Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-05
MAKERS
DEMAND THEY
Be GIVEN A
SHOWDOWN
Memorial to President Taft
Insists That Findings in Al
legged Trust Case Be Made
Public.
PROTEST AT ALLEGED
INJUSTICE TO INDUSTRY



business. ordered by congress In 1905,
was made public today by the Nation
al Lumber Manufacturers association,
with othor corrospundcncc between
Prcsidont TAFT ana the secretary of
he department OF commerce and
labor
THIS somewhat unusual attitude on
the part Of great manufacturing I'M
dustry is in the form of petition
which sets forth that The delay lea
reporting the findings OF tho depart-
nent mas tended 10 confirm the pub
nc in the opinion that lumber
trust exists Ia the manufacturing
side of the lumber business. and has
greatly accentuated the attacks upon
that Industry
We representing many citizens OF
the United states, who are entitled To
Justice at the hands OF the govern
ment and 60 that Justice which Is
dOubly admirable u prompt" says the |
memorial, petition YOU to have made !
public az the earliest possible moo
ment the whole conclusion of the de- |
partment of commerce aud labor as
To the principal question put to IL by
the congressional resolutions, that the !
people of this country may no longer
have TO depend for their opinion as
TO the lumber producing industry
upon insinuatiOns. unVeriiicd charges,
suspicion or prejudice"
On receipt of the statement and pc
titlon OF the lumber men, President
TAFT referred the complaint to secrc-
tary NaEel. who furnished the presi- |
dent with a reply. This reply states
the position OF the administration in
the matter. The lumber manufactur-
ers upon receiving the letter from
the secretary OF commerce., made an-
other appeal 10 President Taft, say
ing;
we hope. Mr. President. notwIth-
standing the present attitude of the
administration, as expressed by the
honorable secretary. that you will pro-
mote the prompt justice asked for by
"A body of the citizenship now, as they
verify believe. misunderstood and
grieSously malianed."
In the petition, reference Is made
10 the fact that while the department
OF commerce and labor made public
February 10. 1911, partial report
on the lumber Industry Il related only
To the private ownership of sanding
timber Ia the United states, and ad-
yanced only one of the reasons for
the alleged high price OF lumber; that
this partial report ignored tho re-
quest of congress To report particu-
larry as 10 the existence of combina-
tions, etc, In restraint of trade and
therefore failed 10 give the lumber
producers the verdict which they
asked for az a conference with the
president. Secretary Nagel and Com
Ia.
uary -, 1910.
Prices OF lumber at the mills"
says the petition. advanced during
the seven years from 1899 TO 1906. |
about thirty-eight per cent. This
corresponded with the advance in
other commodities which enter 50
greatly into the cost OF lumber. and |
in part TO the increased values Of
stumpage.
Prices TO tie consumer In some 4
sections OF the country remote from /
lumber producing sections advanced |
probably In still greater proportion,
due IA part to the exhaustion OF near
supplies. making necessary the pay
mont Of greatly Increased Transports
ton charges.
"Notwilhaandlng these sufficient |
reasons "a Is charged and seems So /
hayr boon commonly believed .hat I
the increase boo prices al the mills aat
due 90 the existence of controlling /
combinations or aglooments commuu-
~ known as trusts and that the
lumber trust was and Is an ops
prossivo entity"
The petition then says that rcspon /
sive 90 public churgcs congress adopt I
"a resolutions for an investigation of /
Iho lumber huaIness. Attention IS /
particularly called 10 the fact that the [
resolutions required that the invCsu- /
CATION should be conducted with 'the /
particular object" OF aacertainng the I
existence OF any combination. conspir-
acy trust agreement or contract la
restraint OF commerce,
The petition says further that
while the effect Of these resolutions
WAS Injurious 10 the lumber Industry. /
the investigation was welcomed by
humber producers, "Who had long
been restlve under the loose unbound
ed and ignorant charges made against
them," and that every assistance 60
the Investigation was given.
with this active and hearty Coz
operation OF the lumber Industry % \
was felt that the inquiry should proc
duco early results" ON the contrary, II
says the petition, u was not until Feb
ruary ~. 1911. more than four years
after the passage 81 the resolution,
ihat arN report whatever w0r MAIDS N
h tnr nunn slUUcr of DurWlFU itN III
who had charge or this inyosugatlon
under the secretary Of tho department
of commerce and labor The petition
calls attention 20 the fact that this
report was only a partial one and
failed 90 give the lumber producers
the verdict thoy desired.
The petition closes with an urgeui
request that the Charges against the
lumber manufacturers 81 the United
States be- as promptly brought 90 a
conclusion as seem likely 90 be- those
against lumber dealers who have been
brought into court"
Secretary Nagel. In transmitting 90