The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-15
Wood Pulp Inquiry Said to
Reflect Ways and Means
Committee Opinion.
ONLY FEAR NOW
is EXPORT DUTY
Investigation Brings Out Part Re
tail Men Play in Keeping
Prices Advanced.

The Special House Committee tu In
vesuEate the Paper Pulp and Pulp
Wood Industry. and especially the
tariff on paper and materials for its
manufacture, VIII report before the END
of the session
Its report Is awaited with the great
est interest because IL has leaked out
that this committees action viii be i'm
harmony with the purpose OF the Ways
and Means Committee IN its treatment
o. tariff questions relating TO paper.
The special committee has been at
work g good part OF a year, and has
taken a vat amount of testimony, be
sides making detailed investigation of
the paper industry, the sources of sup
ply for paper materials in future, the
general forestry conditions in this
country and Scandinavia, which next
TO the United States and Canada, is
the richest country in paper materials,
the tariff in relation 10 the industry,
and many other features.
AS result, it is known that the com
mittee. without recommending entire
removal of the tariff. viii favor an inn
poTtant reduction of the duty on print
paper, and free admission of wood
pulp from Canada, provided Canada
shall not impose an export duty or il.
Conferences have been held between
members of the Ways and Means and
the Pulp and Paper Committees, result
ing IN an undertaking that the former
committee viii adopt into its bill the
recommendations Of the latter com
mittee.
May Be Indication
This IS looked upon as indicative of
the ways and means policy toward the
lumber industry, which is closely re-
lated TO paper. While the lumber manu-
facturers are now organizing a beIated
but determined protest against removal
of their protection, the impression
gains ground that Congress will de-
cline 20 cOncede their claim, and will
place AT least rough lumber on the free
list. probably with the proyiso that this
shall not obtain unless Canada permits
free exports OF lumber. II is purposed
TO assure. I'm the cases of both puIp and
lumber, that Canada shall not be per
mitted 10 take advantage OF the new
tariff liberaIity of the United States by
imposing an export duty. and thus
transferring the revenue from this
traffic from the American to the Cana
dian customs. while giving no relief 10
American consumers of lumber
a series Of trust prosecutions Is liable
70 develop out OF the contest the Ium-
Der manufacturers are making TO save
their protection.
Lumber Men Divided.
For the first time the lumber inter
eEts are divided. The manufacturers
and the retailers are not working to-
Eether. Many Of the latter are demand
ing free lumber. The manufacturers
declare that the so-calIed Lumber trust
Is In reality a community Cf interest
arrangement among a great number OF
associations Of retailers and whoIcsaI-
eTs- These arrangements are declared
20 control selling prices. and 20 enforce
most rigorous system Of penalties in /
case the scheme is violated The manu-
facturers are IN position TO tell the facts
about these combinations of dealers. /
ana they have told enough Of them
10 cause lifting Of eyebrows in /
GmazemenU.
How the lumbermeu work is Uustrat- |
eu ny an account given Of one -maI d I
town, where there are two lumber /.
yards apparently IN competition II is /
declared this town IS typical. All the /
business tributary 10 this town Is care
FULLY divided between the two yards. by +.
distribution Of the customers ar I
ranged with reference 10 the initials /
Of their names. Thus. ward No. / gets /
the business OF people whose names ere
represented by a. G. r O, J. X, and so /
~ while the alternate initials are /
assigned 20 yard No. -
tn its operation this is very simple. /
Yard no. ] is entitled 10 tile business
Of Mr.. A. n A goas 10 that yard for .
nElres on bill OF lumber, he gets them
- rs charged from list kept for the +
purpose.
Gets Different Figures
II he then decides 10 figure with the
other yard. he will get figures made un
from another price list and the second /
price wall be the higher. Whereuuuu. ne
win return 10 tho drsr yard to buy.
II, however this same man goes first
20 ward 30. 2 and gets his figures, they
vii be made up from the higher list,
for yard no. IS not entitled 10 that
business. Going 20 yard no. , for com /
ps1tt1ve figures, he win get them from
the lowe list, and VIII buy there. If
ne eoe5n Z trouble 10 ask the figure Of
Eard 70 ] ue VIII buy ~ the higher
price of yard 30. Q. and that ward gets I
the business. The chances 0F this hap
peninE are assumed 20 be about equal
IN the course or ? wear, as between the
Two establishments.
This Is only one Of number Of plans
declared 10 DC employed % maintain
prices and. prevent real competition.
The manufacturing 'umbeTmeu have
been telling some tales out uf school
about the TcfaiIeTe- and the latter arc
likely 70 bee subjected % some lnyesti-
cations as a result
Some Are Interstate.
Some Of the associations OF retailers
are interstate iu character. and IT. is
charged that under the ruise of social
order, the famous order OF Hoo Hoos.
which holds the most secret c0ncIayes.
is really q great business concern which
has 20 do with establishment and main
tanning prices. Instead Of dev0tirE its
sessions 10 fun and friE0Iify. they are
declared % be- concerned entirely with
the serious business Of imposing all the
task the traffic VIII bear and 10 elm
mating competition
KILLS In A DIEL.