Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-23
DIFFICUL TIES ENCOUNTERED BY LUMbERMEN Meet To Discuss the Revi-
 sion of Prices LACK SUFFICIENT
 DATA FOR ACTION Do Not Hold Prospect for Material
 Reduction In Iumher
Do Not Hold Prospect for Material Reduction In Lumber
 Prices.

Washington, March 22.-Represen tatlVes of the lumber industry and the industrial board of the department of commerce encountered many diff cultles peculiar to the trade in begin Il ing conferences today with a view to effectlng price revision similar to those in steel products.
 1 At the close of more than six hours of discussion it was announced that m the absence of any organization competent to speak for a majority of situation, sufficient data was not and in view of the complexity of the lumber producers in this coun- try, no agreement has been reached available on which the board could base any action.
 Name Committee.
 | Hope of an agreement was held out, however, in the decision to have committee of the lumbermen re- main in Washington for consultation with the board and to supply avail able figures of the production of costs of each section of the lumber indust- ry. Further meetings will be sub- ject to the call of the board which will occupy much of next week in conference with brick and cement intrests.
 The committee consists of John II. Kirby, of Houston, Texas, presi- dent of the National Lumber Manu- facrturers' Associations: Dr. Wilson Compton, Chicago; secretary-mana- ger of the same organization; R. M. Hickey, New Orleans, economist of the Southern Pine Association; G. l.. Hume, Norfolk, Va., North Carolina Pine Association; Gearge w. Ward, Jacksonville. Fla, Georgia, Florida kerSaw Mill Association, and M. w. Stark, Cincinnati, American Hard wood Association.
 No Market Reduction,
 i It was evident from comments after the meeting that the lumbermen did not hold out any prospect of material reductions in the prices of their pro- duction. Mir. Kirby declared produc tion costs had gone up out of pro- portion to the rise in price and that the increase had continued even since 1 the armistice was signed.
 In response to the request of the board that the lumbermen take the initiative in submitting schedule of revised prices, it was pointed out that nobody present had authority to take such action other than for his own plant and that even if an agree ment were reached at the conference 1 it's effect would be local to those plants. and have no general effect.
 Face Difficulties.
 Members of the board said frank ly that they recognized the dltflcul- ties involved as peculiar to the trade' s. P. Bush, presiding chairman in the absence of George N. Peek, pointed out that the western fir producers were not represented and that there was no basis available at the meet. ing on which to effect adjustment De- tween Southern pine, northern pine, hardwood and all the other varletles of lumber, each of which had It's own production problems and no general
 Some of the lumber men were du- bious as to the legality of any agreement, Mir. Kirby bluntly said the association of which he was mem her would "throw out" any man gulity of conspiring to fix prices. What the hoard members told the lumbermen1 the announcement of agreed steer if generally has been accepted tnat on this subject was not disclosed put prices and the holding of today s tween MT. Peek and the attorney conference following consultation 6e- general, meant that no obstacles at es wonld be placed by the department o1 justice, in the way of agreed price re- Sncetion designed to improve the gen .x., oooronic situation.