The Washington times., 1921-01-11
LUMBER RING
GRIP IS Barred
Data on Activities to Stifle Com
petition Given Congress by
U. S. Trade Board.

Evidence tending to show that
lumber manufacturers, through
their representative associations,
have sought to eliminate competi-
ton, has been presented to Congress
by the Federal Trade Commission.
A report on the activities of lum-
Der manufacturers was submitted
to Congress at the request Of the
committee investigating housing
conditions and reconstruction
TEN REGIONAL BRANCHES.
The Federal Trade Commission
shows that lumber used in the United
States comes from ten different
regions, each region having an as
ISOLATION of manufacturers, and these
regional associations are bound to-
gether in the National Lumber Manu-
facturers Association. with head
quarters in Chicago.
1t is pointed out in the report that
the National Association receives
statistics upon production from each
OF the regional associations, sum
marizes it. and distributes these
summaries to the lumber manufact-
urers through the regional associa-
lions.
THE members of the national asso-
ciat ion," says the report, have al
vocated for years that they should
be permitted to concertedly regulate
the production OF lumber for the ex-
pressed purposes Of conserving the ma
tional resources. Efforts were made
to induce the Forest Service or the
Department of Agriculture to ana
them in this direction"
"LOCALITY" COMPETITION.
It Is shown that the lumber manu-
featured in certain regions is sold in
certain localities in competition with
each other. From the data collected
by the commission. 1t appears to be
the aim and purpose OF the manufac-
turers, through their respective asso-
Citations, not only to eliminate compe-
tition among themselves, but to elimi-
nate, as far as possible. any competi-
ton among the competing kinds of
lumber.
Further light upon the aims Of the
lumber manufacturers is shown in
a letter written December Q, 1916, by
Edward Hines to NJ. b. Nelson, of the
Long Bell Lumber Co., giving an ac-
count OF a conference with "a promi-
nent steel official about conditions
in general.
According to this letter. 1.-The steel
people were passing on to the ulti-
mate consumer not alone the added
cost of doing business, but also an
additional profit, and apparently the
lumbermen were so disorganized and
so afraid of the so-called laws pro-
hibiting them from doing anything of
this kind that We were really suffer-
ing from our own weakness"
unfortunately" said Hines, Il had
to acknowledge the corn. We appar-
emily all know the nature of the dis
ease we are suffering from and also
know the nature of the proper cure
for it,"
PRICES SINCE WAR.
The report then takes up the price
activities since the war period, and
mentions a meeting of yellow pine
manufacturers at st. Louis, December
10, 1918. Chairman Austin wrote the
Der Co. to arrange hotel quarters for
the meeting, saying, Il expect you to
help me carry the burden of the re-
sponsibility, SO that those who at
tend will not be escorted to Jail by
some of your handsome st. Louis
policeman on account of our efforts
to break the law"
In reply, the st. Louis manager said,
why would it not be a good idea to
have the meeting in the Jail to start
with? Then you would not have to
bother at ALL