Evening star., 1909-06-17
RAkES PAPER TRUST
Senator Brown Would Put
Wood Pulp on Free List.
MAKES -ExTORTION CHARGE
Declares 1868 Employees Suffer by
Increase in Prices.
SPEECH MADE IN SENATE
Opposes Committee Schedule Of 81 q
Ton on Print Paper-Glass
Rate Adopted. Il
MAKES -ExTORTION CHARGE
SPEECH MADE IN SENATE

Wood pulp and print paper occupied the
center Of the stage in the tariff debate in
the Senate today. The fight to put both
on the free list was waged under the
leadership Of Senator Norris Brown Of
Nebraska.
Senator Smoot, for the finance commit
tee. about 1890 pm. presented the COM
mittees proposal to fix the rate on print
paper at 81 a ton. to take the place Of
the two-dollar rate of the House and
present rate of S.
Then. Mr.. Brown moved to amend by
striking out the rate entirely. and an
nounced that he would do the same in re-
gard to wood pulp If he carried his first
point, and would also move to place both
on the free list.
AT the risk Of starting a panic in the
Senate" he commented. he read from a
message in favor OF his plan by ex-Pres.-
dent Roosevelt
To Serve Public Good.
He declared the policy Of the republican
party was against free trade. but in
favor of putting on the free list "ar arti-
cles that ought to be there" He pre-
ferred. he said, to serve the public good
in this instance than protect a few pri-
vate interests against possible disaster.
Mr.. McCumber. replying to questions by
Mr.. Bacon, said the new glass rates pro-
posed by the committee represented in
The average 100 per cent ad valorem
An amendment by Mr.. Bacon putting
the rates slightly below the committees
schedule was lost. 25 to 80. Messrs. La
publicans who voted AYE"
The committee amendment was then
adopted on viva voce vote.
Upon the suggestion of Senator Burkett
the Senate adopted an amendment to the
free list. making 1t certain that all re-
gala of fraternal organizations would
come in free.
Returning to the paper schedule. the
committee proposed its amendment in
creasing the House rate in print paper
rate is S6 ton Immediately Senator
Brown of Nebraska presented his amend
ment putting print paper on the free
list and proceeded to defend 1t.
Senator TiIlman in Debate.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina got
into the debate before 1t had been long
under way. He demanded that Mr..
Brown tell him in whose interest he was
proposing free print paper, whether in
the interest Of the publishers OF news
papers or the ultimate consumers. He
wanted to know whether the cost Of the
newspaper to the consumer would be re-
duced.
Mr. Brown replied that these questions
were beside the question, as the Senate was
considering whether or not the manu-
facturers of print paper needed protec-
ton. He said he thought they did not.
But" insisted Mr.. Tillman. Il am
trying to get at the real effect of this
proposition. OF course. l know it's po-
litical reason. But l want to know who
it is proposed to help by it,
Here Senator Frye OF Maine broke in
and stated emphatically that the news
paper publishers had said they would not
advertising rates even IL they were given
free wood pulp and print paper.
This aroused Senator Owen of Okla
homa. who championed the newspaper
as the greatest educational medium the
world has ever known.
Print paper he asserted, ought to
be as free as the sunlight and the air
and the water we drink. The fact that
the newspapers will not say in advance
that they will reduce the price of their
papers or their advertising rates is a
ridiculous argument to use against free
print paper.
anything like that, If for no other reason
than that a reduction of one-half a cent
in the price of a newspaper would be out
Of all proportion to the benefit the pub
fishers would get by free print paper and
wood pulp"
''Humbugs," Says Tillman.
That's all right sung out Mr. Till
man. But I just want to say that it's
mighty funny that these republicans here
are abandoning their protective ideas in
this instance. Why. the very papers that
are demanding free print paper are tho
great protective organs.
These very papers that are asking for
free paper said Mr.. Tillman, ARE the
very headlights of protection. and they
deny me the opportunity to buy this coat
or these Shoes" illustrating by pointing TO
the articles of his attire. yet they want
free paper.
Looking about the Senate with deep
scowl. Mr. Tillman brought his foot down
on the velvet carpet with a resounoinS
effect as he added
They are humhuSs.
Then he took his seat.
Mr.. Aldrich Explains.
Senator Aldrich interrupted Mr.. Brown
to explain that the position taken by the
finance committee in reporting the rate OF
- a ton was that the difference in the
cost of the wood in this country and Can
ada was s. to ton of paper.
The House investigating committee
year ago. he said. had reported in favor
of 81 ton for print paper without taking
into consideration the difference in the
cost of wood. With this additional cost
adueu to the House rate. he said. the
finance committee had reached the four
dollar rate.
Mr. Brown contended that a fair in
terpretation of the report of the House
committee did not permit of the con-
struction placed upon it by Mr.. Aldrich.
Senator Hale of Maine contended that 1t
did.
..Will the senator from Maine accept
the INTERPRETATION of the chairman OF
she committee itself" demanded Mr..
Brown
Il will accept the Interpretation, which
is perfectly clear upon the face OF the
report" replied Mr.. Hale.
Committee Offers Proposition.
The first thing this morning the Senate
took up some of the minor paragraphs In
the paper schedule. In the absence or
Senator Aldrich. chairman of the finance
committee. Senator Smoot represented the
committee.
a committee proposal for a reclassinca-
ton OF the paragraph including surface
coated papers, increasing the duties on
the more artistic and highly valued var1-
eties, was agreed to without discussion.
Another committee amendment reclaSsi-