his several paper contracts OF the last
ten years. and said that although he
had q ave-year contract; with one, year
per Company. the price had been grad
ually Increased from s1.s5 per hun
dred to $220. He said although his
tons a year. no one had approached him
regarding his paper supply for next
year.
Under a. rigid cross.examination Nft.
Mccormick testified that shortly be-
fore making. his last contract with the
international Company he had bought
paper from Watertown. N Y, mill.
snbseauesntly, 81 through travelling rep.
asked to be relieved of It's contract. and
on the same day. within an hour. an
agent OF the International Company
appeared apr IN his office and asked for
The committee entered into an in
formal discussion as to. the probable
effect on the House Of its representa-
tons.
/, In the opinion Of Mr.. Stafford. the
Of the committee
would be followed by the House.
Small Owners Ruined.
core s ths thssb9ny fbs Mr Me Of
the Stevens bill, removing the duty on
wood pulp and print paper. would ef-
feet the relief sought. Mr.. Mccormick
said the increased price of paper meant
year. He added $ that al Il Y: the el commit. aTni
tee would look into the condition OF
some OF the smaller publishers they
would find that In many cases men
Ing. h so0' ''S'"s ''a' '0s' s""
In the opinion Of Mr. Mccormick.
the smergennsE OF the case fuy tns.
without goins into general revision
OF the tariff
Further evidence was submitted by
John Norfis. represeenting the eosir Amerl- el,,
in support OF the ssociation's claim
that there is combination or agree
ment In restraint. OF trade among the
several groups. Of papSrmakers. 49,
.the advance is in part caused by an
an artificial price; that It is fostered
by the tariff. and you think we ought
to reduce OF remove the tariff, but
It IN price spRee IS @ BY e
nal conditions. by the actual increase
in cost of material or. labor. and not
by reason of a combination. do you
think then we ought to recommend
prices without Justification.
Mr.. Norris answer that that was
such an impossible hypothesis that he
could not give an answer that would
clearly state his mind. He said the
publishers " ould substantially rest
their whole proposition upon the fact
that there not only was a combination,
but that the prices which were be.
ing charged were absolutely without
justification.
The statement Of the manufacturers,
he said. as to the cost OF production
were absolutely untrue. MI. Norr1s
said in answer to a question that the
full measure of relief desired by the
publishers could not be obtained WITH
out the removal of the tariff
Mr. Norris also gave testimony
showing the existence OF box
board pool, which. he said. colapse6
April ist Of the present year. Wher
prices fell IS to $40 a ton. Since then
Ihe said. there had been an extre mel,
lively competition III that line.
The witness elaborated his forrnei
sta tements 1efuting. the claim of tlie
papermakers that the increased price
Of paper was due to higher wages for
labor. and furnished evidence show
ing that pnper workers are paid less
per per week than the followers OF any
single occupation reporting to the New
York Buraau of Labor.
The herring will be continued to-
morrow.