New-York tribune., 1909-03-27
NEAR BLOWS In HOUSE
LUMBER TRUST DISPUTE
Members Keep Mr. Byrd and Mr.
Fordney apart.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington. March pa Physical encounter was
barely aVerted in the House Of Representatives to-
DAY. Representative Joseph Fordney, of Michigan
an advocate of prohibitive protection and Renre
sentative Adam Byrd, OF Mississippi ordinarily a
peaceful citizen. came within five yards Of an ex-
change of blows on the floor. A number OF men,
hers succeeded in restraining them
NJ Fo7dney is a lumber manufacturer and does
not attempt conceal the fact that reduction in
The duty on lumber viii hurt his b, siness He was
eKPoUndins the doctrine Of high protection, when
Representative Byrd and number of Others began
an avalanche OF questions. Most Of these INQUIRIES
srere as TO the existence Of lumber trust
Mr.. Fordney had denied many times that there
vas trust. when Mr. Byrd insisted that there
was one. and that Mr. Fordney, from his knowl-
edge e Q lumbeTman, should know Of il Mr
Fordney again denied any knowledge of a combina-
ton NJ. Byrd asserted that he was certain OF it
You don't know a damned thing about it"
shouted Mr.. Fordney, and the House laughed
Not so the Representative of Mississippi who
-,Jshed his powerful frame down the aisle toward
the Michigan He plainly angry and the
House. which DIP TO this time had regarded the
matter jocose realized the serious aspect Of the
situation When he within a few yards Of Mt.
Fordnsy Mr.. Byrd clutched on the shoulder
by Representative Sims. Of Tennessee. and other
members his assistance. Mr.. Byrd tugged
vsIantly. finally checked and contented
himself with frownins vigorously his calm col
league. Nj Fordney waited patiently until the
uproar around the Speakers table had ceased, and
then explained that ne had not intended 20 arront
NJ Byrd but that he mad understood the Missis-
siopian 10 say that his firm in the Lumber
Trust Mr. Byrd declared that he had intended no
s1Ich statement, and peace restored
Mr.. Fordney advocated return 10 the lumber
schedule Of the Dingley bill saying that it would
not only conserve the forests. but would be OF ad
vsntsEe TO everybody and everything. Later in the
afternoon Representative Rowland or Ohio made
a strong argument for free lumber He dissected
letter written recently by Clifford Pinchot in advo-
oscy Of q nigh tariff. and declared that the For
aro 7f7-r1or rTeri iS iD1D0gSfhle.
WOULD CLOSE LUMBER MILL
when the tarir bill was laid before the House
NJ Humphrey OF Washington, took issue with
statements made by Nj Payne regarding the
number Of Orientals engaged in the lumber mills
q British Columbia He declared that over 80 per
Ger, OF the men engaged in the lumber and shlngle
mills Of British Columbia Orientals, who were
-agd lower wages than American mill laborers, and
that therefore the cost OF production was less
Ont of the Is $50 men employed in the shingle mills
of Washington. Mr. Humphrey said there were
only forty-one Orientals He also said that OF the
710aaN men employed in the lumber and shinsle
industry Of that state there were only 1900 ori-
entails.
M Fordney declared that II the duty on lumber
srol,ld be taken of his lumber manufacturing
con,rsnv would close its saumiIl. throwing three
hundred employees out Of work and keeping the
mill idle until better times He spoke OF dlscTlHll-
nations in Canada against American citizens anu
mentioned the maximum and minimum features OF
strike back when she strikes US
Mr.. Fordney said he would Ike TO have the ''aTifi
on cotton goods so high that no foreigner coulu
make e shirt wear on the back OF the man III
Mississippi who produced raw cotton de also
favored duty on long staple cotton OF at least
or s cents pound. help the industry IN the
South
Before ending his speech Mr.. FOrdney again
spoogized TO MI Byrd
A DEMOCRAT ON GBOvERSVILLE
Representative Pou of North Carolina one OF
the minority members OF the Ways and Means
Committee asserted that the Payne bill was
worse measure than the Dingley law. and he tolo
the Republicans that in the teeth Of your promise
70 the people 10 revise downward you haNe re
vised upward" He argued that shoes should be
rIaosd On the free list if hides admitted free
~ duty He criticised the wool schedule decIar-
ing that the necessartes OF everyday living hao
been doubled by the imposition OF the duties pro-
1lded therein He also said that the duties on
,ro-nenr and children's gloves had been increased
with the result that every woman and ohilo N
America would suffer, while the eenenciarles OF
the change would be confined within the limits OF
one city-Gloversyile, y. \.
when the fate Of the subsidy bill was hanging
IN the balance" raid Mr. Pou. lone very genlai
gentleman who is largely interested in the glove
business 1t is said did yeoman service IN bringing
I'D Republican recalctTants to the support OF 'na'
vicious measure. Likewise when the orsahiza'i0h
% ire House was in doubt this same gentleman
ms IN hand doing yeoman service to force back
into line boilers from the regular Repubhcah col
;,rrr His town Of Gloversville has control OF the
oItolt Of mems gloves a very large extent ms
rr-4,,77-ftv eniovs protection against competition
which Is so complete that during the year l@'' ohly
les nti dozen mems gloves were brought INTO lhe
United States from abroad. His community mas
rad = monopoly Of this business. Now, 10 and be
hold, he is 10 Be rewarded with an aodluona4
monopoly. probahl OF the manufacture OF women
and children's gloves also
Nj Fioyland, Ohio. declared that the contnu-
sDce Of lumber tariff protective tariff cast
discredit on the entire system Of protection Those
who favored the tariff lumber opposed its re-
rnovaI !yecause it kept up prices and made 1t pay
10 work I'D the entire and not leave the tops
a-1 limbs in the forest to rot or burn
In nv Judgment ne said, the time has come
when ne government should refuse longer to pul
snv burden in the shape Of a tariff on lumber on
he horne-builders Of our country.
A. Macon OF Arkansas censured putting pre-
cI,,s stones and old works of art on the free list
and demanded 20 know what class OF leoor oene-
flied by their free importation