The Portland daily press., 1882-10-17
rHE TARIFF COMMISSION.
It's Work Nearly Completed Some In
teresting Facts.

It's Work Nearly Completed Some In
teresting Facts.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16.-In the session Of
the tariff commission to-day arguments we're
heard as follows: By Joseph +. Trainer of
Philadelphia. OF the silk hat finishing assucia-
tion, FOR reduction of duty on silk hat plush
from 90 per cent TO 10 per cent; by W. Peters
OF Philadelphia, manufacturer of chemicals,
for an Increase OF duty on Venetion received
from % per cent to 35; by Thomas G. Bennett
representing the Winchester Arms Company
and Union Metallic Cartridge Company OF
bridgeport, Conn, for change in the draw
back law SO as to make it apply to articles
made partially (not wholly) of imported
material; by John H. Leeds of New Haven
and New York, manufacturer of dyewood ex-
tracts, for an increase of duty on extracts and
decoctions of logwoods to l Ia cents per pound
and on other dye wood extracts to 2 cents, and
that crude dye wood be continued on the free
list; also that duty on hquorice paste be re-
tanned; by s. a. Ruon and others representing
Philadelphia and Boston importing merchants
protesting against repeal of discriminating
duty OIL 10 per cent on East India goods inn
ported from places east of the Cape of Good
Hope; by james Willets of Trenton, N j.,
presenting an address of pottery manufacturers
asking as high rates of duties as any other
manufactured articles enjoys, also present
ing petition signed by all pottery operatives
urging the necessity of protecting the pottery
present wages; by VIM. Young, G. S. Cook,
Thos. Maddox and Samuel w Davenport on
the same sahject; by Geo w. McKeag, JAS.
l.. Wright and Edwin W. Fairbanks repre-
senting morocco fnishers. garment cutters and
shoe cutters "a branch of the knights tf
Labor) in favor of tariff provided it ., Is ept
by excessive measures produce mc..syl;ss
Que OF them Mr.. Wright was asked whether
he thought with Prof. Sumner) that the re-
duction of prices increased wages. He answer
ed no, and said that a man who had been sit
ting IN bis college theorizing supposed he had
made some great discoveries when in fact he
had not been where discoveries could be made.
he himself had been mechanic for over fifty
years and knew something about the wants
and the interests of workingmen and as to
what tended to raise and to lower wages; by
Nathan A. Taylor of Philadelphia for reduc-
ton of the duty on tin plate to 34 cent per
pound.
William Whitman of Boston, representing
the national wool manufacturers association
had proposed schedule of rates for wool and
cotton goods. Mr.. Oliver asked whether there
was any ground for the statement that wooden
and cotton manufacturers in New England had
grown so strong they had no particular desire
Tor further protection If they could get the raw
materials free. Mr. Whitman replied no such
sentiment pi evailed in New England. Such
reports might come from men entitled to speak
as representing New England manufacturers.
Mr.. Oliver said TWO cotton manufacturers in
statement and as the commission had now be-
tore IL Tor the frst time New England cotton
manufacturer 1t was proper it should know
whether that was the prevailing sentiment.
he commented also on the fact that although
the commission had been prosecuting its in
quiry for three months it had not heard till to-
day from the wool and cotton manufacturers
OF New England, Chas. W. jerks OF Bos on
made an appeal for such legislation as would
encourage the raising of Angora sheep in this
country
The commission today ended their public ses-
slons, having visited over % principal cities,
East, West and South, and heard testimony
from nearly 1000 prominent manufacturers,
agriculturists and producers of every article
which has counterpart in the countries across
the ocean. They will now repair to New York
city. Here their real work. beside which the
mere hearing of testimony is childs play in
comparison, will begin. They have from now
until the first Monday in December to exam
inc the great mass of evidence they have re-
ceived, and from it deduce system Of tariff
which they can recommend TO Congre ess. The
undertaking is indeed no light one. The
strongest imagination can scarcely conceive
the mass OF written testimony in the commits
sloners' possession, Every person who has
bean before the body has, beside the oral state
nent of the needs of the particular industry he
represents, submitted paper. These papers
are some of them bulky ana others brief.
They are reDlete With statistics, and,
they would be of themselves suf-
fcient to complete a census which would
include every article upon which there are du-
table revenues By themselves, these papers
fill two chests, each of them four feet long by
two feet wide, and they lnde pendent of
several thousand sheets OF sLenographic writ
ing, inscribed as the words have fallen froin
the Witnesses lips. ssThe tension has been
very great, said Judge Amber of Ohio yes
terday, ssbut we have as hard work before us in
aceOrfiuu and ma kino mt
port from it. The majority OF the papers re-
ceived will be printed in Washington, and sent
to the various congressman" The judge states
that the duties in which he had been engaged.
had demonstrated this countrys possession of
greater resources and possibilities n the future
than even he, who has travelled extensively,
had any conception Of In the South there
was growing sentiment in favor of protection;
10 fact, the demand for a protective tariff was
almost unanimous all over the country La
Des Moines and ST. Louis there were the great
est number OF dissenters. In New England,
and where free traders would be supposed to
be numerous he was surprised to find
the manufacturers also anxious for protec-
tion. He mentioned that many interesting
facts had been developed by the inquiries of
the commission, and one of the most remarka-
be was that Minneapolis last year produced
more wheat than Chicago, which is supposed
10 be the grain market of the west If not of the
East, handled in the same period of time He
also said that the larger sentiment was for spe-
cific as against ad valorem duty, the fluctua-
tions of the markets, and the chances existing
10 undervalue goods operating against the lat
ter. Though none of the members desire to
anticipate their reports, there is not much rea-
son to doubt that the commission will recon-
mend not only proctive tariff, but specific
duty in each case, where it has been shown
that such is necessary to foster the growing i'm
dustries OF the country. 1t is computed that
the inquiries of the commission will cost the
government fully $50,CS0 each member re-
ceives $40 day and expenses, and, when they
submit their repor to the President, their du-
ties end.