Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-24
URGES FREE PAPER
John Norris Again Before Sen
ate Finance Committee.
AGAINST ROOT AMENDMENT
Change in Reciprocity Bill Would
Delay Application of Paper
Clause, He Says.

John Norris. representing the American
Newspaper Publishers Association. was
today before the Senate finance committee
in advocacy of the Canadian reciprocity
bill Mr.. Norris declared that the Root
amendment to the bill, providing that
the paper clause Of the measure should
not be in force until the President pro-
claims that wood, wood pulp and paper
are admitted from all parts of Canada
free Of duty, would postpone Indefinitely
the date of application Of the treaty.
That was what It was intended to DO"
remarked Senator Stone.
Mr.. Norris claimed the amendment was
inconsistent with the purpose OF the
agreement.
Big Outlay for Paper.
AS a result OF the high price charged
by the International Paper Company. Mr..
Norris said that the largest user OF news
print paper in this country would have
to pay during the coming year 500, 600
more for his paper than for several years
past. and another publisher about $500. 600
more.
The present tariff. he declared. allowed
the paper makers OF the United States
to maintain high prices and keep Can
States has been shipping more paper into
Canada than is sent from there into this
country Is proof, he claimed, that Ii can
be produced here at a lower figure than
in Canada.
When Mr. Norris had concluded, Alonzo
Aldrich OF Beloit, Wis. a manufacturer
OF paper machines, spoke In opposition
to the bill. The committee then adjourn
ed until tomorrow.
Tr,1st IN Con$y,o1
Charges that the American newspaper
publishers are compelled to pay higher
prices than necessary for their news
print paper because the International
Paper Company is in practical control
of the industry in this country were
made yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Norris.
The paper makers. Mr.. Norris declared,
have made obvious efforts to restrict
production and to starve the print paper
market. in order to maintain prices at an
agreed figure. have sold paper abroad
cheaper than in this country. and have
arrayed themselves against open prices
and against public quotations.
In an effort to prevent such secret fix
ing of prices Mr.. Norris said that he had
| made offers to buy paper and to pay cash
for it. but that only two mills out of
fifty in this country had sold to him The
reason for this refusal. he claimed, was
that the paper makers did not want a
public quotation Of their prices, as he
would have sold the paper at auction,
thus making the prices public.
Idle Mills to Keep Price Up.
THE papermakers Of this country"
said Mr.. Norris. "have preferred to keep
their mills idle and their labor unem-
ployed and to allow Canada to sell paper
here to the advantage Of Canadian labor
and the disadvantage OF their own labor.
rather than sell paper at the mill.
"A conspiracy or arrangement OF some
sort exists among news-print paper mills,
able purchaser of the opportunity to buy
news print paper at q fair market price
without restrictions as to its use or at
the price at which the mills are selling a
similar article in similar quantities to
others Those mills so doing, which are
under the injunction OF the court, have
disobeyed It's orders.
Combination Follows Dingley Bill.
1.-THE trade disturbances and price huc-
tuations in news-print paper due to un-
lawful combinations have been continu-
Gus since the passage Of the Dingley bill.
shortly after which the International Pa
per Company was formed from a consol-
idation Of many mills. including those on
the verge Of bankruptcy. and immediate
steps were taken to mark up prices
Mr. Norris accused the International
Paper Company Of selling paper abroad
cheaper than here, with having Launched
Into gigantic wood land speculation
with having an inflated capitalization of
at least $40. 0OO. 900 and with keeping down
production by maintaining a capacity of
only 80 per cent of modern equipment"
Yet the International Paper Company"
he added. is asking Congress to put a
premium upon the antiquity Of plants in