The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-22
Senator Vance Returns to the Attack, and
is Promptly Met and Routed by tue
Indiana Senators.
The Enormous Sums of Money Sunk
in Establishing Works.
kilograms and Letters from Mr.. DePauw
Denying the Charges Made by the
North Carolina Senator.
PLATE-GLASS.
The Indiana Senators Again Called to the
Defense of This Industry.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l.-Another spirite d
debate ensued in the Senate, yesterday, over
the amendment to make the rate of duty
fifty cents per square foot instead of forty
cents, upon certain sizes of plate-glass, the
object of the amendment being, as indicated
in these dispatches to correct an error
which the committee unwittingly made in
preparing the bill, and which was occasioned
by typographical error The amendment
was resisted by Senators Beck, Ingalls, and
Vance, the latter gentleman seemingly hav-
ing an especial spite against the New Albany
Glass-works. After speech by Mr.. Vance,
in which he reiterated some of his former
statements and intimated that he would in
sist upon still further reducing the duty. Mr..
Voorhees, gained the floor and said:
There is a surprising history connected
with the plate-glass industry of this coun-
try. | believe | am safe in saying that Mr..
DePauw's works at New Albany are the
only works which remain in the original
hands that started them in the United States.
They have been systematic failures all over
the country, and if it had not been for his
great capacity and his ability financially, as
well, he would have been borne down, as
other enterprising persons were in this work.
1t is true that up to Jan. l. 1877, Mr. De-
PAW, with his works at New Albany, which
seem to excite so much jealousy and dstrust
in certain quarters had lost over 5000, 900,
and since that time he has not made more
than per cent. per annum on his invest
ment l make that statement in the hearing
of the Senate and of the country. Further,
Mr. President, there was factory of
glass started at st. Louis, which, after losing
over $780, 600 in trying to compete. without
q tori will
especially in France, Chez ahands, and has
only in the last few years been able to make
& profit of something like per cent Works
of this kind were also sturted at Jacksonville
and lost over 100000; the Louisville works
lost over $500, 900; the PENNSYLVANIA works
lost over 5000 900, and the Massachusetts
glass-works lost over 81, 100000 and it has
only been since the present tariff rates have
been laid, and these works have adjusted
themselves somewhat to the rates, that
there is any degree of prosperity at
all. The finance committee regarded
that as strong argument in favor of letting
the present rates alone. We had not heard
any great complaint i'll the country in re-
gard to the price of glass, especially the large
glass; of which I shall speak more fully d.
rectly; and we did see that these great indus
tries had become permanent and strong
enough to sustain themselves under the
present rates of duty. So, on full considera-
ton, it was unanimously it was under
stood the subject was very specifically con-
sidered-agreed in the committee that the
present rates of duty on glass of the various
sizes of manufacture should remain as they
have been fixed for years"
Referring to the tables, Mr.. VOORHEES,
pointed out the fact that the poor man.
npon the glass in his windows, pays but Is
per cent duty, and added:
There is not 81 900 worth of plate-gass
used in the State of North Carolina. and /
speak with entire respect of North Carolina
as do of my own State. | say the plain
people of Kentucky, whom l regard equally
with the people of Indiana, do not use it.
Among the millions who inhabit that great
valley, the rarest thing to see is the use of
this curious article, about which my friend
from North Carolina is sensitive as regards
the duty on plate-glass. The senator is right
in saying that the rate sounds large, but that
rate does not apply to the glass which is in
common use among the farmers or
middle classes of the country Plate
glass used by the Vanderbilts, the
Goulds, the millionaires, and the great
houses. | ask the Senate what article can be
pointed out in the whole range of this bill
that should better afford high duty, and thus
encourage labor and protect trade in this
country, than the very Article we are talking
of now.
"a word as to the attack the Senator from
North Carolina has made upon Mr.. DePauw
do not stand here to say more of that gem
tleman than that he is one of the most
prominent able and philosophical citi-
zens, not only OF Indiana but OF the United
States"
A LETTER FROM MR.. DEPAUw
Mr.. Voorhees, then read the following:
NEW ALBANY, Ind, Jan. 10, 1888.
ITO Hon. D. W. Voorhees,, United States Senate:
Assure Senator Vance that | paid full
duty on my machinery; ] never had any
come in free. L never imported Belgian
glass blowers. w. G. DEPAUwn
Mr. Voorhees, added:
''Those who know him know that that is
as true as if it was written between the leaves
of the Bible. That is all care to say at this
time"
After running debate, in which several
senators took part, Mr.. Vance again came to
the charge, and intimated that the telegram
just read might be an evasion, and did not
cover the substance of his statement that
Mr.. DePauw imported foreign labor; the
men might have been glass workers, and
they may not have been Begians. After
some sharp passages between the Indiana
senators, who were evidently prepered for
every kind of argument and Mr.. Vance,
Senator Harrison said:
will the Senator from North Carolina al
low me to say that the charge he brought
against Mr.. DePauw wss upon the testimony
of o. A. Bishop that evidence was distinctly
that Mr.. DePauw had imported glass blowers;
that was what the Senator charged. Mr..
DePauw was informed of the charge, and his
denial is as broad as the accusation and l
think il the Senator will listen to the letter