Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-29
All Would Get Reduction.

/ Under the distribution plan proposed
all publishers would get small reduc-
! ton from present prices, obtaining the
| bulk of their supplies under an arrange
ment supervised by the commission by
which large publishers would relinquish
a part of their normal paper supply for
next year
Commissioner Davies made it clear at
the start of today's hearing that the
commission wa determined to find some
relief for publishers. He said the com
mission in the very immediate future
would decide if the distribution plan
were feasible. If it did not prove prac-
ticahle and the commission could find no
other measures for relief. he said, other
agencies of the government would be
given the facts uncovered by the COM
mission. A report will be made to Con-
gress on the whole situation soon.
Some publishers thought Commission
err Davies referred to the Department
Of Justice when he spoke of other
agencies that might be called in. AL
ready the department is investigating
charges that manufacturers have COM
lined to raise prices and restrict pro-
auction. Questions asked of publishers
on the stand today indicated the COM
mission was in close touch with the
Department Of Justice.
Wants Commission to Control.
Publishers who testified today were
asked by the commission for sugges-
lions as TO a solution of the situation.
Representative Cramton of Michigan
proposed that if We're not unconstitu-
tional the commission take into its
own hands the matter of price and dis
tribution. When combination. he sald,
could control 81 public commodity some
public authority should have the power
a
federal trade commission. he said, did
not have enough power TO meet the
situation, he. a member OF Congress,
would do all he could to give it such
power.
were widely different.
T. H Zerbey, a PottSville, Pa, pub
Usher. said it all depended on who the
publisher was whether he could buy IN
the open market.
Says Competitor Buys Cheaper.
c. S. Andrews. also of Pennsylvania,
declared his competitor in the same
town was able to buy paper cheaper
than he Others who gave similar tes-
timony were II. Z. Warner, North
Carolina publisher; H. ]. Blanton of
Missouri, Frank P. Glass, vice president
of the American Newspaper Publishers
Association, W. A. Gracey and w. L.
Ostron, both of New York state.
IL E. Trout, representative of Penn
syivania weekly publications, said
some weeklies were paying 10 cents
pound for paper, and that il present
prices continued all would have to go
out of business. These papers, he said.
had cut down their circulation and in
crea sed their. prices all they could.
Jobbers, who followed the publishers
n the stand. were questioned concern
ing the reasonableness of their profits.
Not to Criticise Report.
lust before adjournment before lunch,
when it was announced that the manu-
facturers would be heard this after
noon. r. T. Ansberry. counsel for the
manufacturers, said that they did not
care to offer any testimony on the re-
port which VIII be made by the COM
mission. He said that both the COM
mission and the publishers were anX-
ious that the report OF the result of
this investigation should go to Con-
gress in as snort time possible,
and that to criticise in detail the re-
port would take months. He said the
manufacturers did not want to be put
in the light of delaying the report.
Commits sioner Hurley said that the
manufacturers had asked for the hear
ing, and had criticized the figures. and
he thought they should now take the
opportunity OF DOING II, ana that the
commission would give them that op-
portunlty. Mr.. Ansberry replied that
no one had criticized the report. but
merely that the manufacturers had not
mad time to examine it in detail He
said that while no manufacturers would
appear, he would be within call of the
commission all the afternoon.
r j. Andrews of this city appeared
at the hearing today, but he said he
handled only small amount of news
print paper, not enough to be taken in
consideration in the present matter.