New-York tribune., 1908-03-06
ACCUSES PAPER MEN.
Herman Ridder Tells attorney
General Price Was Controlled.

Herman Ridder president OF the American News
paper Publishers Association has sent letter 10
Attorney General Bonaparte summarizing state
rlents various publishers TO the effect that the
seven groups of the American Paper and Pulp AS
sociation made efforts to stife competition ana
increase prices through combination. MT hlooeF
calls attention Ia letter written by the Attor-
ney General 10 John Norris asking for any evil
tence tending 10 prove there exists an agree
nent among manufacturers 10 increase or main
tain the prices of paper 10 the consumer ana say
ing that should such evidence be sufhcient TO
establish case Of Illegal combination or consplr-
acy I shall direct that proceedings he in
stituted with view obtaining immediate re-
lief and continues:
inclose records Of one Organization Of twenty
including ten mills with capacity Tor hews
Irint paper These records show tsa1 a poo poo "as
is.riss' rrks, Of f''' No n west sath
Mr. Ridder says that the reports of eight meet
ings i'm his possession show that ways and means
committee created allotment of output was
made 10 each the tweny-four mills. the produc-
lion restricted the basis of weights of regu-
lated agreements made 10 fix and maintain prices;
that actual advances that ultimately reached ST. a
ton made that arrangements were made 10
pay a part OF all proceeds into a pool. that allow
ances were made to mills that shut down. contract
periods restricted three months, quotations de
MED brokers: the profits OF the mills of
one company curt allied to 20 per cent. that
negotiations conducted with the Western
trustee mills, and that counsel were instructed 10
find q plan for conducting the affairs of the asso-
citation such 4 defeat any attack
made on it by a federal or state government. He
also points to several advances of price and shut
downs of the mills, which, he says. his reports
show ordered by the association. He con-
Iinues:
The Western fibre and manila paper manufact-
urers held meeting in Chicago in the third
weekof December, 1901, al the Grand Pacihc Hotel.
al which the mills in Wisconsin and Michigan
making these classes Of paper were represented
lT.ces WAS approved
Seven groups. Of paper makers have held meet
THESE groups include pulp makers. makers of
boards. Tissue book paper. news print paper.
pulp cons;i;.1tes o7e-ifth OF the material that
eIters INTO news print paper. ground wood con-
stiJuting four-ffths.
All Of IL" groups referred 10 have common
purpose and common method which is illustrated
SUBDIVISIONS or the American Paper END Pulp
Association. a national organization that has its
NV 1ork CITY From a merely statistical body
with 4 restricted purpose OF discussion and inter
c.'ange OF Ideas. il has become centre for
divisions OF pauer makers. who have undertaken
To cooperate through il in general restriction
OF production. a regulation Of output and an I'd
vance II prices, through Combinations so soIidiN
organized to control the market arbitrarily by
pool agreements and penalties and restrictions.
According to Mr.. Ridder twenty-four paper mills
which formerly constituted the General Paper Com
Teny. after dissolution b. the federal court.
poyel a common traffic manager to regulate snip
rnents for them. and acted in concert in other
spocts. dsregardug the order of the He edds
that publishers who apply for quotations realize
that IN intangible way the of their
supply has been prearranged and the price they
to pay determined for them. In each case. he
says. The publisher finds that all but bid is 4
prohibtory price.