HARDWOOD RECORD 



J9 



tailing of the demand. The cost of lumber is therefore largely controlled 

 by the conditions of timber supply and the demand for the same. 



It It were possible for the members to attend our rules committee meet- 

 ings, I think many of you would realize more fully how very difficult 

 It is to frame up rules that will work out on an absolutely technical basis, 

 and how nearly impossible it is to make rules that will not be somewhat 

 elastic, and must be applied a great many times with considerable com- 

 mon sense, instead of absolutely to the letter of the rule ; although it Is 

 the aim of the committee to make every rule just as clear as possible, and 

 to have only one meaning. . 



Very distinctly do I recall the first meeting of the rules comralttop that 

 I attended ; how very forcibly impressed I was with the absolute fairness 

 of each member of the committee to legislate only In a way that would do 

 .iustice to lioth ends of the trade. Every subject was given most careful 

 and thoughtful consideration, and all matters being discussed with an Idea 

 of bringing out every possible contingency that might arise. I have known 

 of a single point being discussed for several hours, so as to get the idea 

 properly worded and written, with as few words as possible. I do not 

 recall a single subject being placed before this committee for consideration 

 that has been either rejected or recommended for adoption, that did not 

 receive practically the unanimous approval of every member of the 

 committee. 



We are aware that special effort has been made in certain sections to 

 buy lumber of our members on rules other than those in force. We hope 

 that the members will discourage this effort, as the committee would like 

 fo feel they have the support of all members on the rules as adopted by 

 the association. 



The last meeting of the Inspection committee was held In the associa- 

 tion rooms on April 28 and 29. A great many subjects and recommenda- 

 tions were presented for consideration, .\fter spending one whole day and 

 a part of the second day, we were of the unanimous opinion tnat no 

 change in the rules was required at the present time. In going through 

 the inspection book, we found a few typographical errors, which will be 

 rectitiod in the new Issue of inspection books. 



We find that there Is a demand for a uniform inspection of plain sawn 

 flitch lumber used by the manufacturers of agricultural material, and 

 would therefore recommend, on page 13 of the inspection rules book, under 

 the caption of Special Inspection, the following rule, to be inserted : 



Plain sawn Hitch lumber shall be graded, according to the general rule 

 applying to the kind of lumber inspected, with the exception that it must 

 be measured on the narrow or sap side in the center of the piece between 

 the wane or bark, and graded into any of the grades of No. 3 common 

 and better, to which its quality entitles it. There is no restriction to 

 heart in the grades of common. — This rule does not apply to veneer 

 flitches. 



We also find a demand for inspection of wormy beech, which Is not 

 covered under the present rules. We therefore recommend that on page 22, 

 under I he caption of Ash, Beech, Birch, Hard Maple and Sycamore, that 

 the following rule be added : 



WORMY BEECH 



Shall be graded according to the rule for Beech No. 2 common and 

 with the exception that pin wor 



shall 



sidered 



and bet 



The committee also discovered in the Inspection of mahogany there was 

 no reference made to "heart defects." We therefore recommend, on 

 page 4ij, under the caption of Mexican and American Mahogany, addition 

 of the following to the rule of No. 2 Common : 



"There shall be no restriction to heart in this grade." 



Also on page 48, under the caption of Cuban Mahogany, add to the 

 Rejects the following : "There shall be no restriction to heart in this 

 grade." 



The committee is unanimously of the opinion that these recommenda- 

 tions are for the best interests of all its members, and therefore recom- 

 mend their adoption. 



The report VFas adopted by the convention as read, F. S. Underbill 

 of Philadelphia making the motion. 



President Barnaby in commenting on the address of E. F. Trefz, 

 field secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, 

 requested that Earl Palmer, who is the national counselor of the 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association to the Chamber of Com- 

 merce, introduce Mr. Trefz. Mr. Palmer spoke feelingly on the abso- 

 lute need for such a body as the national Chamber of Commerce, out- 

 lining the economic development of the coimtry which lias led up to 

 its necessity. He said that all the thinking population realizes the 

 "new ferment" in social and industrial life; new ideas and stand- 

 ards bringing with them new conditions to be met and new waters 

 of industry and business to be charted. 



Mr. Palmer expressed himself as believing that no medium could 

 be so well qualified to centralize the expression of business and voice 

 that expression as is the national Chamber of Commerce. He also 

 stated that before that body was organized there was no such 

 medium. 



