Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-27
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.
Pertinent Testimony offered on the Sub
ject OF Chemicals, Esc.


LONG BRANCH, N. j., July 26-Ia the
public session of the tariff commission to-day
a statement was made by Alexander Jones
on behalf of the Manufacturing Chemists
association of the United States. He said the
association was composed of manufacturers of
chemicals in various parts of the country,
Cincii natl, Cleveland, Chicago and elsewhere.
At the last meeting of the association tariff
committee had been appointed (of which he
was chairman) and had been instructed to
confer with various manufacturers OF cheml-
calls SO as to get their view as to the rate of
duty that they would suggest. That COM
mittee was not ready to report, but would pre-
pare schedule to be submitted To the ascot
alton and afterwards to the commission. The
tariff committee was not entirely in accord "a TO
the abstract question from trade and protec-
ton to home industry. They were, however,
unit on one point, namely: That manufacture
ers OF chemicals were as much entitled to fair
share Of the accepted policy of the govern
ment as any other manu- facturers, whether
that policy be protection of home industry or
whether 1t be free trade. They were subject
to the same conditions as other manuiactur-
ers. All they used and wore and consumed
were dutiable and therefore they took the
ground most unreservedly that whatever the
policy of the government might be, that
policy should be applied TO the chemical in
dustry, just as much as to iron or anything
else.
He made this remark because in the last
two congresses chemicals had been made a
special object OF hostile legislation by the
committee OF ways and means. Chemical
manufacturers would not ask for excessive
duties. II the policy was to be abolition of
all protective duties they would fall into line
and not complain, but if the policy Of the
government were to be the protection OF
home industry against unlimited foreign
competition then they wanted to receive
| fair share OF that protection. There were
| few chemicals made in Europe ana not made
here. Chloroide OF lime, for instance,
| (beeching powder) was not made in this
country at all. 1t was on the free list. As
long as 1t remained ON the free
| list 1t never would be made here.
He did not know OF any articles
on the dutiable list that could safely be put on
the free list.
Mcmahon inquired whether duties could be
| simplified by bringing a large number Of
chemicals under one rate OF duty.
Jones replied in the negative, giving as his
reason the cheapness of some drugs and the
expensiveness OF others. They could not be
grouped under any percentage OF duties.
After concluding his statement the repre-
sentative of the association of chemical manu-
facturers, Jones submitted an argument as
one OF the few manufacturers of quinne In
favor OF restoring the duty of 20 per cent. ION
sulphate of quinine. That article. he said,
had been made in this country almost from
the time it was discovered until within a few
years since. American manufacturers had
been supplying almost the entire home de-
| mand for quinine and 1t was undoubtedly as
| good as any quInIne made in the world. In
order to keep the quality good and insure a
full supply Of quinine it should continue to
be made here.
Kenner inquired as to whether quinine was
not very extensively used as a medicine for
chills and fever, and whether that was not
reason for having the price as low as posi-
BILE.
Jones admitted that was the case but argued
whether the wholesale price of quinine was
81 an ounce without tax or $40 with tax
the difference in price could not possibly enter
| into the cost OF the very small dose of quinine
| taken by the sick. An ounce Of quinlne con-
tanned 1911 grains and it was taken in pills
containing only few grains. 1t was the
| apothecary and not the sick person who had
| the profit.
| Kenn hr inquired as to the number of quinine
manufacturers in this country. Jones gave
the number as five. There are, he said, very
few quinine manufacturers in the world.
There are only two in Great Britain, four or
five in Germany, perhaps as many in France,
one in Holland and one in Italy.