16 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



January 25. 1922 



it is impossible to conceive of a profitable selling price approximat- 

 ing former figures in view of the tremendous increase in transporta- 

 tion, taxes, carrj'ing charges and other fixed expenses. Therefore, 

 Hakdwood Eecobd believes that the final readjustment of prices 

 will be on the basis of such percentage over former levels as is rep- 

 resented by the increase of total manufacturing cost, including 

 all items, over former cost on the same relative fasis of figuring. 



This will undobutedly be the long-pull result, and in the meantime 

 Hakdwood Record believes that when current and immediate 

 future stocks are weighed against developing demand there will 

 be a noticeable firming at least to the point where sales jjrices will 

 show legitimate return on the investment. 



Manufacturers to "Carry On" 



THE FIRST MEETING of the board of governors of the Amer- 

 ican Hardwood Manufacturers' Association since the famous 

 decision of the Supreme Court took place at Louisville on Saturday, 

 January 14, the meeting being primarily for the purpose of deter- 

 mining what the immediate future of the association might be. 



Two outstanding sentiments characterized the meeting, one a sin- 

 cere desire to determine what the decision really means insofar as 

 it affects the hardwood lumber industry and industry in general; 

 second, determination to continue working until a specific definition 

 either limiting or defining association functions is secured. 



It is quite apparent from varied activities in Washington and 

 from the attitude of the association members specifically, that this 

 case has become more far-reaching than the prescribed limits of the 

 American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association open competition 

 membership. American industry in general is putting its weight 

 behind the activities of the hardwood association for the purpose 

 of compelling such interpretation as will enable industry to lay its 

 course without fear of hitting the shoals of governmental action. 



The meeting afforded opportunity for an analysis of the situation, 

 and as the attending members of the board were brought to realize 

 the possibilities of some relief the attitude noticeably changed. It 

 is sufficient to say that a determination to maintain the organiza- 

 ion in its structural form, pending what further developments may 

 be brought about within the next month or two, was in no sense 

 a matter of bravado, but the result of serious and earnest con- 

 sideration of all phases of the situation. 



It appears now that there are several possible means of at least 

 partially favorable action. It is admitted that there is no expecta- 

 tion that the court will grant a rehearing. The petition will never- 

 theless be filed in due time so as to put the association properly on 

 record in certain points, which it is felt the court's decision does 

 not handle with strict fairness to the association 's position. 



Secondly, there is some possibility of modification of the injunc- 

 tion, and in this effort the association is backed by Secretary 

 Hoover and the weight of a great number of representative asso- 

 ciations of American business men. Such modifications if granted 

 would likely be in the form of permission to gather basic statistics 

 of the industry, eliminating all analyses or comments thereon and 



permitting their compilation only for general publication in theii- 

 original form. 



There is the further possibility of developing more specific inter- 

 pretation of the ruling through a test ease, to which all interested 

 organizations would unquestionably render their fullest support. 



Petitions proposed will probably be withheld pending some possi- 

 ble ruling of the Department of Justice as the result of conferences 

 between Secretary Hoover and Attorney-General Daugherty. Con- 

 gressional action is conceded to be the last possible means of secur- 

 ing for American industry the right to legally gather such basie 

 facts as are vital to intelligent administration of business and to 

 utilization of the natural resources in keeping with the stipulations 

 of conservation. 



Southern Shippers Granted Relief 



THROUGH THE DECISION of the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission handed down last week, "shippers of southern hard- 

 woods were granted at least a fair measure of relief through reduc- 

 tion of freight rates from shipping territories to various important 

 regions of destination. The reduction is made on the basis of a 

 typical case, full tariffs not yet having been offered. 



The plea of the Southern Hardwood Traffic Association was for 

 return to rates effective prior to the 33V-j per cent advance in 1920, 

 and in the sense that the decision grants reduction on the eents-per- 

 hundred-pounds-basis and not to the full extent of the advance, the 

 victory is incomplete. It is a fact, though, that the relief offered 

 will be materially beneficial to southern shippers of hardwood lum- 

 ber through opening up to them a greater shipping territory for 

 their lower grades. Just how significant the decision may be and 

 exactly what its effect upon all low grade shipments is can not be- 

 stated until full tariffs have been developed and definite and specifie 

 comparisons made. It is gratifying to know that the Southern 

 Shippers, through their association, are not going to rest on the 

 laurels already gained, but will continue the fight for complete 

 relief with the same vigor and determination that marked the orig- 

 inal battle. 



The extrtit of the victory is demonstrated in the fact that lumber 

 is one of the three commodities on which the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission has allowed general reduction from the rates that 

 became effective in August, 1920. It is unfortunate, though, that 

 the decision does not give relief on inbound shipments of logs and. 

 similar rough material to the southern mills, as the cost of this 

 phase of transportation is such as to present a serious problem 

 to southern manufacturers whose timber is of necessity somewhat 

 removed from operations. 



Apparently the decision was granted through a realization by the- 

 commission, first, that former rates were in many instances unrea- 

 sonable and responsible for throwing out of balance all freight 

 relations within the hardwood industry, and second, because the 

 commissioners could realize the likelihood that carriers might 

 expect greater volume of shipment on more equitable rate adjust- 

 ment, thereby strengthening their own position as well as that of 

 the shipper. 



Table of Contents 



REVIEW AND OUTLOOK: 



General Market Conditions 15-16 



Manufacturers to "Carry On" 16 



Southern Shippers Granted Relief 16 



SPECIAL ARTICLES: 



Grand Rapids Enjoys Record Attendance 39 & 52 



Normalcy Prevails on Chicago Market 40 



Agreement on Furniture Terms Predicted 42 & 47 



WHO'S WHO IN WOODWORKING: 



L. C. Bump 44 & 46 



H. W. Steinman 44&4« 



YARD AND KILN: 



Short Stories of the Kiln 32 



NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL: 



Witnesses Suoport Sn^II Bill at Hearings 28-29 



CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS: 



Miscellaneous 30-31 & 33-34 



Southern Hardwood Rates Cut 17-20 & 33 



North Launches New Publicity Drive 21-22 



Indiana Hardwood Men Pick Sale for Chief 24 



Michigan Manufacturers Meet 26-2r 



Sales Code Committee AJinounces Principles Upon Which It Will 

 Work 29-3ft 



HARDWOOD NEWS 3$-3« & 5S-SS 



HARDWOOD MARKET 56-60 



CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 62-63 



ADVERTISERS' DIRECTORY «l 



HARDWOODS FOR SALE 64-66 



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