The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-16
OFFERCONCESSI0N
Facing Grand Jury, Paper Max
erS Have Remedy.
Give Commission Signed State
ment Meeting Demands.

Washington, Feb. 16.-It was au-
thoritatiyely announced here today
that a number of the largest print
paper manufacturers have submitted
to the federal trade commission
signed statement proposing that the
commission take certain action which
will be of the utmost Importance to
newspaper publishers and relieve the
present situation of prOhibitive prices
An official statement will be made
later today.
The action of the manufacturers
follows two days of conferences with
the commission and the proposal was
submitted to Francis ]. Heney, spe-
cial counsel for the commission in its
print paper investigation. The manu-
facturersS hurried here soon after it
was announced that the federal grand
jury in New York had been asked to
return indictments charging criminal
violations of the antitrust laws.
The commissions report of it's in
vestigation of the news print paper
industry is about ready to be present
ed to congress. No intimation of its
contents have been given, but it is
understood to show that there is no
the manufacturers have commended.
that the paper mills of the country are
in position to meet all ordinary de-
mandS upon them.
May Let Commission Fix Price.
Soon after the commission reached
it's conclusions and the department of
justice began paving the way for
criminal prosecution in the federal
courts a movement began among the
manufacturers which eliminated in
the signed statement which now is
before the trade commission. When
the official announcement is made, it
is said that the publishers will find a
way has been found to relieve the
disastrous situation which has con-
fronted them for many months. The
course of the government in regard
to the pending prosecutions will be
determined later.
There has been a strong intimation
that the manufacturer might be will
ing to put the whole problem in the
hands of the commission for solution.
Some manufacturers favor the sug-
gestion that the commission deter
mine an equitable price for their
product. That would mean a COM
plete concession by the manufacture
ers, many of whom heretofore have
discouraged the trade commissions
efforts to bring manufacturers and
publishers together
The effect of proposal of~this ma
ture on the grand jury in New York
is not fully known but publishers gem
orally are more keenly interested in a
Z
prosecutions. The manufacturers are
here it is said, as individuals and can
not act for the entire news print in
dustry but they represent a large
share of the paper mill stock held in
this country and Canada and it is
believed other manufacturers would
be forced to follow their example if
they take the action contemplated.
By reason of the Shortage" or
com bination, Or whatever it may be-
the State Journal was forced to nav
for the paper it is now using an aver
age of $3.50 per car against a cost a
year ago of $3.50 at the mill in addi-
ton to freight charges.
As the State Journal uses three
carloads of paper a month this means
on the three cars an increased cost
of 1920 month"; prohibitive ex-
pense that would put the paper Gu.
of business if continued. AS it is this
paper is running now merely to give
stea dy employment to those who
conduct it TO use every opportunity to
advance the welfare of the people cf
Topeka and Kansas and to keep tae
concern a going one, confident tia. the
future has brighter prospects in st IRE.