Plan to Justify Philippine Mahogany

The dates for the hearings in the Philippine Mahogany case before the Federal Trade Commission, scheduled to start on the coast some time in April, have not'yet been definitely set.

The Philippine adherents are much enthttsed over their plans of defense in these hearings, and feel that the situation will be immensely different from the previous ones, and that this time some of the true facts concerning Philippine will be cleveloped, and many of the false statements developing during the last hearings rvill be controverted. The Philippine people feel that the findings of the Commission in the previous case were based on opinions .of chiefly eastern users to whom the wood was nett', and who had undoubtedly received much badly graded lumber.

Here are some of the statements made by the Federal Trade Commission in lts previous decision against Philippine, which will be torn to tatters in the coming hearings.

1. "Luan and tanguile are taken out of the cabinet wood market because of the great prevalence of worm holes, which constitute very serious defects inall Philippine woods."

That statement is plain and unvarnished ignorance. .Worm holes are defects in Philippine grading rules, just as they are in all other cabinet lvoods (see Page 38, National Hardwood Lumber Association grading rules), the chief difference between the worm holes in good Philippine Mahogany and that in the other cabinet woods is that the worm holes in the older Mahoganies are pin holes, and in Philippine they are needle holes, much smaller. It is likewise an easily provable fact that the Philippine woods !mported into California runs amazingly heavy to absolutely clear and flawless wood, without worm holes or other defects. You can go to the docks and see great piles of Philippine as clear and sound as wood can be. The very opposite is the truth, regarding statement No. 1.

2. "They cannot be used in the construction of lamps as they finish too badly."

Philippine lamps will be shown at the hearings to prove how utterly ridiculous is that statement. There isn't, as a matter of fact, a shade of backing for such a statement, as

Bill Woods Back From Northwest

W. H. "Bill" Woods of the Coos Bay Lumber Co., San Francisco, returned March 20 lrom a two weeks' business trip to the Northwest. He visited the company's sawmill at Marshfield, and spent a few days in Seattle and Portland.

anybne who knows the wonderful finish and lustre and staying qualities of Philippine well -understands.

3. "They are too soft to be used in flooring."

Isn't that a wonderful statement? With many Philippine woods in use that rank among the hardest of all known hardwoods, and absolutely naturally adapted for flooring manufacture. These woods will be shown the Commission at the hearing.

4. "They are not susceptible to the finish required by piano manufdcturers on the exposed surface of the pianos, and cannot be used for such a purpose."

Every sort of evidence, demonstration, documents from pianp manufacturers, etc., will be used to show the folly of these words. ' It is true that in the early days of Philippine use this opinion was prevalent, but since that time the finishing of the better Philippine woods has become a fine art, and they take as fine and lasting a piano finish as any manufacturer could desire.

5. "Where used in furniture the finish at'times finally sinks into the worm holes.'n

This is based on the previous erroneous conclusion thac all Philippine is wormy, whereas, as previously stated, you can get greater quantities of Philippine entirely free from worm holes than you can of almost any other cabinet wood. Clear and sound Mahogany is to be had in shiploads.

The above are just a few of the things thai appeared in the previous decision that have no foundation on actual fact, and will be attacked by demonstration and incontrovertible proof. The fact that there are 4I big and important buildings in the Los Angeles district trimmed entirely in Philippine Mahogany, will be shown, and the success of the trim for this use will be demonstrated.

That Philippine Mahogany is Sweitenia, the Philippine interests'will not contbnd. They know it isn't. But that it is the most useful, the most versatile, the most practical, and the most varied and beautiful wood imported into the United States. they are prepared to contend, and to contend that the people shall not be deprived of the service of these rvonderful woods because of a jealous trade fight.

Visits Caltfornia

J. A. Lingaas, sales manager of the Portland Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of Douglas Fir plywood, spent a few days in San Francisco recently, on business for his firm.