Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-08
INDUSTRY
IS SEVERELY ARRA|GNED
Federal Trade Commission Says Most
Unjust Burden Is Imposed
in American Press.
PRODUCERS IN DEFIANT MooI
Publishers Declared to Be Facing Sc.
rious Disaster Unless There Is
Speedy Relief-Govcrnmen Opcr-
alton During War Recommended.
IRx Associated pre...l

WASHINGTON, October IA report
recommending government operation
OF the print-paper and pulp industries
during the war and arraigninE what
1t calls tho defiant attitude OF print
paper producers was filed to-day by
the Senate Printing Committee. It
Will await action at tho December
session. The report says the Fed
eral Trade Commissions findings show
beyond any question that the print
paper industry. In it's greed for ex-
cessive profits has imposed q most
unjust burden on the American press,
which faces q serious disaster II re-
lief cannot speedily be had from the
oppressive prices now exacted for print
paper" 1t adds that the commission,
in It's recent Investigation, exhausted
tain relief for the publishers. but has
been unable to get only q small meas
ure of relief, lowing to tho defiant
attitude assumed by the principal pro-
ducers OF print paper and lack OF au-
thority of the commission to enforce
Its findings as to a fair and reasonable
price"
SMITH RESOLUTION
PENDING IN SENATE
Under a resolution introduced by
Senator Smith. OF Arizona, and re-
ported by the committee for passage,
the Trade Commission would be en-
powered to control the production and
distribution Of print paper and me-
chanical and chemical pulp in the
United States. All print paper and
pulp mills and agencies would be op-
Grated on government account, and
their products pooled in the commits
sion's hands during the war emergency
and equitably distributed at price
based on production and distribution
cost plus a fair profit per ton. to be
determined by the commission. Pro-
vision is made in the resolution for
cooperation with the Canadian gov
ernment and for limiting imports into
the United States during the war to
shipments for government account.
The committee report points out that
as result OF tho commissions inves-
legations soven leading news-print
manufacturers have been indicted for
violating the Sherman antitrust law,
and the commission has entered for
NAL complaint against the book paper
manufacturers bureau Of statistics and
twenty-three member companies of
that bureau. but that up to this time
neither the indictments nor the com
plants have afforded any measure OF
protection TO the publishers.
MOST NEWSPAPERS SOON
MUST RENEW CONTRACTS
Most of the newspapers OF the coun-
try. the report says. are now up 10
the point where they must soon renew
contracts. and If adequate relief Is to
be had It must be without waiting
for the prosecution OF the indictments
and complaints.
THE committee" 1t concludes. Sub
mits 10 the Senate whether 1t is bet
ter to safeguard the continuance OF e.
free press in this country by aseur-
Ing II an adequate supply Of print
paper at u fair and reasonable price,
or whether to permit further In
crease In the excessive profits of the
paper industry. which the Federal
Trade Commission declares is about
to exact $l7.560,000 more in excessive
profits from the American publishers
who are Loyalty and patriotically sup
porting their government in this fate
full hour"
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