NEW YORK, November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, 5 Beekman Street, New York. GENTLEMEN: Acknowledging receipt of your circular letter with regard to the tariff on wood pulp, we think it would be unadvisable to make any change in the present rate of duty on the same. Very truly, yours, DIAMOND MILLS PAPER COMPANY, PHOENIX, N. Y., November 17, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, 5 Beekman Street, New York. GENTLEMEN: In reply to your favor of the 14th we regret to say that it will not be convenient for us to attend the proposed meeting. Regarding the tariff agitation and any intended advance on pulps coming into this country, we can only say that in self-protection we can take but one position-we are unalterably opposed to any advance in the present schedule. It seems to us that when it is known that the supply in this country is short at best, and under adverse conditions such as have prevailed recently the pulp mills have not been able to nearly meet the demand, any person or committee who tried to advance the rates of import would only do so to the great detriment of the paper mills who purchase their pulp. We shall be glad to see their efforts sidetracked. Very truly, yours, CRESCENT PAPER AND MACHINE COMPANY. MARSEILLES, ILL., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York City. GENTLEMEN: Regarding your favor of the 14th instant, we believe it would be inadvisable to make any change in the tariff on sulphite or pulp, for the reason that it would upset present conditions and increase the cost of all grades of paper and board using this raw material, and we trust that your committee will be successful in preventing any change in the present situation. Yours, very truly, CRESCENT PAPER COMPANY, WEST HENNIKER, N. H., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York, N. Y. GENTLEMEN: Replying to yours of the 14th, we had no idea that there was any prospect of increasing the present duty on pulps. All the agitation we have heard of was in favor of reducing same. It is our opinion that it would be advisable to maintain the rates about as they are at present. Yours, truly, CONTOOCOOK VALLEY PAPER COMPANY, HUNTINGTON, MASS., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS. GENTLEMEN: Your circular letter of the 14th received. As we are one of the divisions of the American Writing Paper Company, we have referred your letter to our president, Mr. W. N. Caldwell, Holyoke, Mass. You have the sympathy of this division in your efforts not to have the duty on pulps increased. The compliments of the writer to each gentleman represented on the committee. Yours, truly, CHESTER PAPER COMPANY DIVISION, LITITZ, PA., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS. New York, N. Y. GENTLEMEN: We have yours of the 14th instant relative to the possibility of an increase in the duty on pulps, and we wish most emphatically to go on record as being most strenuously opposed to any such legislation. Yours, very truly, THE CONSUMERS BOXBOARD AND PAPER COMPANY, SOUTH HADLEY FALLS, MASS., November 17, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York City. GENTLEMEN: In answer to your circular letter of the 14th instant, beg to state that you are right in your supposition that we are opposed to any advance in duty on foreign pulp. We might also add that we have the same opinion as the Hampshire Paper Company upon this matter. Yours, truly, CAREW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, KALAMAZOO, MICH., November 16, 1908. New York. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 14th at hand, and we certainly should not like to see the duty on wood pulp raised, and we remain, Yours, very truly, BRYANT PAPER COMPANY. HOUSATONIC, MASS., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York. On GENTLEMEN: Replying to your favor of November 14, we would say that we are opposed to any increase in the duty on wood pulp. the other hand, we do not think the duty ought to be reduced. Domestic manufacturers are entitled to protection on their product the same as we ask for ours. Yours, truly, B. D. RISING PAPER COMPANY. ROCKFORD, ILL., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, 5 Beekman Street, New York City. GENTLEMEN: It has come to our notice that there will be an effort made on November 21 to start a movement raising the duty on wood pulp, which, in our opinion, would benefit nobody but a few woodpulp manufacturers and work a hardship on the consumer of all grades of pulp, which is now almost out of the reach of the manufacturers of the cheaper grades of paper. We, as users of the several grades of pulp, respectfully appeal to you to use every means in your power to prevent this advance. Thanking you for any efforts you may take, we remain, ROCKFORD PAPER