Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-22

OomoinlnE with II the session OF the
Lumbermen's Mutual Insurance associa-
tons. TIE Confederation Of the Hoo-Hoos
and a regular exposition Of lumber. build
ing material. sash. doors. stone. cement
and roofing the nineteenth annual conven-
ton Of the Nebraska Lumber Dealers as
ISOLATION opened in the convention hall OF
the Rome hotel at 1850 Thursday morning,
with more than 80 members registered in
the secretary's office.
The present session IL scheduled as the
largest ever held. Some Of the wholesalers
are eStravagant in their decorations and
the hotel is covered with signs. flags, pen
ants, trade marks and brilliant col
ored eement bags, making st look like a
great lumber carnival Serious work is
planned slong with the gaieties and con
ventIon events"
President NJ. L. Fries. state senator.
recommends in hts annual address. given
at the onsning hour. that a committee be
appointed to draft a reciprocal demurrage
bill that might be taken to the legislature
at once and, In the opinion Of Mr.. Fries.
"a good demurrage law on our statute
books will mean that one OF the main OBJ
jects Of the association has been accom-
plished and by it the people OF the state will
be benefited more than BY any other Law
that could possibly be passed at this time"
ha1ArOad Rates come Up
Railroad rates on lumber need the at
tention Of the association. according TO the
president and other officers. The abolition
Of through rates to points in Nebraska and
substitution Of a rate based on the sum
OF two locals. the rate from the south to
Omah1 or Lincoln plus the rate from these
points to the interior have advanced the
rates to the retailers in almost every In
stance from 2 to 8 cents per hundred
pounds. What action the association will
take In the matter is uncertain, but a COM
mittee will be appointed to advise with
the officers and something will be done.
But the paramount issue seems to be
that the dealers object to having the pres
ent rates IN effect because It is claimed the
Omaha and Lincoln dealers can secure a
carload Of lumber from the south. stop II
at either city, take out a part Of the lum-
Der II they so desire and substitute other
materials OF varieties OF lumber Of the
same class and ship it into the interior.
This privilege. they claim. IL giving the
Omaha and Lincoln dealers an advantage
10 which they are not entitled.
Praise for Ob~servins Law.
Both President Fries and Secretary b
Crttchfield congratulated the association in
strong terms on being 'law-abiding' and
on the deserved escape and the clean bill
Of health given by the supreme court. They
did not mince words in condemning the
'shyster' politician OF politicians who were
responsible for the trust busting suits
brought against the association. They In
dictated thai when one OF the busters
came up for reelection TO the high office
which he now holds the lumbermen woulc
be ready for him. and though they are
happy over their vindication they will no
be entirely contented until they return sons
OF the evil which they believe "a formel
attorney general OF Nebraska" attemptes
to do their association.
As IL was the farewell address of Presi
dent Fries. who retires this year after som
hard service, he reviewed the work Of tn
association and stated definitely the puE
poses Of the organization. explaining tina
the association had not and would not VIC
late the laws OF the state as they exist bu
that in years gone by the dealers had EN-
ployed methods, az a time when such meth
DDS we're lawful. which would not be toleE
ated under the present law. In short, h
affirmed the association would be progress
sive as the law progressed and would yea