ORSON E. YEAGEH. BUFFALO. N. Y., 

 VICE-PUESIDEXT 



FIRST J. 



STIMSON, IIUNTIXGBLRG, 

 SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT 



IND., 



J. M. 



CARD, ClIAl lAXclOCA. TENN. 

 VIC'E-l'RESlDENT 



THIRD 



ology of a single rule, bpcauso Ihoy aie satisfli'tl with the practical opera- 

 tion of those now in force. 



I confess that if I had to choose between tlie radicals and ultra-con- 

 servatives in this association, I would unhesitatingly stand with the 

 latter, because a satisfactory business has been, and can still be, success- 

 fully carried on under the existing rules, while experiments and untried 

 theories are always of doubtful value, and many times prove detrimental 

 to good business. 



However, I am confident that the members of this association, wlin 

 belong to both of these classes, tlie radicals and ultra-conservatives, 

 would constitute Init a small minority of its momlMrsbip. and that the 

 vast majority of us are conservative radic-als or radical conservatives, 

 as you choose, who believe that it is unwise to make frequent changes 

 in grade standards, but who also appreciate the fact that changed condi- 

 tions may make changes in rtiles necessary or at least desirable. 



We have a splendid committee on inspection rnles, and all of the 

 proposed changes have been thoroughl.v considered by that committee. 

 All those outside of the committee that wish to be heard have had an 

 opportunit.v to appear liefore it and express their own views, and I am 

 confldent that when their report is i)resented it will meet with the ap- 

 proval of a ma.iority of the members present. 



Did you ever consider or analyze the membership of this committee 

 to satisfy yourself as to whether it was fairly representative of the 

 association and the different interests it embraces, or not? 



Let us do so now for fear you have not. 



It consists of nine raen who have been selected because of their 

 high character and standing in their own communities, and their pe- 

 culiar fitness for such work. 



Five of them reside north of the Oliio river, and the remaining four 

 south of it: three of its memliers are distinctly wliolcsalers : three others 

 are purely manufaetuers, and the other three are engaged in both manu- 

 facturing and wholesaling. Of the six members who wholesale, eitlier 

 wholly or in part, two liandle iioriliern woods almost exclusively: two 

 others handle both northern and southei-n woods freely, and the remain- 

 ing two buy and sell soutliern woods almost exclusively. Among the six 

 who manufacture wholly or in part. 1 believe that only one or possibly 

 two are cutting the northern woods, while five are interested in the 

 manufacture of lumber south of the Ohio river. 



With a committee that is so nicely balanced as to interests and loca- 

 tion, backed by years of experience, are wo not warranted in expecting 

 a report that will be satisfactor.v ? 



Whether or not any of the suggestions or thoughts that I have offered 

 meet with your approval, I caution you not to forget that our mem- 

 bership is comprised of more than one clement of the trade, and that we 

 have been able to withstand and outlive all competition, because each 

 element has been fair and recognized the rights of the others, to the end 

 that our rules have always been approved by practically a unanimous 

 membership. 



It is my firm conviclion that any departure from tliis established 

 policy would operate to create a division in our ranks, and have a 

 tendency to undo all that we have accomplished by years of united 

 effort. 



It is not my purpose to burden you wilh stalistics because Secretary 

 Fisli has prepared a very complete report of the doings of tlu' associa- 

 tion whidi you will hear a little later. 



1 cannot refrain, however, from slealing a little of liis thunder and 

 telling you now that we have passed the eight hundred mark mi'mbership. 



From May 1, mil, to May 1, I!)!:;, our men otiicially inspected l.'iL',- 

 844,256 feet of lumber, which Is a niontlily average of over eleven million 



—26— 



feet, and means that for every fair working day during the year, our 

 inspection bureau issued certificates covering the inspection of nearly a 

 half million feet of lumber. 



