tict1 TARIFF HEARINGS. THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Friday, November 20, 1908. The committee this day met, Hon. Sereno E. Payne in the chair. The CHAIRMAN. The hearing this morning will be on the lumber schedule, and I understand that there are some representatives here who desire to be heard in favor of free lumber. We will hear those gentlemen first. Is there any gentleman present who is prepared to take the initiative on that question? We will hear Mr. Theodore M. Knappen. STATEMENT OF MR. THEODORE M. KNAPPEN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. The CHAIRMAN. Please state to the committee your full name and residence. Mr. KNAPPEN. Theodore M. Knappen, Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. KNAPPEN. I am engaged in the real estate business. I appear here as a representative of the general public, and also as secretary of an organization known as the National Forest Conservation League. The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed. Mr. KNAPPEN. Gentlemen of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, I desire to submit some considerations in favor of the repeal of the tariff on lumber and forest products generally. It appears to us that there is a very direct connection between forest conservation and the tariff. We desire to address you from the standpoint of general national welfare.and from the standpoint of the consumer of forest products, especially lumber. We are confident that there is an overwhelming public opinion in favor of the repeal of Schedule D, in general, though from lack of knowledge of facts regarding some of the items embraced in that schedule we would not undertake to say that everything therein should be placed on the free list, but there is no doubt in our minds that the tariff should be repealed on all items covering forest products, lumber, and unmanufactured wood which are produced in the United States. As a In all tariff legislation those who are or who imagine they will be directly and extensively affected in their individual business interests are naturally ready and keen to present their side of the case. rule, what is the interest of the people as a whole affects each individual in his own business, and at the passing moment so slightly that interests which in the aggregate are immense and overpowering |