Mr. Palmer stated emphatically that business men cannot afford 

 to remain still in the face of legislative development affecting 

 business as a whole; that they formerly enjoyed the privilege of 



legitimate lobbying at Washington ; that this practice even when 

 carried on honestly is now considered an offense that will not be 

 tolerated. 



Mr. Palmer expressed himself as believing that business has as 

 much right as the laboring elements of the country to express its 

 opinion before the national body at Washington, and that through 

 the Chamber of Conunerce it will exercise this right; that with the 

 prestige rendered this body by the eminent men at the head of and 

 otherwise connected with it, Congress cannot afford to ignore its 

 suggestions. 



Before introducing the speaker, Mr. Palmer suggested the impor- 

 tance of an intelligent interest in the big questions before the 

 nation, which are being taken up by the National Chamber of Com- 

 merce. He said that the new movement in business and industry 

 can be made either a force for tremendous good or for great evil. 



Mr. Palmer then introduced Mr. Trefz, who delivered a splendid 

 address full of material for deep thought. On account of lack of 

 .'■•pace, this will be carried as a special article in next issue of 

 Hardwood Eecord. 



Report of Committee on Officers' Reports 



W. H. Eusse, chairman of the conmiittee on officers' reports, 

 delivered that report as follows : 



Your committee has carefully analyzed the report of President Barnaby, 

 and recommends to this membership the adoption of the recommendation 

 that the words "approved by the president" be eliminated from the third: 

 paragraph of Section 2, Article 2 of the by-laws. 



We also wish to congratulate both the president and secretary-treasurer 

 upon the completeness of their reports, as well as the efficient manner In 

 which they have conducted the affairs of the association during the year. 



Gordon C. Edwards of Ottawa, Ont., president of the National 

 Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association, was called upon by Presi- 

 dent Barnaby, who gave a short taJk of appreciation of the oppor- 

 tunity of attending the convention. 



Secretary Fish then announced an automobile ride was planned 

 for the visiting ladies, which, however, was called off later on account 

 of rain. 



The meeting then adjourned until the afternoon session. 

 FRIDAY AFTERNOON SeSSION 



The report of the resolutions committee. Earl Palmer, chairman, 

 was the first business of the session of Friday afternoon. Mr. 

 Palmer read the following resolutions, moved their adoption, and the 

 same were unanimously adopted : 



Report of Committee on Resolutions 



Resolved, That authority is hereby conferred upon the board of man- 

 agers of this association to cast the vote of the membership of this 

 association on any referendum that may be submitted by the Chamber 

 of Commerce of the United States of America. 



Whereas, There Is now pending in the Senate the Nelson Bill (S4507), 

 and in the House of Representatives the McKellar Bill (HR8753) offered 

 in amendment of the Barter act and proposing to correct the evils which 

 have come about through the operation of that law as it now stands 

 on the federal statutes ; therefore be it 



Resolved, By the National Hardwood Lumber Association, in conven- 

 tion assembled, that we express our unqualified endorsement of these bills 

 and that we urge their early consideration and prompt passage ; and b& 

 it further 



Resolved, That we favor a further amendment to the Harter act 

 making illegal the strike expense clauses now being considered by the 

 International Steamship Federation and the North Atlantic Steamship 

 conference, for adoption In their steamship bills of lading ; and be it 

 further 



Resolved, That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meet- 

 ing and that copies be sent to Senator Knute Nelson. Congressman K. D. 

 McKellar and Chairman J. W. Alexander of the house committee on 

 Merchant Marine. 



In seconding the motion to adopt the last above resolution W. H. 

 Eusse said: 



I would like to explain to the members that the Harter act is an act 

 passed by Congress a number of years ago in reference to shipping 

 by foreign vessels. As usual, in the case of a great many such bills, 

 after passing from one house to the other, it contained a little rider, 

 which really took away the effect of the bill as It was intended. All who 

 are exporting lumber at the present know that the bills of lading Issued 

 by the steamship lines are full of all sorts of clauses, but they all con- 

 tain the clause that any clause that conflicts with the Harter Act shall be 

 null and void. That is all very nice for this side, but on the other 

 side that bill of lading stands. We have been trying tor several years to 

 get this bill amended. At the last session of Congress the same bill was 



