The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-07

during the past few days in the yellow pine lumber reparation litigation. put not in . manner satisfactory to the fumbermeh. The Interstate Commerce Commission has dismissed thirty odd cases arising west of the Mfssissippi River and nvoivng increased rates on yellow pinetiumber.
 The lurnbermen's attorneys have been confident they would win. in view of . certain clause in the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the Central Yellow Pine Association case fro meast of the river. but the com mission could not see 1t that way. II is estimated that the Southwestern re- paratton claims aggregated between q quarter and half million dollars.
 There have been no developments for some time in connection with the East of the river lumber reparation cases. Central Yellow Pine Association terri tory say they have received no propo. sition for settlement since the Birm- fngham agreement was entered into by Green and Green and Miller and Miller. 1t is understood, however, that later this week there will be conference in washington of several such attor- neys. including John M. Masten, of Cleveland and F. S. Bright. of Wash tngtou. Al tnts coutetehce sVtuSAHiu6 may be done which will cause the sit- uation to undergo another change.
 Tn connection with the Birmingham agreement 1t is reported at Washing ton that Secretary Lemiey, of the New Orleans clearing house calculated that if the claims pending before that or- ganizutfon were checked up. sixteen years would be required. At the rate of s20.00o month, which the clearing houses were costing the carriers. no- body wonders they were anxious 10 settle.
 A plan for successfully getting around the Mississippi law. as recent Iy construed by the United States Court of Appeals in New Orleans. affirming the construction by the Mississippi State courts. but reversing the decision of the Federal Court in that State, In which the Federal Appeal Court held that the owners of leases on sixteenth section under lands may not remove the timber. therefrom for conimercial purposes, but only for purposes of cui- tivation, is to be attempted by one of the largest holders of these leases in Mississippi. concern which owns aii the property allowed by the statute forbidding the ownership of more than t2,o00. 900 worth of property by gay manufacturing corporation.
 lt Is said that this particuar con- eern, holding the leased lands for no other purpose than to cut the timber. and which consequently finds them without value under the present status. will send agents Into the Northern and Western States and secure Q number of immigrants, to whom the concern will sell the leases piecemeal. retaining the right to the timber on the lands. Ac- cording to the rurnor. the lands are then to be cleared up by the new own CTS for agricultural purposes and used for truck farming, while the timber Is turned over to the former holders of the leases.
 Should the reported plan promises sue cess there can scarcely be doubt that a large number of other holders and lumber manufacturers will follow the example of the originators of the idea.
 The plan would be the means of ac- compishing the very thing for which the law was made-settling the land with agriculturists. That such a solu- ton of the problem now confronting these lease holders would be satisfac- tory to the State of Mississippi as a whole there can be no manner of doubt, and the only question for the lumber manufacturers to consider will be that of whether some official may not de- eide 1t to be his duty to make another test of the law.
 Three meetings of importance to iumbermen will be held next week: that of the American Lumber Trade Congress at Chicago on Monday. June 2, at which the Code of Trade Ethics formulated at the Minneapolis con- vention last summer will be discussed and passed on; also the meeting of the National Veneer and Panel Asso- citation at Chicago on Tuesday and wednesday, and that of the National Hardwood Lumber Association at De- troit Mich.. on Thursday and Friday, June 10 and II.