The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-14
BYRD DISCUSSES
 LUMBER TARIFF. In Speech At Meridian Con- greSSman Opposes Buty CONSUMER HAS RICH IS MT. Byrd Declares That He Wants to Be Fair to All and Says He Stands
 for Tariff fos Revenue
 Only.
CONSUMER HAS RICH IS

Only.
 Meridian, Miss, March 18.-(special )- Congressman A. NJ. Byrd in an address tonight in this city on the question of tariff on lumber in no way minced mat ters, nor did he leave anyone in doubt as to how he stood He came here pri- marily to make speech on the lumber tariff inasmuen as there are lumbermen in Meridian who are opposed to the re- moval of the duty of g. on lumber. fear ing that the Canadian mills would come into competition with the southern mill men and thereby force the price of lum- Der to point where there would be but little profit on the southern output
 In his speech Congressman Byrd took inc position that the Canadian output was not hurting the southern lumber in- dustry. He called attention to the fact that logs from Canada were already brought to the United States free of duty and asked what was the difference in having free logs and free lumber. He said that millions of dollars worth of lumber was already being sold to Canada each year and that it came largely from the southern pine belt; that the Canadian lumbermen were already clamoring for retaliatory measures; that the southern i lumbermen could not afford to jeopardize l this large trade they were receiving; that l the Canadian lumber was not in competi- l ton with the southern yellow pine and i Canada was the third largest user of the , southern output, which went around the Atlantic coast and up the St. Lawrence river into the interior of Canada; that the southern pine must be used because it was stronger and of greater dura bill ity.
 He stated that three ports the size of Gulfport exported more lumber than was shipped into the states from Canada. He asked how it was, if the lumber duty did so much, that a panic had existed in the lumber market?
 He declared that he wanted to be fair ] to all and that the consumer should be considered He was opposed to any tariff except a tariff for revenue; that the south had everything to sell and nothing to buy and the opening of foreign markets and the establishment of merchant ma rine was what was needed. In the most emphatic terms he declared he would never favor a protective tariff policy. The speaker was enthusiastically cheered by the large audiencee but the lumbermen were not so much pleased. Congressman Byrd left tonight for Washington.
 Being seen after his speech Congress- man Byrd declared that he would not be candidate for governor, preferring to remain in Congress. This is the first de- nial made by Mir. Byrd of hundreds of newspaper forecasts that he was going to be a candidate to succeed Governor Noel
 Bids on School Bonds.
 The city finance committee has been re- quested by resolution to ask for bids for school bonds of $3O00O in denominations of 5000 each bearing interest at the rate of Az per cent per annum. Bids to he in- vted for bonds to run for 30 years, S5O00 rayable at the expiration of five years and $1O0O payable annually thereafter, also for bonds to run for 20 years from date of issue
 Death of Miss Owen.
 Miss Matte Owen died at her home In this city yesterday following an attack of pneumonia The interment was solemnized in Oak Hill cemetery. De- ceased was an aunt of Charles and Mark Dabbs, two of Meridians most prominent business men.
 Receipts of Cotton.
 The cotton report for the week shows 9391 bales of cotton in excess of the amount on hand at this time last year Received this week S23, same week last year 1516; since September l. 93,921; same date last year. 44O4.
 Law Suit Is Ended.
 With the payment of a judgment and costs, aggregating 63l9, rendered two years ago, the long, hard fought suit of M. w. Wagner ct al. against the Meehan- Rounds Lumber company of Meehan was ended late yesterday afternoon. The suit grew out of a contract of Wagner and associates to haul the logs of the company to their mills. Following the rendering of the verdict awarding judgment and before settlement was made the lumber company was dissolved and it's president moved beyond the Jurisdiction of the court. He was finally located recently at Milwaukee, Wis, and through lawyers there a settlement of the judgment was effected
 Fire Loss Adjusted.
 Adiusters today finished their work on the Meyer Bros. fro less, fixing the total loss at $270Oo. of which $20,O0O was on | stock.
 Campaign for Missions.
 The Rev. w. P. Price, representing the home mission board Southern Baptist convention, will speak at the First Bap- list church tomorrow morning in the be- ginning of a campaign to raise $25.000 among Mississippi Baptists for home mis- slons.
 | -------'s-------~>