Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-06
THETARIFFTINKERS
To Conclude Their ArduOus Labors
About the 18th Instant, When They
viii Digest the Testimony
Which They Have Received in Different
Parts Of the Country and Prepare
Their Report for Congress.

New York, October 5.-Mr. r. p. Porter, |
of the Tariff Commission, in the course of |
an interview makes The following statement |
a. 10 the work of that body and its probable |
results He says that latter thoroughly or |
ganizing, the commission opened It's hrst
session at Long Branch, and gave general
invitation TO all parties interested in the
sariff to appear before it and give testimony.
OF course, as no authority had been vested
10 the commission to compel attendance, or
even to administer an oath, the information
received was necessarily voluntary and
Obliged to be accepted. Cross-examination,
however, tended to show the strength OF
weakness of the statements given Both sides
of the question were fully represented, and,
perhap-, one of the most concise and vslua-
Bile statements on the part OF the consumer
was made by Everett P. Wheeler. Mr..
Wheeler admitted that the commission was
appointed to revise, and could not, there
fore, give Us either free trade or protection,
but recommended what he considered wise
reduction, especially on the raw materials,
which, according to his views, increased
rather than decreased manufacture IN the
United States"
GWhat we're the principal industries you
first heardp
"a great many OF the important indus
tries were represented at Long Branch-the
chemical, sugar, pottery, hemp, fax and
others. One of the most important features
in the testimony at this seaside session was
the examination Of the customhuuss- e.-
perts There were over thirty of them boil
from The collectors and sppraisers' offices,
and every one of the schedules from sched-
ule A, cotton and cotton goods, down to SUN
dries" and Stree lists" was taken up and
every man carefully questioned ABOUT them.
This brought to light an immense amount
of information on The lack of uniformity OF
the present tariff laws, and suggested almost
endless points Of simpli6cation.
The practical work of the cross-exs mina-
ton was conducted by Commissioner McMa-
hon, who for twenty years has been at the
mead of the entry division in the New York
customhouse, and is thoroughly acquainted
with the difficulty OF demonstrating the tar
1 if laws and the thousand contradictory de-
| cisions relating thereto. We have examined
| probably from 200 to $50 witnesses on the
| various subjects brought to our attention,
! and there are many more important indus
| tries-iron wool, cotton and others-whlch
have in preparation elaborate statements to
1 present"
"What were the movements of the COM
uission?
| 80 compliance with the act appointing
| the Tariff Commission, it was deemed wise
to travel through the country for the purpose
| of giving persons of all sections, as far as
| practicable, an opportunity to present their
| views Especially was it deemed important
to go throught the great consuming regions
of the country-Cincinuaii, Louisville, then
J MA Chicago to the great Northwestern terri
tory, then TO st. Paul and Minneapolis, and
| thence to the center OF the greatest OF all
agricultural States. In some of these places
not much interest is manifested in the work
| either BY representative men IN msnufac
lures or by those who it would be supposed
| represeuted the consumer. The explanation
of this apathy IL, think, that the people
there, taking them as whole, are too pros
| porous at the present time to give themselves
he trouble or go out Of the way TO present
| argument"
"Were there any prominent speakers De
fore you"
| Considerable interest was manifested II
the Chicago meeting and the testimony wal
almost equally divided. In the Northwes
an able argument was presented by the Hon
Abram S. Hewitt, who appeared as an lroI
manufacturer, and another In MinneapolI
by Prof Folwell, president OF the Universal.
| of Minnesota. In DesMoines the commits
sion excited very great deal of interest, tn
session being crowded by the advocates o
the subjects under consideration. The argu
ment of the free traders was led by MI
Phillipott, and th at for the other side by MI
Grinnell. These discussions were interest
ing, but the facts presented were not
| valuable as tney NOulu nave Oceh nou III
been given with more calmness and logic.
fThe most enthusiastic and satisfactor
| meeting ] think, was that at St Loul
where the Board of Trade and other com
! mercial institutions took cognizance OF tn
presence of the commission, came before
and entered esgerly into the spirit OF tn
proceedings Some sensible papers wer
! | read, and both manufacturers and consumer
= | showed Jealous attention.
sDid the commission find the witnesse
{ appearing before it in the South taking
" deep interest in the discussion, and possesse
of definite ideas on the subject OF the tariff
Judging from reports-I have not bee
with the commission in the South-the pee
a pie that have appeared before our body hav
/ | presented definite ideas, but there seems
l be great lack of exactitude in the stats
e ment Of facts. While the trip will undoub
0 eddy give a good ides OF the sentiment OF th
: Southern people on this question, it vii
e probably not be productive of IS much re;
I valuable Information as obtained IN som
!. other sections of the country"
= "What will be done nextW
' 1--WE will 90 to Baltimore week from tt
1 | morrow, and will hear such industries a
are then in preparation, and then procee
(probably about the 18th of October) on Ii
| deliberation and work of the report, which
. with the testimony and recommendation
will be presented to Congress early in d.
q cember."