New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-28
THE PAPER INQUIRY.
Dir. Norris Heard 4gdin by InUesti-
eating Committee.

Washington April 27-Naterial intended to show
that there been unity Of action among paper
mills fixing prices well an understanding
that of them shall sell 10 the customer OF an
other that contracts for paper could not be OBTAINED
for period longer than one year and that the mills
had arbitrarily down restricted their output
presented to-day by John Norris OF the Aierl-
can Newspaper Publishers Association before the
House investigating committee. The nearing was
abruptly ended shortly before o'clock by can
of the House and as Chairman Mann announced
adjournment he said to Mr.. Norris: Your aINes
referring Mr. Williams and his Democratic col
leagues. are forcing us 10 stop the nearing III
order to be present the House TO make quo
rum"
The material Mr. Norris offered was in the form
of replies by members of the publishers assocla-
ton TO number of queries put TO them oy the
association. This included statement OF Fafid-
ton in the price of paper Of from $ TO sl' to''
and induced Mr. Mann 10 make the assertion llat
II disclosed lust the OF the contention tldt
there is a combination maintain uniform prices
Mr. Norris. however, declared that II was INK
purpose Of the paper makers to regulate lhe price
ar the time of the hearing before the Dingey com
r7Ittee in 1896 and he contended that their pTese''
course was IN harmony with that avoWal.
Toward the close Of the day MI Norris lalu 'e
fore the committee a large number OF rePles u
,auen.pars to the query, Have agents or
mills withdrawn quotations previously lIIaue "
you or have they neglected or refused 10 quo,e
price to YOU or have they changed previous ole'S
These REPLIES tended to show that some pdPet
companies had declined 10 make o1eTs' others I'D"
Withdrawn or changed their quotations ana ot'ieIo
had announced their product entirely sold
The fact that there was unity Of action by sell
ing agents uniformity III the price u P@Psi
vas asserted by several hundred newspapers IN
ranly to queries by the publishers assoclalIor
These REPLIES Mr. Norris read at length Amos
without exception the publishers said that they mao
observed such unity OF action In few instances
they declared they had information on the SUP
ject ., -, -,
Still another set Of replies submitted by MI
Norris by which he undertook to prove that con-
tracts for more than year had been refused
IN practically every member of the association ana
IN some instance publishers had been forced 10
live from hand mouth" in regard to their paper
supply 49,.
In answer TO Mr.. Mann Mr.. Norris SAID that
these repIies were received the latter part OF sep
tenober or early in October, 1907.
Evidence also presented 10 show 'haI III
many instances changes had been made IN selling
agencies and that contracts now were being mace
direct with the mills
Mr. Norris furnished a list of papers to when the
rice of paper had been raised, and the increase a
Mr. Norris closed his testimony for the day by
naUsnapers that mills had shut down or restricted
their output giving various reasons THEREFOR sucL
for instance as that there was TO water OF lack
OF wood supply, and some cases no explanation
for a shutdown Of several months