Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-22
DUTY ON LUMBER DISCUSSED
Committee Hears Arguments for and
Against Protective Tariffs.
POLICY OF FOREST PRESERVATION
Attitude OF Administration f. Re-
ferred TO-Kansas City Manu-
f~acturer Says Increase is
Necessary.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-"A universal
grab game" was the appellatlon given the
tariff by Representative Champ Clark OF
Missouri yesterday at the hearing before the
ways and means committed on the tariff
schedule for wood and wood manufac-
lures. The administration policy for tho
preservation of forests figured largely In
the argument. Several lumbermen said
they wanted a protective tariff on lum-
Der because other articles are protected
by the law. This called forth the term
grab" from Mr.. Clark. Representative
Boutell Of Illinois asserted, in defense OF
a protective tariff. that the government
must secure $500, 900, 900 in revenue and
that as a result some industries must be
protected.
That free trade for lumber would tend
to prevent the devastation of the Ameri-
can timber lands was the opinion eX-
pressed by Mr.. Clark, who said that 1t
did not matter II Canada devastated It's
forests. Mr.. Boutell argued that the
American forests would have to supply
the lumber for both countries X the
Canadian forests are depleted ana sug-
| gested that some broader scheme than
the tariff should be adopted for reforest-
ing the United States and Canada.
Rogers for Free Timber.
A.. Rogers Of Minneapolis appeared to-
day in favor of free entry of timber. Mr..
Rogers said he did not believe there was
a monopoly in the lumber business.
What is 1t that has caused the enormous
advance in the price of lumber" asked
representative Champ Clark of Mis-
souri,.
There are several reasons" replied Mr..
pogars uh,t the nrincipal one is to make
more money"
f. p. Lynch Of st. Paul, NJ. J. Scanlon
Of Minneapolis and a. w. Gilbert of Du-
luth, Mimi, also spoke of the repeal Oh
the duty on lumber.
Chairman Payne took occasion to re-
iterate his remarks OF yesterday regard
ing the desires of the committee to hear
both sides of the question.
''The majority of the committee wants
the facts" said Mr.. Payne. These facts
will be used in considering the framing
Of a new tariff bill"
Mr. Chairman, you say the majority
OF the committee want facts" said Rep
resentative Champ Clark, on the demo-
cratic side of the committed. 81 want to
say the minority are as fully interested
in getting the facts ais the majority, IL
not more So"
Would Not Cheaper Lumber
"If the tariff on lumber is removed"
asked Mr.. Boutell of Illinois, will a
man be able to build a siX-room cottage
any cheaper, as far as the tariff Is con-
cerued?"
Mr.. Scanlon replied in the negative.
Mr.. Payne wanted to know what the
effect of retaining the present tariff
would be.
I'VE could. I think, maintain a normal
advance in lumber" said the witness.
That he needed protection was the asser-
ton Of j. w. White, a lumber manufactures
of Kansas City, Mo-, in asking that the
present rate on lumber be retained IL not
increased. He argued that a protective tar
III would tend to conserve the forests of
the country, on the theory that every stray
log in the forests would be used in manu-
~factrue.
How about Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr.. Clifford
Pinchot and these other gentlemen who are
arguing for free trade in lumber in order
to conserve the forests o. the country?"
asked Champ Clark.
"They have not heard me talk,| was the
ready reply.
Chicago Man for Protection.
Edward Hines, a large lumber manufac-
turer of Chicago, argued for protection on
the ground that Canada has the advantage
of cheaper transportation facilities and
lower cost of labor In the Dominion.
]. A. Brown of North Carolina claimed
that on account of the higher cost OF la
Dor, stumpage and supplies for the lum-
Der industry 60 per cent of the lumber
mills of North Carolina are shut down.
their operation proving Improbable.
Champ Clark claimed that the high price
of labor was due to the speculation on
the part of lumber producers. The witness
argued that the price of stumpage, one of
the principal costs in producing lumber.
was too high.
J. A. Freeman of St. Louis. d. e. Skinner
of San Francisco and c. w. Nibley OF
Oregon added their voices to the appeal for
the continuation of a protective tariff on
lumber. Mr.. Nibley admitted that the
profits in bis business were 10 to 10 per cent
under a protectice tariff.
The mi took recess for dinner at
Z o'clock, resuming the hearing an hour
later. when several lumbermen and wit
nesses interested in reeds and rattans ap-
peared in favor of a protective tariff.
Testimony at Night Session.
Representative Clark at the night session,
which lasted until nearly midnight, asked
for Information from the witnesses regard
ing the alleged purchase Of 100000 acres
of timber lands at Sc an acre by Frederick
Weyerhaeuser. a millionaire lumber dealer
of the northwest, more than fifty years
ago. After it had been brought out that
this same land is now worth about $50 an
acre, Mr.. Clark asked j. ID. Lacey OF Chi
cago, a witness, whether there was any
danger Of Mr.. WeyeThaeuser going to the
poor house If he used careful management.
Representative Fordney. swho is also q
Michigan lumberman, also Indignantly de-
Tended Mr.. Weyerhaeuser by asking II there
was any reason why the lumberman should
be criticised for his foresightedness.
do you think there Is any reason why
the lumber industry should be given a
bonus of seq asked Mr.. Clark, referring
to the tariff on lumber.
Cant we get along without a tariff II
such large profits can be made in the lum-
Der business?"
Chairman Payne stopped the argument
at this point, stating that the hearing was
not a criminal trial
T. b. Walker, another millionaire lum-
- --.th.-.-a 80.