The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-04-12
Correspondence IN
LUMBER CASE PUBLIC
Relations Between Department
Of Commerce and Trust"
Given to Congress.

upon President Taft for publication OF
conclusions Of the department of COM
nerce and labor upon it's investigation
Of the lumber manufacturing business,
ordered by congress in 1906, was made
public today by the National Lumber
Manufacturers association, with other
correspondence between President
Taft and the secretary Of the depart
ment of and labor.
This somewhat unusual attitude on
the part of a great manufacturing In
dustry Is in the form of a petition
which sets forth that the delay in re-
porting the findings Of the department
has tended to confirm the public in the
opinion that a lumber trust" exists
In the manufacturing side of the lun-
Der business, and has greatly accentu-
ated the attacks upon that industry.
we, representing many citizens Of
the United States, who are entitled to
justice at the hands Of the
n to hat justice which is doubly ad-
mirable, IL prompt" say the memoir
ial, petition o to have made public
at the earliest possible moment the
whole conclusion Of the depactment of
commerce and as to the prin-
cfpal question put to 1t by the con-
gressional resolutions, that the people
of this country may no longer have to
depend for their opinion as to the lum-
Der producing industry upon insinua-
lions, unverified charges. suspicion or
prejudice"
On receipt Of the statement and nett.
ton OF the lumber men. President Taft
referred the complaint to Secretary
Nagel, who furnished the president
with a reply. This reply states the DO
'sition of the administration in the mat
ter. The lumber manufacturers, upon
receiving the letter from the secretary
Of CGmmarcN made annfha~ o~~~t
President Taft, saying:
w hope, Mr.. President, notwith-
standing the present attitude Of the adj
ministration, as expressed by the hon.
orable secretary, that you will promote
the prompt justice asked for by a body
of the citizenship now, as they verify
believe, misunderstood, and grievously
maligned."
In the petition, reference is made to
the fact that while the department of
commerce and labor made public Feb
ruary 13. 1911, a partial report on the
private ownership of standing timber.
in the United States, and advanced
only one of the reasons for the alleged
high price OF lumber; hat this partial
report ignored the request OF congress
to report particularly as to the exist
ence Of combinations, etc.. In restraint
of trade and therefore failed to give
the lumber producers the verdict which
they asked for at a conference with
the presidents secretary, Nagel, and
Commissioner Smith In Washington,
January IL, 1910.
the petition. advanced during the sew
en- years from 1899 to 1906, about So
per cent.
Prices to the consumer In some Sec
ions Of the country remote from lum-
reproducing sections. advanced prob
ably In still greater proportion due In
part to the exhaustion Of e supplies,
making necessary the payment OF
greatly increased transportation
changes"
Resolutions Taken Up.
The petition then a y that espon-I
! to public charges congress adopted
resolutions for an Investigation Of the
arly called to the fact that the resolu-
lions required that the investigation
should be conducted with the par
ticular object" Of ~ascertaining the ex-
istence Of any combination. conspiracy,
trust. agreement or contract n re-
straint of commerce. .
The petition closes with an urgent
request that the charges against the
lumber manufacturers Of the United
States be az promptly brought to e.
conclusion as seem likely to be those
against lumber dealers who have been
Rou81l Ia CO0AC
Secretary Nagel In transmitting to-
the president an answer to the lumber
mems complaint, says the report Of the
bureau of corporations was not only
important and relevant to the issue In
volved In the resolutions OF congress,
but that the amount Of standing timber
and the concentration Of its ownership
were absolutely essential to the discus
sion Of the questions involved. The
secretary say the bureau found a.
wholly unexpected and a very remark
able degree OF concentration Of standing
timber. It thus applied q second and
absolutely essential basic act in the
discussion of lumber prices.
CHARGES OF HRiBERY
ARE MADE BY RANDALL
Washington, April 6.-Representative
members Of the House by the ears yes
terday, when he charged that many
congressman were ~"approachable while
engaged in legislative work"
II make the assertion" he declared,
that nearly every member Of this
est or is subject to some influence. and
what holds true OF the House is equally
true Of the Senate. ] say this with the
hope that I may hurt no ones feel
ings."
The Texas member was discussing
Lac phl DCAoACs AZ JA0ASAay NOtullAIt00
to prohibit any federal employee whom
soever from receiving any retainer
from any corporation engaged in In
terstate m q
REP. GARDNER TAKES STAND
FAVoRING THE JUDICIARY
Washington, Apri! 6.-Representative
Gardner, Of Massachusetts, defended
the judiciary In q speech In the House
yesterday and took issue with the doc
trine Of the recall OF judges.
The agitation In favor OF that doc
| trine and much sentiment In its favor,
he declared. were the "artful creation
of the demagogne."
zone Of the leaders of the republican
progressive league a said that q firm
belief in the recall OF Judges by the
| people Is the true acid test Of the pro-