Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-28
TESTIMONY ON THE TARIFF.
Work of the Commission-Suggesti by
French and Wishes of Manufactures.

French and Wishes of Manufacturers.
LONG BRANCH, N. j., July 27.-Ths tariff
commission opened its session this morning
by giving hearing to James Hendrick OF the
Albany, New York, analine factory, who gave
a history of the business. In reply to the
questions of several commissioners. be said
there were three or four other manufacturers
of analine colors in the country. One in
Williamsburg, one in Buffalo, and one in West
Virginia. He realized profit in the business,
and had reinvested II. He had now $3.50, 600
invested in the business. He suggested a fixed
duty of a 81 pound, but If the duty was to
be advalorem he would say the rate ought to
be IS per cent.
French, assistant secretary of the treasury,
continued his explanation and suggestions.
The duties should be either all advalorem or
all specific, all antiquities of language should
be avoided and all loose terms and dehnitio MS
such as goods of a like description" and
goods for similar USE" These were per-
feet traps to catch law suits. Ambiguity Of
ten arose from including articles under two
different classes. The third suggestion which
he made was the importance Of avoiding
impracticable distinctions. On this
point he mentioned the casepf nickel which
pays tax of thirty cents per pound and
nickel alleged with copper, which pays only
twenty cents per pound. When that bill was
passed an alloy OF half copper and half nickel
was being imported and that was the reason
for the distinction, but now in order to eyade
the law the importations are being made Of
ninety-five per cent. of nickel and FIVE per
cent of copper. That was evidently a fraud
ulert evasion of law, and yet under the de-
cislon of the supreme court on such cases It
was doubtful If the full duty of thirty cents
per pound could be legally collected.
Chas. 7. White, of New York, manufac.
turer of qulnine and other chemicals, claimed
that the American manufacturers of quinine
were entitled to fair share OF privileges and
advantages allowed other interests.
G. s. Robbins, of New York, made an argu-
ment in the same line. He gave the total
consumption of quinine ut about 4 900, 600
ounces, of which 1900, 600 ounces were con-
sumed in this country. He did not think the
imposition of duty would have any material
effect on the price to the consumer.
Underwood-Then why do you want the
duty put on?
Robbins-Because it would help our com
petition with foreign producers.
s. q. Rosengarten, of Philadelphia, spoke
in the same interest but differed with Robbins
as to the duty not increasing the cost of the
article.
A. ?. Kursheedt. New York city, engaged
in the manufacture of neck wear, laces,
borders and trimmings, exhibited samples of
ruches, tuckings, embroidery, hiunels, etc,
and argued that the rate of duty on any flu
ished article should not be lower than the rate
imposed upon any materials entering into it..
Z. 2. Wheeler, of the New York Free Trade
club, continued his argument and promised to
give the commissioners his tables of the esti-
mated amount of reduction of revenue con-
templated in his argument.
Adjourned