We have been obliged to provide additional men in several places, and 

 have also placed men in new localities, and at this time there is not^ 

 producing center or a market of great prominence in this countr.v 

 where it is not possible to obtain official national inspection on your 

 lumber : nor is there a marker in which you can not obtain all the 

 lumber you want of any variety on national inspection. 



During the year mentioned reinspections have been demanded on 

 inspections covering 1.3SG,172 feet, or a trifle over one per cent of the 

 total amount. These reinspections have shown that the errors in judg- 

 ment, if any, made by our deputies have amounted to less than four 

 per cent in over two-thirds of tlie cases mentioned, and that on inspec- 

 tions involving only 408,848 feet has there developed a difference of four 

 per cent or more. 



We have paid claims amotmting to $1,167.37 in settlement of the errors 

 made by our deptities in inspecting i over 130 feet of lumber. 

 STATE.ME.NT OF RKINSPECTION FOR YEAR ENDING AFUIL 30. 1012. 



Mav. mil 

 .tune, mil 

 .hilv. mil 



Total Amt. 

 Reinspected. 



11 4.630 ft. 



130,828 ft. 



124.n.-)l ft. 



Augusi. 101 1 124.,")07 ft. 



Si'ptenihi'r. 1011 143.64.". ft. 



(Ictober. 1011 70.23.-1 ft. 



November. 1011 114,114 ft. 



Ileeeiuber. 101 1 06.IIOti ft. 



.lauuarv. 1012 78.436 ft. 



Februarv. 1012 80,604 ft. 



.March. '1012 112.082 ft. 



April, 1012 l,->0,225 ft. 



1,386,172 ft. 

 .01% 



Within 

 4% 



23.306 ft, 



7,5,7.iO ft. 



117,28.-) ft. 



73..123 ft. 



114,106 ft. 



4.-1.S27 ft. 



8(1.1106 fl. 



S4.II07 fl. 



78.436 ft. 



.80.(!(I4 ft. 



]0-|,cl70 ft. 



oo.i,-i.-. ft. 



977,324 ft. 



Over 



4% 

 01.333 ft. 

 64.078 ft. 

 7.666 ft. 

 .-.0,084 ft. 

 ■-•0,440 ft. 

 24.408 ft. 

 01.048 ft. 

 11,000 ft. 



7.003 ft. 

 60,070 ft. 



408,848 ft. 

 Vj Of 1% 



Claims on reinspeetlon paid by the association from May 1, 1911. 



t.. May 1. 1012 $1,167.37 



.\m.iunl ci.li.etiil by the association on these claims and credited 



under "Inspection Fees" . . .563.75 



Total loss to the association on reinspeetlon claims .$ 603.62 



While this Is a most favorable showing and one of whicli we should 

 feel proud, we do not claim that we have reached perfection, and we 

 promise our patrons still better service, and still greater accuracy, if it 

 is possible for human intelligence and careful administration to accom- 

 ].lish such results. 



I regret to state that we oceasionall.v receive {-omplaints that some 

 members are yet inclined to resort to dishonorable methods, such as in- 

 voicing larger amounts than shipments actually contain : substituting 

 other slock for tliat shown the purchaser and expected by him : shipping 

 one grade and invoicing something else, etc.. etc. When T assumed the 

 office of president of this association. I stated that we did not claim that 

 a membership in it would make a dishonest man an ht.nest man. but 

 that we did propose that our members should deal honestly or forfeit 

 their membership. This is and will continue to be the policy of our asso- 

 ciation, I am sure, but you must remember tliat your board of managers 

 cannol assume that a member is guilt.v of dishonorable coiuluct and 

 demand liis resignation withoul proof to corroborate your statements and 

 show that the accused membei- really intencied to be crooked. 



It is my duty to report to this convention that y<.ur exectitive com- 

 niiltee. acting under the authority of a resolution tuianimously adopted 

 at .Mi'inphis last year, did hold a conference wilh a like committee from 

 the Ilardw.H.il Miunila.tiu'i'rs' .Association of tlu' I'Tiitcd Slaii-s in this 



