24 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



April 10, 1921 



tary of the Central States Forestry Conference, called "The Na- 

 tional Forestry Policy." Mr. William's report reviewed the work 

 of the National Forestry Committee, which resulted in the intro- 

 duction of the Suell bill in the last Congress. After contrasting 

 the Capper bill and the Snell bill, Mr. Williams said that the 

 National Forestry Program Committee in furthering the Snell bill 

 "endeavored to consider the practical side of the question and the 

 importance of the lumber manufacturers' experience and point of 

 view; bearing in mind that regulations are inevitable they have 

 endeavored to formulate a working policy that will get the support 

 and co-operation of the timber owner and lumber manufacturer." 

 He said the Snell bill would be re-introduced in the next Con- 

 gress and urged that the wholesalers indorse its passage. After 

 the discussion, however, he put the motion which put the associa- 

 tion of record as recommending the careful study of the forestry 

 movement and a constructive forestry policy. 



Mr. Hall made an eloquent exposition of the merits of the Snell 

 bill, contrasting it with the Capper bill. He likened the co-opera- 

 tion provided for by the Snell bill to that which prevails between 

 the states and the Federal government in agricultural education 

 and extension. He declared, however, that this forestry plan is 

 an improvement on the agricultural plan, because it takes into 

 consideration co-operation with the individual (the lumberman 

 and timber land owners) also. "May we not look forward to the 

 highest development of the co-operative principle here in the field 

 of forestry?" he asked. 



Mr. Hall said the lumber interests could not afford to ignore the 

 forestry movement because of the danger that "if the lumber in- 

 dustry ignores the situation and holds aloof from the movement 

 some scheme of drastic control will be shaped up wholly outside the 

 industry and imposed upon it, possibly by those who are not even 

 sympathetic with it. There is a real basis for this viewpoint," he 

 said. "There is real ground for apprehension. . . . For the safety 

 of the industry, it is necessary to direct the movement along 

 practical lines and with fairness to all interests concerned." 

 The TJiiifomi Order Blank 

 Considerable discussion was given to the question of a uniform 

 order blank and uniform terms of sale, following a report on this 

 subject by F. S. Underbill, chairman of that committee. Mr. Un- 

 derhill .reported progress and the committee, together with manu- 

 facturers and retailers representing other associations, was in 

 session throughout the convention. But they were unable to com- 

 plete their labors and it was decided that the work should be 

 continued during the ensuing year. 



During the first morning of the convention the members listened 

 to a most interesting address from Ernest T. Trigg of Philadelphia, 

 president of the National Federation of Construction Industries, 

 on the building question. Mr. Trigg said that his organization, 

 which deals with the large general problems affecting the con- 

 struction industries, was now working on the problem of reviving 

 construction. Investigations are being made in localities through- 

 out the country by which it is hoped to ascertain the facts of 

 building costs and other conditions and thereby arrive at a "new 

 normal." The public can then be advised what this is and through 

 this encouraged to build. This investigation he said would, where 

 deflation has not been made, result in its being carried out. He 

 mentioned building labor as one element of cost that has not been 

 deflated generally. "The public expects a reduction in building 

 labor costs," he said. This reduction has already taken place in 

 some localities and he said his organization hoped that there would 

 be a broad general deflation, which would do more than anything 

 else to show what the new normal is and start building. 



The financial present and prospect was envisaged by J. W. 

 O'Leary, vice-president of the Chicago Trust Company, who said 

 that the darkest hour of the financial depression had passed and a 

 speedy restoration of good business might be expected, provided 

 all elements involved dedicated themselves to co-operation and 

 hard work. "A lot of people," he said, "are not doing their 

 part in the readjustment and on them rests the responsibility for 

 delay. We must insist on everybody doing their part. 



"Governmental deflation is oue of the important matters that 

 must be attended to," he continued. "The financial outlook is good 

 if the one hundred and ten millions of people in the United States 

 and the people of the rest of the world accept their responsibility 

 and work for the correction of their troubles instead of fussing 

 over incidentals." If the new Congress spends its time on investi- 

 gations, scandal and politics we will have a serious time bringing 

 about the adjustment, but he said that he was convinced that if 

 Congress should realize its opportunity and for even so short a 

 time as ninety days concentrate on the restoration of world peace, 

 refunding of the war debts and revision of taxes a sound founda- 

 ■ tion could be established for return to normal conditions. Con- 

 gress should permit business to correct its own ills, for it will not 

 have time to run business if it attends properly to its own business. 

 "The Railroad Problem." 



Under this topic E. M. Calkins, vice-president of the Chicago, 

 Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, closely examined the present con- 

 dition of the railroads and declared that they must have more free- 

 dom from government control if they are to adjust themselves to 

 the demands of the new order of things. The control of rates by the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission and the fixing of wages by the 

 Federal Labor Board virtually ties the hands of the carriers, he 

 said, standing in the way of that flexibility that is needful to the 

 adjustment to continually changing conditions. The railroads, he 

 said, earned only 3.3 per cent instead of 5.5 on their capital in- 

 vestment the first four months of last year under the new high 

 rates and with a large volume of tonnage, and this year, with 

 practically no tonnage, God only knows what they will get. Rates- 

 are about as high as they can ever be pushed in this country, he 

 said, and obviously the only rememdy is the reduction of costs. 

 The most important phase of this is the cost in rail wages, as 

 labor absorbs 70 per cent of operating costs. Labor must stand its 

 share of the reduction, he said. 



He said that the commodity movement was already improving 

 and that if the carriers were permitted to make proper adjust- 

 ments this would be fostered. 



The association confirmed the action of the trustees in electing 

 Eugene Franklin Perry, former secretary, to the created post of 

 resident vice-president and also endorsed the publication of a 

 handsome memorial of their appreciation of Mr. Perry's twenty- 

 three years of zealous and successful service. This was a hand- 

 lettered booklet, bound in brown limp leather and embossed with 

 Mr. Perry's name. The subject matter of the booklet was a glow- 

 ing eulogy of Mr. Perry's faithfulness, ability, personal likeable- 

 ness. 



Invitations were received by the governor of Louisiana, the 

 mayor of New Orleans, presidents of the chamber of commerce 

 and board of trade to hold the next convention in the southern 

 metropolis. This was referred to the trustees. 



Short Lines 



The following two other resolutions were adopted by the 

 association: 



That our Railroail and Trausportatiun Committee confer with Bird M. 

 Robinson. President of .American Short Line Railroad Association, and 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission, urging joint rates with short line 

 common carrier railroads, so as to place lumber, bark, pulp-wood and other 

 forest products originating on siicli short line roads, on a more equal 

 freight rate with like products originating ou main line railroads. 

 Revision By-Laws 



That the incoming administration appoint a committee to completel.T 

 revise and re-write our B.y-laws, including a provision for a mall vote of 

 the members, where and when circumstances seem to warrant, and to 

 report at the next annual meeting. 



Chicago Office Opened 



An important feature of the recent expansion of the Leiand Stave Com- 

 pan.v, Leiand, Miss., into the Leiand Stave & Lumber Company was the 

 opening of a branch office in Chicago on April 1, at 1039 Marquette build- 

 ing. The company changed its name after having increased its capital and 

 prepared to extend its merchandising field. The Chicago office has been 

 placed in charge of Curtis W. Tarham, who has been traveling representa- 

 tive of the Darnell-Love Lumber Company since he was honorably dis- 

 charged from the army. Prior to this country's entrance in the World 

 War, when he enlisted in the service. Mr. Parham had been with the 

 Lamb-Fish Lumber Company at Charleston, Miss. 



