Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-29
Display Of AcrimOny
NeWsprint Hearing
William J. Pape Replied to an
Attack Made on the Ameri-
can Newspaper Publishers.

Washington, Dec 2S.-Senate tariff |
hearings were enlivened today by an at !
tack on American newspaper publishers |
| by Colonel William E. Haskell, of New |
York city, vice president of the Inter |
national Paper Company, and a counter |
| attack on the newsprint paper manufac- |
| turers by William j. Pape publisher of
| the Waterbury, Conn, Republican, |
| speaking for number of small publish
ers, who, he said, organized joint buy
| ing corporation because many of them
| were unable single-handed to assist
| themselves in an effort to obtain fair
priced newsprint.
! Urging a tariff protection for his in
| dustry against European competition,
Colonel Haskell told the committee that
| congress had gradually yielded to the
| clamors of the paid agents of the pub
| lishers'' until finally all tariff on news
print had been removed that the indus
| try abandoned to drift in the ebb and
flow Of the international competitive
tide
/ Asserting that newsprint was the only
product of the paper making industry
| which has been deprived of all protec-
ton and be devled by inspired federal
regulation and interference" the witness
said the reason for the invidious treat
ment this branch of the industry has
suffered is obvious" He added that "the
fact that the press can control legislation
and invoke unwarranted regulations. re-
strictions and interference for It's own
selfish interests, constitutes a grave
charge # undue influence and special
privilege
The charge that any undue influence"
had been used by the publishers in ar
guing for the placing of newsprint pa
per on the free list was denied by En-
cry Thoma son Of Chicago. speaking for
the American Newspaper Publishers as
sociation. He declared the publishers
, had based their argument on the econ
omc ground of the inability of American
newsprint manufacturers to supply do
mestic consumption. This inability was
stated by Colonel Haskell.
Mr.. Pape told the COMMITTEE, that the
question before congress in determining
l as to the retention of newsprint paper on
the free list was whether the publishers
should again have imposed on them such
a condition as was found by a senate
committee which reported last year that
4 certain manufacturers had taken advan.
: tage of a newsprint shortage ito exploit
| the purchasers" and "hold them UP fol
excessive, unreasonable and wholly un
fair prices"
Publishers. who as class. largel,
dominate public opinion affecting bust
; ness policies through direct appeal tC
i readers. Mr. .Pape added. "have been 20
tently weak when fighting for fai
price for newsprint. He declared tha
e on no less than three occa sions IN th
U past ten years prices had scared to un
. dreamed Of heigF~," and that nothing
including the federal trade commission
congressional and court action hat
Stayed the demands imposed by Ger
e tain of those who control the supply o
U newsprint."
3 Colonel Haskell. in presenting the cas-
u for the manufa cturers. suggested no de
finite rate of duty for newsprint sayin,
he would leave that to the committee. H
S contended that the industry was in ba
Il shape as a result of competition fror
1t Germany. Sweden. Norway and Finland
s asserting that paper made in those coun
tries could be sold here for from $40 t
$40 below the actual cost of production
l. here
'e On the other hand, Mr.. Pape argue
le that the prices of the foreign made pa
le per sought about the level in this coun
try; that 1t was the price here that at
tracted manufacturers in the foreig
u countries and that imports from Europ
ne had proved the salvation of the sr.a'
a. Inland publishers during the days afte
IL the war when. he said both contrac
and spot prices for paper rose to "un
bearable limits"