The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-03-16
LUMBERMEN APPEAR
in LARGE NUMBERS
John Norris Arralsns the Paper Trust,
While Lyman Defends interests of
the Manufacturers-keenest Inter
est in Testimony.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 10.
Fully three hundred importers and ex-
porters, manufacturers and agricultur-
lists, and tariff experts appeared be-
fore the house committee on ways
and means at the various hearings
which began on November 10 and
continued daily until December 20,
and also at several supplemental hear
ings. Some of the most prominent
men In the manufacturing and finan-
cial worlds presented testimony of a
varied and interesting character. In
ADDITION to this testimony there were
thousands of briefs filed with the
committee, which added to the statis-
tics furnished by the various govern
ment departments and agents sent
abroad, together with special data
compiled by Thomas ]. Doherty. assist
ant counsel of the treasury depart
ment and Major Herbert M. Lord,
VINO was clerk of the ways and means
COMMITTEES when the Dingley tariff
was framed, has given the committee
Information more complete than has
ever been at the disposal of tariff
framing committee.
Andrew Carnegie, Chas. NJ. Schwab.
Judge e. H Gary and other steel mag
mates furnished the most interesting
testimony. Mr.. Carnegie. who caused
considerable discussion by proclaim
Ing, in magazine article, that the
steel manufacturers of this country
do not need any tariff protection, was
before the committee for nearly eight
hours. His testimony, while witty
and entertaining. did not offer the
tariff makers much specific informa-
ton regarding the cost o. iiianu1actur-
ing steel rails and other articles of
STEEL He dealt largely in theories and
deductions and avoided figures, claim |
ing that he was not familiar with the |
details of the steel business at the |
present time. but spoke from his gen
eral knowledge gained in thhe bust
ness before he retired to private life.
Mr.. Schwab, who was formerly the
president of the Steel Corporation, |
was one of the most earnest advocates !
for protection for the steel industry |
to appear before the committee. His |
replies to the questions of members
of the committee were replete with
figures and arguments He declared
that the Bessemer process of steel
manufacture will, within five years,
be superseded by the open hearth pro-
cess, which, he predicted, will in turn,
be abandoned for the electric system
of manufacture being developed in
Germany.
The agitation for free lumber by
those in sympathy with the movement
for the conservation of the forests of
the country resulted in a strong APP
peal from the lumber interests of the |
South. and the Northwest Represent |
alive Champ Clark of Missouri, the |
minority leader of the house, submit
ted the lumber magnates to severe
cross-examinations and these hearings
were among the most interesting T. /
b. Walker and Edward Hines, two of /
thhe largest lumber dealers in the
Northwest argued for the retention
of the present duty on lumber, claim
ing that the United States cannot
with Canada in facilities for
cheap transportation or cheap labor.
A number Of Southern lumbermen
also asked for protection, contending
that the cost of production has in
creased.
A severe arraignment of the So
'alled paper TRUST by John Norris. the
representative Of the American News
,aper Publishers association, and
efense Of the International Paper Co,
hester w Lyman. assistant to the
resident of the company offered one
[ the sensations of the hearings. The
rays and means committee, while
aking the keenest interest in the tes-
mony, was predisposed to depend
pom the report of the special commit
q which conducted the hearings on