Evening journal., 1921-12-29
HOT TILT OVER
PAPER TARIFF
Company Charges Publish
ers Lobbied Against Duty
On Product
PROFITEERING BY
MAKERS ALLEGED

W RANf AfN't R'AA'NN
tariff hearings we're enlivened to-
day by an attack on American news
paper publishers by Colonel william
r. Haskell OF New York City, vice
president OF the international Paper
Company, and a counter-attack on
the newsprlnt paper manufacturers
by william j. Pape, publisher OF the
Waterbury, Conn. Republican,
speaking for n number OF small pub
fishers, who he said, organized joint
buying corporation because many OF
them were unable singlehanded to
assist themselves in an effort to OBJ
tain fair prices newsprint.
Urging a tariff protcc.len f1r his
industry against European compeu-
tion Colonel Haskell told the com
mittee that Congress had gradually
yielded to the clsmors OF the paid
agents of the publishers until final
" all tarin on newsprint had been
removed and "the industry abandon
ed to drift in the ebb and flow OF
lIAt lNHAHEAAAN' NAANt
Asserting that newsprint was the
only product OF the paper making
industry which has been deprived
OF all protection and be-deviled by
inspired federal regulation and in
reference" the witness said the
reason for "the inwdious treatment
this branch Of the industry has suf-
fered Is obvious" He added that
"the fact that the press can con-
troll legislation and invoke unwar-
ranted regulations, restrictions and
interference for its own selfish in
terests. constitutes a grave charge
of undue influence and special priv
ilege."
The charge that any undue inhu-
encer had been used by the pub
fishers in arguing for the placing
OF newsprint paper on the free list
was denied by Emory Thompson, of
Chicago, speaking for the American
I Newspaper Publishers Association.
He declared the publishers had
/ based their argument on The eco
nomic ground Of the inability Of
American newsprint manufacturers
to supply domestic consumption.
This inability was stated by Col
onel Haskell
/ Mr.. Pape told the committee that
the question before Congress deter
mining as to the retention of news
print paper on the free list was
whether the publishers should again
! nave imposed on them such a con-
dition as was found by a Senate
committee, which reported last year
that certain manufacturers had
taken advantage OF newsprint
shortage ito exploit the purchasers
and hold them up for excessive,
unreasonable and wholly unfair
prices"
Publishers, who, as a class. large
IN dominate public opinion affecting
business policies through direct ap-
neal TO readers, Mr.. Pape added,
have been potently weak when
fighting for a fair price for news
nrint." He declared that on no less
than three occasions in the past ten
wears prices had scared to un~
/ dreamed Of heights" and that,noth-
ing. including the federal trade com
mission. congressional and court ac-
] ton, nAh HNdAtN AlN A'AhoH'' f''
posed by certain OF those who con-
troll the supply OF newsprint."
Colonel Haskell, in presenting the
Case for the manufacturers. sug-
gested no definite rate OF duty for
lnewsprint saying he would leave
that to the committee. He contend
ed that the industry was in bad shape
as a result of'competition from Ger
many. Sweden. Norway and Fin
land. asserting that paper made In
p those countries could be sold here
for from $40 to $40 below the actual
cost OF production here.
on the other hand. Mr.. Paps
. argued that the prices OF the for
eign made paper sought about the
level in this country, that Il was tho
price here that attracted manufac-
turers in the foreign countries and
that imports from Europe had prov.
ed the salvation OF the small inland
publishers during the days after tho
/ war, when, he said, both contrac
: and spot prices for paper rose t'
I ''unhearable limits"