30 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



and trausportation by cars is incroasiiig. Hence, the report said, 

 the possibilities of any scheme for mutual insurance are lessening 

 eacli year. 



The report said that an experienced actuary in New York City 

 stated that it is not safe to attempt to organize a separate mutual 

 company in this line at present, one of the main difficulties being 

 the inability to control the amount at risk. It said that vessel 

 cargo ranged in value from $2,000 to $40,000, and it would be 

 possible in one storm to have several losses. 



The report concluded with the statement that before members 

 agree to have tlie insurance handled by the association, a department 

 might be organized to handle that matter at a considerable saving, 

 as the placing of a large line would undoubtedly be effected at much 

 lower rates. This would result in eventually gathering figures whicli 

 would prove the advisability or iuadvisability of handling it on a 

 mutual basis. 



F. E. Babcock of Pittsburgh represented the association at the 

 recent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States 

 at Washington. He read a detailed report of the results of that 

 meeting. Mr. Babcock said that he had had some difliculty in im- 

 pressing upon members the necessity of their moral as well as their 

 financial support in connection with the work of the National Cham- 

 ber of Commerce. He said that care with which the referendums are 

 compiled and the information disseminated and considered by nearly 

 500 organizations, representing approximately 250,000 individual 

 business men, should make a decided impression upon all business 

 men as to the importance of the organization's work. He said that 

 the result of these efforts is of enormous weight and importance, 

 and that the findings resulting from these referendums are of extreme 

 value as indicating the sentiment of business men of the country. He 

 said in nearly every case the results have indicated a surprising unan- 

 imity of opinion among the business interests. 



Mr. Babcock then told of the personnel of the administrative offi- 

 cers of the organization, stating that this is a strong argument 

 tending to prove the importance of that body. He said that all ques- 

 tions are handled by speakers who are eminently capable in their 

 respective lines, and that at the recent convention, the keynote was 

 a spirit of fairness to the nation, and in behalf of every interest, 

 whether it be capital or labor, the desire that the law should be 

 fairly interpreted and fairly enforced; that all laws should be fair 

 to capital as well as to labor, and fair to labor as well as to capital. 

 Mr. Babcock said that it has been demonstrated clearly that 

 because a corporation is large it is not necessarily operating against 

 the public good; and that when any corporation or body of men 

 is trying to monopolize any trade it should be under government con- 

 trol. 



Mr. Babcock stated that while much has already been accomplished, 

 a great power of influence is just beginning to make itself felt on the 

 administration of various departments of the government which will 

 greatly influence them in their deliberations. He said that in this 

 way the National Chamber of Commerce has fully justified its ex- 

 istence. 



In conclusion, he urged that those who have not already done so 

 assist to the extent of $25 individual membership, and as much more 

 moral support as could be rendered. He said that some one medium 

 is certainly needed through which the lumbermen can handle their 

 national problems, and that inasmuch as the Chamber of Commerce 

 of the United States offers an entirely legitimate medium for that 

 purpose, and as long as that organization keeps out of politics the 

 lumber industry can safely trust its problems to it. 



Mr. Babcock was followed by General Field Secretary Mr. Trefz 

 of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, who described its 

 organization and method of operation. Mr. Trefz made the some- 

 what surprising statement that before this body was formed, Turkey 

 and the United States were the only nations which maintained no such 

 organization. He declared that in Germany the remarkable indus- 

 trial advance which has been made in recent years is due to the 

 assistance rendered by the government as secured through the efforts 

 of the body similar to that now maintained in this country. Mr. 

 Trefz said that complaints and suggestions made by the lumber 



trade in connection with legislative matters at Washington have- 

 always given the impression to the legislators that these requests and 

 recommendations were actuated by selfish motives, as the appeal had 

 been made by the trade itself or by individuals. He said that by 

 using the medium of the National Chamber of Commerce, such 

 suggestions would bear more weight, and would be considered as 

 coming from an actual need. Mr. Trefz said that of twenty sug- 

 gestions made regarding national legislation, thirteen had been em- 

 bodied in whole or in part in the recently enacted currency law. 



Secretary J. E. Ehodes of the National Lumber Manufacturers ' As- 

 sociation was the next speaker. After stating tliat he would be- 

 glad to do everything possible to advance the general interests of 

 the lumber trade, working in co-operation with the wholesalers' as- 

 sociation, he reviewed the various questions wliich have come before 

 his association during the last couple of years. 



Mr. Rhodes concluded with an invitation extended to the whole- 

 salers to attend the annual meeting of the National Lumber Man- 

 ufacturers' Association, which will be held in Chicago in connection 

 with the Forest Products' Exposition. 



George S. Wood, manager of the Forest Products' Exposition, 

 outlined the plans having to do with the expositions in Chicago and 

 New York. He expressed himself as appreciative of the efforts made 

 by trade publications to advance interest in the exposition. He stated 

 that more work had been done by those publications than in connec- 

 tion with any expositions in the history of such efforts. 



Secretary Perry read a notice regarding the new workmen 's compen- 

 sation law recently passed by the New York legislature. This law will 

 go into effect July 1, and according to the notice will probably in- 

 crease liability rates to an amount five times those at present in 

 force. Inasmuch as rates paid by lumber operators and operators 

 in wood are about as high as they can stand, a meeting was called 

 for Friday, March 6, to discuss plans looking to the organization 

 of a lumbermen 's mutual casualty insurance company. 



F. S. Underbill of Philadelphia opened a discussion of the work- 

 men's compensation law, stating that the time is ripe for intelligent 

 organization of this sort. He moved that a committee of seven be 

 appointed to take care of all matters of this sort. 



F. E. Parker of Saginaw, Mich., said that a state compensation 

 law has been in effect in Michigan for about a year, and that lum- 

 bermen are pretty well satisfied with the results obtained. He said 

 that among the features working out to a desirable conclusion are 

 limited compensation allowed, payment of compensation direct to the 

 injured party and other features. 



J. V. Stimson of Huntingburg, Ind., J. R. Williams of Philadelphia, 

 F. R. Babcock of Pittsburgh and Secretary Perry also spoke on the 

 subject. 



After considerable discussion a motion was substituted for that 

 of Mr. Underbill, referring the question to the trustees with the 

 recommendation that they appoint a special committee to handle the 

 problem. 



The morning's session then adjourned. 



THUESDAY AFTEENOON SESSION 



The afternoon session was opened by a report of J. M. Woods, 

 chairman of the committee on forestry. This follows in part: 



Eeport of Committee on Forestry 



Probably the most important matter of national legislation affecting 

 tile forest is the Newlands bill, whose author and sponsor is United States 

 fienator Francis G. Newlands of Nevada. It provides an appropriation' 

 of $60,000,000 annually for ten years, or .?600,000,000. It is called by 

 some the conservation pork barrel, but tank steamer would be a more 

 appropriate cognomen. It covers about everything in the heavens above, 

 the earth beneath, and the waters under the earth, and is so adroitly 

 drawn that each section of the country gets a slice, but in some sections 

 the slice is so small it will be hardly noticeable. It is understood the 

 President approves it and Secretaries Lane, Redfield and Houston of the 

 cabinet have agreed to back it to the limit. Secretary Garrison of the 

 War Department is not so enthusiastic over the project, and the Army 

 Engineers do not look with fa%'or on the scheme. This is how the appro- 

 priation is proposed to be parcelled out. 



For the .Appalachian and Atlantic region $10,000,000 



For the drainage basin of the Ohio river 10,000,000 



For the drainage basin of the Mississippi river above St. Louis. 5,000,000 



