Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-14
|PR0bE ON PRINT
PAPER PRICES
HURLEY'S COMMISSION WILL GET
PU6ILGhERS AND MANUFAC.
TURERS TOGETHER.
PROFITS OF MILLS AND JOBBERs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-At the
conclusion of the Federal Trade COM
missions hearing on print paper
prices today the manufacturers pro-
posed to meet committee OF the Ma
tional Newspaper Publishers associa-
ton to work out for the commissions
approval, a plan for an equitable dis
tribution of the stocks of print paper
Chairman Hurley of the commission
asked the publishers, manufacturers
and jobbers to hold separate meetings
Friday to frame their plans and ap-
point committees to meet with the
commission Saturday.
The manufacturers proposal came
as an unexpected development when
the trade commission, after finishing
with publishers as witnesses, called on
the manufacturers to present their
case. Newspaper owners had told Of
wide differences in paper prices in
various parts of the country and of
the inability of many small publish
ers to obtain paper at any price. Coun-
sci for the News Print Manufacturers
association, which controls large
share of the output, declared it had
been impossible to analyze In so short
time statistical facts presented by
the commissions investigators at the
outset Of the hearing; that the chief
complaint was from small publishers
unable to get paper because of the
increased demand and that the manu-
facturers, after comforting, had de-
cided they were open to any proposal
for an equitable distribution Of their
product.
At first there was an inclination on
the part of some Of the publishers
present to hold back on the ground
that distribution was but one of the
problems and that high prices and the
greater production were more impOr
tant questions. When told by mem
bers of the trade commission that an
agreement to accept the commission S
services in meeting the distribution
problem did not interfere in any way
with the investigation into price con
ditions. however, they agreed to CO
operate with manufacturers, jobbers
and the commission in solving first the
distribution problem.
At the outset today investigators
for the commission apresented for the
/ first time facts uncovered in their in
duiry inton new print prices. This
information had to do with profits In
the mills and in jobbing houses and
With the question of supply and de
mand. Profits have increased. it was
shown, and the output has grown, al
though growing consumption ha:
taken UP much Of the increased manu-
| facture. s""' ~
Attorneys for the manufacturers oh
jected to the presentation, Of the fig
ures without previous notice and de
clared they had no means of proving
they were wrong without extended in
vestigation for themselves. They de
clared it was unfair to force them t.
answer the charges without prepara
tion and asked a brief adjournment
to permit conference. The commits
sion instead proceeded with the hear
ing, permitting voluntary testimon!
by publishers. Representatives of TIN
manufacturers then suggested the plal
agreed on.
Most of the newspapers OF the coun
try, including some 10000 small daily
and weeklies, were represented direct
ly or through national and state pub
fishing associations.