New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-06
HOT WORDS PASS AT
RECIPROCITY HEARING
Enemies Of Agreement Make
Last Effort in Finance
Committee.
NEWSPAPERS ATTACKED
Senator McCumber and Her.
man Ridder Clash-Fair.
ness of the Reports
Asserted.
fE~ou The Tribune Rurepv. |

W
the Canadian reciprocity agreement before
the Senate Committee on Finance to-day
brought forth a last effort to assail the
measure by its foes. resulting in heated
argument and declarations Of so unre-
served a character that they were Win
drawn from the record. Statements made
by Herman Ridder former president or the
American Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton. were characterized by Senator NC
Cumbcr one OF the btterest opponents OF
the agreement, As an absolute faisenoo"
Under protest from other members of the
committee Senator McCumber finally was
induced 10 modify his declaration 10 'un-
founded
The determination Of the Senators hostile
TO reciprocity to unearth newspaper con-
spiracy as the chief occasion for the agree
ment was manifested In the extraordinar!
methods of examination TO which the wit
nesses. Herman Ridder. Bruce Haldeman'
president OF the Newspaper Publishers
Associations Presiden. Noyes. and NJ. e
Stone. general manager OF The Associated
Press, were subjected. No efforts were
spared TO interpret their statements 10
make them reflect on reciprocity and the
occasion took the form TO great extent OF
arguments of the most attenuated character
against the agreement
At the suggestion of Senator Bailey. Sec
rotary Knox was asked to-day 10 appear
before the committee tomorrow 10 explain
the form Of the original agreement. partc-
ularly with reference to the amendment
proposed by Senator Root TO the paper and
pulp wood section. The hearing will prob
ably he largely of a perfunctory character
as il is admitted that the Root amendment
conforms to the original agreement. OPP
position is not made on this ground but on
the ground that II would endanger the final
approval of the bill by the representatives
Of the House in conference and that the
bill as passed by the House is an improve
ment over the original agreement
Efforts 10 arrange a compromise on the
Root amendment have been dropped II is
eXpected. however. that this. with other
amendments, will he rejected by the com
r1ittee when action is taken on Wednesday,
and that the hill will he reported To the
Senate in the form In which ii passed the
House.
An indication OF the tactics that Will he
approval Of the agreement was the intima-
lion made by Senator Smoot to-day that
the question Of the favored nation clause
will he raised in the Senate. He declared
that the bill in its present form was not
reciprocal arrangement hut simply re-
duction Of the tariff and that II il should
become a law il would be possible 10 bring
paper from any country free of duty. Other
Senators were prompt to say that this view
was not worthy Of secNcus consideration
and would not prevail in the Senate itself
, Senator Root has already refuted this OBJ
lection once.
Charoe OF "Ealsehocd" withdrawn.
M. Ridder said that the newspapers Of
the country and the Publishers Association
had not attempted 10 suppress facts or 10
color dispatches sent from Washington on
reciprocity.
Senator McCumher interrupted. saying
that this statement was an absolute false
hood"
Several Senators insisted that Mr.. Nc
Cumber's remark should be stricken from
the record.
IF any witness appearing before this
committee. said Senator Bailey. were 10
imply that some Senator had told false
hood. ! would insist that It be stricken
from the record"
Senator McCumber agreed TO have his re-
mark changed so as to make it read that
what Mr. Ridder said was "unfounded."
Mr. Ridder, in reply 10 members OF the
committee. declared that he. as president
cf the Publishers Association, had sent out
,p~I q par NJ ba
telling them the reciprocity agreement was
Of vital importance.
but I would not have favored the agree
ment' lie added. IF had not thought it
would ho Of good TO the whole country in
dependent of my interest in IT as a news
paper publisher
Mr. Ri3de~ added that while he was in
favor Of reciprocity as whole his reason
a. q newspaper maI for urging it's pas
sage was so that he might get out Of the
clutches of the Paper Trust which. he
said. was Robin: the publishers of the
country.
Have you ever made an effort" asked
Senator Bailey. Ito have the Paper Trust
punished by the Department Of Justice"
yes" replied Mr. Rider. II had fifty
two papermakers in New York indicted,
and they paid s2or) apiece These were
manufac turers Of various kinds Of paper.
although IL has not boon possible as vet
10 prove legally that white paper trust
exists Nh Waller. yice-president OF the
international Paper Company. swore be
fore the Mann paper committee that there
was no combination Of any sort although
reports were being made - him every
month as To- what tho various paper mills
Of the county were doing"
Would YOU he satisfied" asked Senator
Hepburn. 81 the Paper Trust were pun
isheG in some other way than by the pas
sage ~ a reciprocity agreement"
Il want help during my lifetime" said
Mr. Ridder II have net yet seen any
trust rnagra'os so to Jail favor the
measure 20 that mey buy paper in the
open market, 90 not intend. II can help
q. 10 lot the Paper Trust dictate 10 ne
what must pay for paper He said he
vas opposed 10 all t-usts
Mr. nidder Tells Of PAPER Trust"
senator Stone asked Mir Riddor - the so
called Parer Trust did no; limit the amount
OF paper manufactured. fix the price and
tel the pub''sncr ~ VIVA, manufacturing
concern ne must buy his paper.
Nr bidder replied I'm the affirmative. and
.ha: IL could hc proved thnt tho price of
paper was Fixed by the trust. The read
ing Iul lic would he benefited he said. ~
the rnoa sure T. uassed. because the publish
ers could afford 10 give n better paper
And would not all the small papers Of
the country" ashed ,enator store. "beneht
I'm the sam, proportion a. the large pa
pers?"
Yes replird Mir Hi0Ger.