The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-30

come 70 the conclusion that the governments can
not bc run smoothly without additional taxation,
and the President iasors TINS increased
ten per cent tax on importa,ions and also
. TAX on tea and coffee. A policy i0reshadowing
and contemplating this Is becoming more a2par-
ent daily, but In neither house Is it believed posi-
Bile that 1t can carry any strength which will be In
favor OF disturbing the present cutes on the two
latter named ARTICLES The members OF the Com
mttee on WAYS and Means are almost unit
against new legislation on tariff matters this SEES
sion.
The Duty ON steel-A Specific Tariff
Asked by Dealers and Consumers.
The room OF the Committee on Ways and Means
was crowded to-day with gentlemen repre-
senHn2 the iron and steel interests. d. ID.
Dana. OF Boston, stated the views OF those
VINO ask for modification or the tarin on
steel, so that the duty be made specific.
They give, among other reasons for this re.
quest, that English steel IL indispensable to the
successful prosecution Of their several industries,
AZ the quality OF the steel produced in this coun-
try Is not sncn as to enable them to manufacture
the nrst quality OF axes, saws, scythes, chises,
pens and other articles that will successfully COM
pete with those OF foreign rivals, or that win
satisfy the consumer; and further, as regards
many articles, they are totally cut OF from any
grade OF steel that they can use and sus-
tail their reputation with, and as re.
CARDS other articles for which there is foreign
demand their business in them Is restricted by
reason OF the present duty on the raw material
George Barnes representing the firm OF Barnes 4
Co., OF Syracuse, N. Y, engaged In the manuiac-
ture OF knives and sickes Tor mowers and reapers,
SAID the arm used 800 tons OF steel year and employ
800 hands. When they made o contract for steel
1t was for year ahead. The difficulty being as to
price, the agreement with manufacturers was
based on the probable variations OF duty. II Con-
gress would give specific and reasonable tariff
on Steel so that they might know exactly the cost
OF the raw material they couid. owing to superior
American skill, compete with those In foreign
countries, who pay no duty. American steel
10 generally dead failure. IN his opinion
the production OF steel was not SO
much matter OF skull as OF method;
but in course oil time We would produce as good
an article as the foreign. We have made as good
cutlery as the European; but this was an ex-
ception to the rule. fhc prejudice here was so
much against American steel for knives that their
customers bound them to make the knives OF Eng
iish Steel The committee adjourned until to-
morrow morning. The entire cast steel manufac-
turing interests Of the country are represented
by gentlemen from Pittsburg and New Jersey.
They Will be heard In opposition to the consumers
OF steel.
ment Altar OM-Obstinacy Threatened
by tho Innationists.
Senator Morrill,, OF Vermont chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations OF the Senate COM
plains OF the tardy action OF the House the APP
populations, which 1t has had under considera-
ton so long and only just passed. In this connec-
ton he laughs at the idea Of being able to fix o
time for adjournment as early as June next He
says that according TO the way business
is going on it VIII probably be late in August be-
fore 1t viii be possible to adjourn, as everything
Will be rushed in at the last moment and there
will be such pressure that they will not know
what to commence ut frst. Unless there Ia an I'M
derstanding reached satisfactory all on the cur
rency question, there are mutrerings that It will
20 hard with the final affirmative action on any
appropriation bill which comes up, until terms are
acceded to by the administration which will favor
an increase OF the circulation.
Developments i'm tho Bank Note Print
ing Monopoly Investigation-Who
Printed the Confederate Paper Money.
The Confederate records are never-endna
source OF unpleasant revelations In how many
ways they have saved the country from imposl-
tons In claims presented TO the Southern Claims
Commission no one Gun tell but the Commissioners
themselves. The letter OF Caleb Cushing to
JEFFERSON Davis, though unexceptionable In
its tone, was instantly construed aa
evidence Of disqualification for the ONCE or Chief
Justice and it's production In the republican eau
Gus OF Senators will not soon be forgotten by
those present. At the other end Of the Capitol to-
day, In the room OF the Banking ana Currency
Committee, was Q scene OF similar i'm
terest to the committee and spectators.
the Committee were engaged in hearing
the representation OF the New York bank
note printing companies against the Columbia
Bank Note Printing Company Of this city, the
question being why the printing Of fractional cur
Tency, legal tenders and bonds should not be done
in New York TO the exclusion OF the washington
company. In the midst OF the argument the attor-
ney for the Washington company produced copies
OF two letters addressed to G. @. Memminger
Secretary Of the Treasury OF the Confederate
States, and e. O. Elmore, Treasurer OF the
Confederate States from the American and Ma
tional Bank Note Companies, setting forth the pc
culiar faculties they had for printing bank notes
and bonds, and the desire to serve tide South by
providing 1t with paper money, even to the extent
OF working day and night. The opportunity offered
to know what the federal government was doing
might also be relied upon as an inducement for
the confederate government to intrust
the work to one OF the northern COM
panies The letter sent by the National Bank
Note Company was written after the fall
OF Fort Sumter, and the other few weeks before.
The committee ut once requested the Secretary or
the Treasury to produce the originals from the
Confederate archives in possession OF the govern
ment, ana to explain whether ne knew OF their ex-
istence. When the existence OF these letters be-
came known application was made to members OF
the committee for copies Upon inquiry 1t was found
they mad been kindly loaned to the attorney Of the
New York companies and were not in possession OF
the committee.
Appropriations for River and Harbor
Improvements--Action OF the House
Committee ON Commsrce.
The House Committee on Commerce have COM
pleted their River and Harbor bill. owing to the
financial condition OF the government, the COM
mittee have concluded not TO report III favor OF
new works, but confne their Recommendations to
vroaorvoft0n cOrn ula finn Of those already