The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-06
The PRICE OF PAPER.
MORE TESTIMONY AGAINST THE
PAPER TRUST.
we'll known Chicago Publisher Says
Ihat lie Has Been Forced to Pay
100000 More a Year For Paper-He
AdvOctes Removal of Tariff on PA.
per and Pulp.

Washington. May 1.-Testifying to-
day before the house select comittee
on wood pulp and paper investigation,
Medill Mccormick, publisher of the
Chicago Tribune, explained his several
paper contracts of the last 10 wears
and said that although he had a five
year contract, with one year yet to
run, with the International Paper
Company, the price had been gradual
ly increased from $1.S5 per 100 to
$2.20. He said although his purchases
amounted to $4,000 or $1,000 tons a
year, no one had approached him re-
garding his paper supply for next
year.
Under a rigid cross-examination,
Mr.. Mccormick testified that shortly
before making his last contract with
the International Company he had
bought paper from a Watertown, N.
Y. mill. subsequently through a
travelling representative. the Water
town Company asked to be relieved
Of it's contract and on the same day
within an hour an agent Of the In
ternational Company appeared in his
office and asked for the contract. The
committee entered into an informal
discussion as to the probable effect on
the public Of its report. In the opinion
Of Mr.. Stafford, the recommendation
of the committee would be followed
by the house.
Continuing his testimony, Mr.. Nc
Cormick declared that the passage of
the Stevens bill. removing the duty
on wood pulp and print paper would
effect the relief sought. Mr.. McCor-
mick said the increased price Of paper
meant an additional outlay by him
or 100000 year. He added that l.!
the committee would look into the
condition Of some OF the smaller pub
fishers they would find that in many
instances men who, after years of
hard work had built up a good living,
had lost that living.
In the opinion Of Mr.. Mccormick
the emergency Of the case fully justi-
fed immediate action by Congress
without going into a general revision
Of the tariff.
Further evidence was submitted by
John Norris. representative Of the
American Newspaper Publishers AS.
ISOLATION. in support Of the claim that
there Is a combination or agreement
in restraint Of trade among the groups
Of paper makers.
"You claim" Chairman Mann said
that the advance Is in part caused
by an artificial combination, that
there is an artificial price. that it is
fostered by the tariff. and you think
We ought to recommend a removal
of the tariff. but suppose it should
appear that the enhancement in price
Is caused by normal conditions, by the
actual increase in cost Of material or
labor. and not by reason Of q COM
bination. do YOU think that We ought
to recommend removal of the tar
iff?"
Mr.. Norris answered that that was
such an impossible hypothesis that he
could not give an answer that would
clearly state his mind. He said the
publishers would substantially rest
their whole position upon the fact that
there not only was a combination but
that the prices which were being
charged were absolutely without justi-
fication. The statements Of the manu-
facturers. he said, as to the cost of
production were absolutely untrue.
Mr.. Norris said in answer to a uues-
ton that the full measure Of relief
desired by the publishers could be OBJ
tanned without removal Of the tar
if.
MT. MOTIFS also gave testimony
showing the existence Of a box board
pool which. he said. collapsed April 1
of the present year. when prices were
IS to SO a ton. Since then, he said,
there had been extremely lively COM
petition in that line.
The witness elaborated his former
statements refuting the claim Of the
paper makers that the increased
price Of paper was due to higher
wages for labor and furnished evil
dence showing that paper workers
are paid less per week than the fol-
lowers Of any single occupation re.
porting to the New York. bureau Of la
Dor.
The hearing will be continued to-