The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-04-06
Taft Asked to Have Report Of
Bureau Published at
Once
PROBE IS UNWARRANTED
Investigation Poorly Advised and
Competition is Still Keen
Say Officials

Washington, April Sit demand
upon President Taft for publication
Of conclusions Of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor upon its in
yestigation of the lumber manufac-
turing business, ordered by Con
gress in 1906, was made public to-
lay by the National Lumber Manu-
Eacturers Association, with other
correspondence between President
Taft and the Secretary of the De-
)artment of Commerce and Labor.
This somewhat unusual attitude
IN tho par of a great manufactur-
ing industry is in the form of petit
ion which sets forth that the delay
N reporting the findings of the de-
1artment has tended to confirm the
public in the opinion that a "lum-
)er trust exists in the manufactur-
ng side of the lumber business, and
1as greatly atcentuated the attacks
1pon that industry.
eve, representing many citizens
# the United States who are en-.
titled to justice at the hands of the
government, and to that justice
which is doubly admirable if
prompt" says the memorial, "peti-
ton you to have made public at the
earliest possible moment the whole
onclusion of the Department of
Commerce and Labor as to the prin-
iplo question put to it by the Con-
ressional resolutions, that the peo-
Die of this country may no longer
lavc to depend for their opinion az
the lumber producing industry
lpon insinuations, unyerifed
'harges, suspicion and prejudice"
Appeal to Taft.
On receipt of the statement and
petition of the lumber men, Presi-
lent Taft referred the complaint to
Secretary Nagel, who furnished the
President with reply. This reply
states the position of the admins
ration in the matter. The lumber
manufacturers, upon receiving the
etter from the Secretary of Com
nerce, made another appeal to
President Taft, saying:
We hope, Mr.. President, not
outstanding the present attitude OF
he administration, as expressed by
he Honorable Secretary, that you
will promote the prompt justice ask
I'd for by body of the citizenship
low, as they verify believe, misur-
lerstood and grievously maligned"
In the petition, reference is made
the fact that while the Depart
ncnt OF Commerce and Labor made
public Feb. 13, 1911, a partial re-
bort on the lumber industry, it re.
ated only to the private ownership
If standing timber in the United
states, and advanced only one of the
feasons for the alleged high price OF
lumber; that this partial report ig-
lored the request of Congress to re.
lort particularly as to the existencl
)f combinations, etc, in restraint OF
trade and therefore failed to give
ne lumber producers the verdict
which they asked for at conference
With the president. Secretary Nagel
nd Commissioners Smith in Wash
ngton, January IL. 1910.
Prices Advance 38 Per Cent
Prices of lumber at the mills"
'ays the petition. advanced durinr
he seven years from 1899 to 1906
bout thirty7eight per cent. This
orresponded with the advance ir
,ther commodities which enter 81
realty into the cost OF lumber. ana
n part TO the increased yaIues of
;tumpagc.
"Prices to the consumer in some
'ections of the country remote from
lumber-producing sections, advanc-
ID probably in still greater propor-
fion due in part to the exhaustion Of
near supplies, making necessary tho