The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-15
Have Understanding to Main
tain "RuinOus Prices"
Federal 'sTrust Buster" Has
Charge of Prosecution.
EDITORS AFRAID TO TESTIFY
Publisher-AgitatOr Finds Sup
ply Is Cut Off.
Probe DisclOses Prices Range
From 21a to Cents.

Washington. Dec. Is. - Attorney
General Gregory today turned over to
Assistant Attorney General Todd, gov
ernment trust buster serious
charges preferred by H. B. Warner.
North Carolina, publisher, tending to
show IAN understanding between GER
tain manufacturers of newsprint paper
to maintain ''ruinous prices"
Warmers action in going right to
headquarters with his charges follow
ed his appearance before the federal
trade commission which has been in
vestigating the alleged paper trust"
Warner told the attorney general in
dividual publishers are afraid to testify
against the paper manufacturers for
fear of having their paper supply sum-
marily cut off. He said after agitat-
ing the question in the house he found
he was unable to obtain print paper
except at utterly prohibitive prices.
Small Papers Bear Burden.
"Our entire output contracted for"
was the invariable answer, he said.
Many small papers. particularly in
the south, Warner said, are on the
verge of positive bankruptcy from the
present price of paper. when, indeed
it is possible to get it at all.
Manufacturers in an effort to con-
ciliate the publishers urged they in
tising rates, throwing the burden on
the public. said Warner
Inasmuch as most of the big metro
politan daily papers overate their own
paper mills, it is mostly the rural pa
pers that are feeling the pinch he
pointed out.
After filing his charges with the at
torney general, Warner, it was learned
today, discussed possible remedial leg
islation with Senator Simmon. The
latter stated he believes that unless
theSdepartment of justice finds some
1 vxr.a- n hIIC 10 no int n Tn n
trust, the freedom of the press is in
danger"
Canada Makers in Trust.
t"That there is a combination of pa
per manufacturers is evident in infor-
nation now before the department"
said Simmons.
Il believe it is an international trust
Without the aid of Canadian manu-
facturerS l do not think the paper
manufacturers of the United States
could hold up the price of print paper.
"If the department of justice, the
attorney general and the federal trade
commission, after exhausting their
powers. find themselves unable to
bust this combination, let them call
upon congress for an increase in pow
er and 1 am sure it will be granted
Federal Control of Distribution.
New York, Dec 15.-Tackling the
acute situation in the print paper
proposed to make the federal trade
commission the "middleman" to super
wise distribution of print paper at
equitable prices. They presented their
plan TO the Paper Manufacturers of
North America in session here. The
federal trade commission also met
here and awaited decision of the
/ manufacturers, recommending that no
new paper contracts be signed mean
while, pending agreement by the three
bodies now at work to solve the paper
problem.
Ernest G. Smith of the Wilkesbarre
| Times-Leader and E. H. Tomlinson of
the Norristown (Pa-) Record, dele
gates from the Affiliated Publishers
association, now in session at Wash
ington, presented the publishers plan
at the Waldorf meeting today
Demand Stable Prices.
They declare prices now range from
2 ~ cents a pound for metropolitan pa
pers with good shipping facilities
from mills to cents for small pub
fishers in far districts. They propose
an investigation of cost of production
ment of a flat price by the federal
trade commission, to which will be
added freight charges. Available tom
| mage of paper would then be distrib-
ut d fairly in the district adjacent to
the mills, eliminating long freight
hauls and insuring to publishers GER
tainty regarding the price they would
have to pay At present they de-
I clared, prices fluctuate widely and
| publishers are forced to pick up a
/ carload here and two carloads there
at whatever price the manufacturer
or dealer is able to demand.