New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-21
LUMBER MEN HEARD
PRICES TO REMAIN HIGH.
Tariff Hearing Witnesses Gaze
Little Hope to House Builders.

From The Tribune Buresu.
Washington Nov. 2.-The with house to
build can gather little consolation from the tesr-
mony Of the witnesses who appeared before the
Ways ard Means Committee to-day. TO discuss the |
duty OF lumber. The price OF that counodi1y TO
the consumer will never again be materially re-
duced. what action is taken on the pres
tariff Of 50 q thousand feet This was the |
conviction Of every lumber man who expressed
opinion the subject, whether he argued for
z reduction an Increase OF the duty. The testt-
mony showed that freight rates are increasing
where any change is made: that the forests &C |
cessibe 10 shipping facilities being rapidly /
cleared; that the labor cost Of producing lumber
has been doubled in the last ten years, with pros
poets Of a still further increase that al the arC-
ces used in it's production. including the animals
food and machinery, bringing constantly IN
creasng price and that the forests themselves are
becoming valuable because CT the diminishing
supply. All these reasons were adduced in support
of the positive statement that no matter what be-
falls the tariff. the consumer need never expect
tower price
Although there no difference Of opinion as to
the cost Of lumber TO the consumer at to-days
hearing, there developed the most determined effort
at tariff reduction which has yet engaged the at
tention Of the committee. Americans owning tim
Der lands IN Canada want the lumber tariff wiped
out, they secure a better market n the
United States while those whose interests lie
chiefly this country insist that the present duty
shall be maintained With the ultimate consumer
hopelessly dsinterested because entirely left out Of
the lun1bernen's argument. the committee heard
both sides of the question with apparent interest
and viii endeavor TO determine whether the lumber
Of the United States present obtaining |
reasonable profit or whether they stand a
reduction.
CANADIAN INVESTORS HEARD.
The investors in Canadian timber lands based
their claims mainly the argument that the ad-
mission OF Canadian lumber would promote steady
price in the United States and prevent constant
fluctuations and uncertainty which exist This,
they asserted. would benefit the consumer, but more
particularly the retail dealers. whose business
would be secure from sudden decreases in price, |
which often leave Improbable supply OF lumber
on their hands
They also pointed cut that the removal Of the
tariff would insure the importation OF large guam
t1tes Of Canadian lumber, thus checking great
extent the inroads the American forests and
making easier the work OF the National Conserva
ton Commission. Because the similarity the
COST OF labor IL argued, change in price
would result, except, possibly, in localities the
Canadian border, where lower freight rates would
prove q factor.
The investors American timber lands unani-
mously insisted that the present duty should be
maintained increased They commended that the
American manufacturer pays for all articles
used in the production Of lumber than does the Ca
madam; that freight the best markets both
by land and water. in favor Of the Canadian:
that the centre OF production IS annually getting
further from the centre OF consumption; that the
timber lands in Canada are practically un-axed,
while Americans pay large taxes; that there Is no
unreasonable profit in the lumber business, and
that this industry Is Of the utmost value the
country, because II is one OF the greatest con-
of practically every product They depre-
Gated the statement that the abatement
would assist in forest conservation. and pointed out
that the American would cut his timber rap
idly Il there was active competition that he did
now.
CALLS TIMBER FAMINE NEAR
We have already crossed the verge Of a timber
.I,- in
almost every hamlet in the land" said Theodore
NJ. Knappen, real estate dealer OF Minneapolis
TN i've years every sawuin in Minneapolis will
be abandoned yet this industry IN Its prtn1s en-
ployed from 1--WE thousand 20 ten thousand men in
that city alone-"
He spoke for repeal OF the duty on timber, say
ing that American labor had nothing to fear from
free trade, as Canadian labor high labor
in this country. Mr.. Knappen said he represented
the National Forest Conservation League, but when
| asked by Representative Fordney who the league
consisted of, he said
Mostly of myself"
Representative Crunpa cker. of Indiana Indicated
that he favored tariff revision downward Are
| the farmers of the Northwest in favor Of free
trade on lumber" he asked Of A R. Rogers. Of
Minnea polls. who appeared In favor OF free entry
Of timber.
Yes" the witness replied
DO you mean Washington and Oregon % asked
Mr.. Fordney, of Michigan.
NO. they producing states" replied Mr..
Rogers; "T mean the prairie states"
You may include Indiana among those states"
| said Representative Crumpacker
The way that state went for Governor this year,
you would take il for Southern state Mr.. Ford
| ney remarked, amid laughter
| Mr. Rogers said ne did not believe there was
| monopoly IN the lumber business
| What is it that has caused the enormous adj
vance in the price of Iuuber?' asked Representa-
| tive Champ Clark, of Missouri
There several reasons, replied Mr.. Rogers;
/ but the principal is to make more money
F. P Lynch of St. Paul: NJ J. scanlon. Of Min
| neapoIis and A ". Gilbert OF Duluth MINI, also
spoke favor of the repeal of the duty lumber
! That both the majority and the minority mem
hers seeking all the light they get on this
! subject brought out through Mr.. Scanlon
! apoIogizing for appearing in favor of tariff redUc
| ton when most Of the witnesses were favoring
| high tariff
FACTS WANTED. SAYS Mr.. PAYNE
The majority Of the committee the facts,
! said Mr.. Payne. These facts will be used in con-
| sidering the framing of new tariff bill"
Mr. Chairman. you say the majority o. the
! committee want the facts" said Representative
| Clark u want say the minority are as fully
interested in getting the facts the majority, IL
! not more So
II the tariff OF lumber is removed. asked Mr.
BoutelI. Of Illinois, viii man be able 70 build a
six-room cottage any cheaper, as far as the tariff
| is concerned?
M scanlon replied in the negative
Mr.. Payne wanted to know what the effect Of re-
| tanning the present tariff would be
We wouIl. I think have normal advance in
| the price OF lumber" SAID the witness
That he needed protection asserted by :. 3.
White, lumber manufacturer Of Kansas City, Mo
| in asking that the present rates OF duty lumber
| be retained If not increased. He argued that
protective tariff would tend to conserve the forests
country the theory log