Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27
Mr.. NORRIS RESUMES
Tells of Experience of News
paper Publishers.
INCREASED PAPER COST
Advance Ranged From So to $l7 q
Advance Ranged From So to $l7 q
Ton.
CHAIRMAN MANN's OBJECTION
Intimates That Such a Diversity
Does Indicate Combination
to Fix Prices.

The select committee Of the House ap-
pointed by Speaker Cannon to inquire
into the complaint Of the American News
paper Publishers Association regarding
the price of print paper in the United
States continued its hearing today. At
the outset Chairman Mann announced
the receipt Of letter from President
Burbank Of the International Paper Com
pany expressing his complete willingness
to send to Washington "suita BILE officials
with full information regarding affairs OF
this company. as you will be apt TO
wish''
With the consent of the committee.
Chairman Mann replied by telegraph.
saying the committee would be glad to
have any ofiicials or interested persons at
the hearing. and that the committee was
desirous of obtaining the fullest informa-
ton possible. He added that the commit
tee would be pleased to have the Interna-
tional Paper Company appear immediate
ly after the testimony of the publishers
associations hall have been completed.
Chairman Mann then announced that 1t
was the committees desire to have each
Of the publishers now here testify as to
his personal knowledge of the several
matters complained Of
John Norris. representing the paper
committee of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association. resumed his tes-
timony begun Saturday. He at once asked
to be relieved from exhibiting the con-
fidential paper arrangement Of the New
York Times by which that paper enjoys
a rate of $3S per ton, and suggested that
perhaps the information might be OBJ
tanned from the International Paper Com
pany.
THE committee" replied Mr.. Mann.
does not desire to embarrass the New
York Times or you. We cannot get the
data from the International company In
any event before they commence to tes-
tify. and therefore the committee directs
YOU to give it all the information in your
possession"
Statements of Publishers.
AS bearing on the determination Of the
paper makers to raise prices Mr.. Norris
read number Of statements made at
the meeting Of the publishers in Septem-
Der. 1907. One OF these was made by
Gen. Felix Agnus of the Baltimore Amer
lean, who said that. although he had at
one time enjoyed favorable paper con-
tracts. he had been forced to pay $3.50
per hundred. THAT was blood money"
Gen. Agnus was quoted as saying.
Another statement was by Editor
Haynes Of the Paterson News. who said
that director Of the International Paper
Company. after he had q few drinks In
him." said they were going to check up
s snosher napsa by she business
manager Of the New York Journal OF
Commerce was read. 1t spoke OF the
several increases in the price Of paper
until, after the expiration OF an existing
contract. the price was run up to s.. so
The price was objected to, and. although
efforts were made to get bids from other
manufacturers. it was impossible. and
contract finally was made at $2471s for
one year.
Mr. Norris submitted to the committee
a list Of 202 newspapers to whom the
price Of paper has been raised, according
to a report made to him. The list show
ed that these increases ranged from 81
to SIT ton in the last two years.
Asked by Mr.. Mann II he knew how
much print paper is used annually by
these 2O2 papers. Mr.. Norris said he had
not the slightest idea. For the most
part these papers were published in the
smaller cities Of the country.
Average Increased Price.
1t was not altogether accurate. said Mr.
Norris. to say that as rule the large
newspapers have been able to buy their
paper supply at less cost than the small
papers: because the small paper could
get the net benefit of competition be-
tween thirty and forty small mills. while
in the case Of the big papers this COM
petition was restricted by the smallness
of the number of mills capable of manu-
featuring In individual quantities sufficient
to supply the large users Mr.. Norris
of L. vav-fn1 20
the oO2 listed publications was substantial
ly 50 so a ton in the last two years.
Representative Stafford objected that
the striking of such an average was not
a fair epitome of the list, inasmuch as
the list showed. for the most part. that
the increases to the small papers were
much larger than the increases to the
big papers.
Aske by Mr.. Mann to explain the
variation between s. and $11 ton. Mr..
Norris said that 1t was in furtherance OF
a determination that there was to be
established a uniform raise in price TO
$3.50 per 100. That. he said. was the
avowed purpose in 1896. when the paper
manufacturers appeared before the Ding
ley committee.
Chairman Mann's Objection.
You are making the claim" remarked
Mr.. Mann that the paper manufac-
turers have entered into a combination
by which they asDSOluuely COHttoi the price
of paper throughout the country. and
thereupon you present to us list Of in
creases in prices which vary from s. to
ST a tom On its face. declared Mr..
Mann. that would not seem to indicate
anything of a combination to regulate the
price Mr. Mann said that a combination
to regulate the price of anything meant
some sort of uniformity. This, he said.
would seem to be directly the reverse OF
your proposition"
Mr. Norris insisted that the paper COM
panies were attempting to establish
uniform price for everybody on the basis
of 81 so. and that during the past year
many contracts had been readjusted at
prices up to 81 20. because. he said. two
years ago they made fve-year contracts
with Pittsburg, Buffalo and Chicago pa
pers whereby at the end Of one or two
years there would be a readjustment OF
the price. That readjustment," he as
serted. has taken place"
If" said Mr.. Mann. you desire US
to believe that these increases were for
the purpose of equalizing prices or raising
prices to a certain figure. you owe 1t to
US to present some testimony on that
subject
Mr.. Norris readily responded that he
A> nd rlr>l ha&