BOX BOARD COMPANY, PITTSTON, PA., November 16, 1908. GENTS: I am very much opposed to any advance in the present tariff on wood pulp of any kind. Yours, respectfully, G. B. ROMMEL. SCOTCH PLAINS, N. J., November 17, 1908. GENTLEMEN: We are not in favor of adding to the cost of the pulp we are using by having the tariff increased. Yours, truly, SEELEY PAPER MILLS COMPANY. KALAMAZOO, MICH., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York, N. Y. GENTLEMEN: We have your letter of the 14th in regard to the tariff on imported wood and sulphite, etc., and in answer would say that we do not think the tariff had ought to be interfered with in any way, and that means that we consider it just about right as it is. Yours, very truly, STANDARD PAPER COMPANY, RICHMOND, VA., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York. DEAR SIRS: Referring to your favor of November 14 in reference to the duty on wood pulp, will state that we think that it would be unwise for Congress to increase the duty on this material, as we ourselves do considerable export business and presume that other paper manufacturers do the same thing. If the duty were increased on wood pulp of any kind this would naturally throw us out of line with the prices of our foreign competitors in Germany and Sweden. We hope, therefore, that there will be no change in these duties. Yours, truly, STANDARD PAPER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, FULTON, N. Y., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York City. GENTLEMEN: We wish to authorize you in our behalf to make just as strong a protest as you possibly can in the hearing before the Ways and Means Committee at Washington against any advance in the tariff rates on sulphite or ground wood. There can be no question but that these articles are now sufficiently protected, and if there is any change in the tariff it should be downward rather than upward. We believe it would be a most serious mistake if any advance in the present tariff rates on wood pulp was made. Yours, very truly, THE VICTORIA PAPER MILLS COMPANY, By E. R. REDHEAD, President. SKANEATELES, N. Y., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York City. GENTLEMEN: While we are not large consumers of pulps, we certainly do not want to see any disturbance in the tariff, as that would affect our business in proportion. We trust you will use your best endeavors to see that no disturbance GENTLEMEN: Replying to your letter of the 14th, we are not prepared to give you such a letter as you ask for, although upon further investigation it might prove to our interest to give it. As we look at it, the whole paper industry must be considered as a whole, and if it develops that it is to the advantage of the trade generally to have a higher duty on sulphite pulp, we are willing that it should be put on. On the other hand, if it develops that a lower duty would be of more benefit, then we are ready to acquiesce in that. With the information at hand now, however, we can not express an opinion either way. Yours, respectfully, WISCONSIN TISSUE PAPER COMPANY. WELLS RIVER, VT., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York. GENTLEMEN: Replying to yours of the 14th, we would state that we do not use any sulphite pulp, our raw material being burlap, etc. We realize, however, that higher duties on sulphite would be a serious handicap to the majority of tissue manufacturers, as the imported article is really necessary to them. We remain, Yours, very truly, ADAMS PAPER COMPANY, BELLOWS FALLS, VT., November 16, 1908. COMMITTEE OF WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, Room 721, 5 Beekman Street, New York. GENTLEMEN: We are in receipt of your favor 14th, and would state. that in our judgment we believe the duty on sulphite should remain as it is. Yours, truly, JOHN ROBERTSON & SON. BOSTON, November 20, 1908. The G. W. WHEELWRIGHT PAPER COMPANY. GENTLEMEN: We understand that you propose to be represented in Washington by way of protest against any increase in the tariff on chemical wood pulp, which is taxed under "Schedule M," as follows: Unbleached, one-sixth of 1 cent per pound, dry weight; bleached, one-fourth of 1 cent per pound, dry weight. We wish to make a similar protest. We manufacture in Maine rising 45,000 tons of chemical wood pulp by the soda process, so-called, more than one-half of which we sell to manufacturers of paper, the balance being used in our own paper mills. We think the protection afforded our product is ample under existing law. We buy about 14,000 tons of chemical wood pulp, mainly unbleached, made by the sulphite process, for use in our paper mills. Of this amount more than one-half is of foreign origin, five-eighths of our foreign purchases being Canadian. The cost of the foreign pulp |