The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-10
VOLUME XXXIV,---NUMBER ia.
rnE GLASS lNpusrRY
Hearing nsISrs the Ways aud Means Com
nittse-Both Sides,

/
WAsblSGTsN, D, O., March 0,-The glasl
hearing before the Ways and Means Com
mittee included both sides Of tho tariff
question as applied both to the plate glssl
and cylinder window glass business
James Il, Chambers was the only manu-,
tacturer here from Pittsburgh. Tha ettorl
OF the free traders on the committee was
TO show that the price to the consumer
would be reduced with the reduction IN
the tariff, but so far as the testimony went
they were entirely unsuccessful.
President Hitchcock, OF the Crystal City
Glass Company, Of st. Louie, made the
statement for the plate glass manuiac-
turers. He showed that the industry WAS
not fully developed and that the entire
production did not meet the country de-
mand. The works which lost money Ut
first Wero running on yeryslight margin
Of profit, and q reduction in tho present
protection would leave them no alterna-
tiva except to close up, That prices had
declined, he showed was due 10 the in,
crease in the output and the introduction
OF various c9ntriVances for reducing the
cost.
Mr., Heroy, Of the firm OF Heroy &
Mariner, Importers OF plate glass in New
York, attempted to RnRwer him, but made
a statement principally remarkable for
what It did not state, The hest Il II was
that he thought the priCa TO the consumer
would be reduced by the reduction Of the
tartlf, and that the American manufacture
ers could still 20 on, They had made no
money, he said, quoting from Mr. Hitch
cocS's general statement, when glass was
selling at 81 30, and were declaring diyi.
dends when 1t was down 10 sixty, He
thought further reduction would meet
with corresponding results, and that the
passage Of the Morrison bill would actually
increase their profits.
"Fhe lower the price goes, then the
more they make" questioned Mr., Hitch.
cock, dryly,
Yes, +" said the witness.
"rhen don't yon think they ought 10
give 1t awRyN said Mr.. Reed.
Mr.. Heroy admitted that the principle
might be carried on little to far. The
balance Of his testimony was opinions
merely. He knew Of no combinations OF
foreign manufacturers, knew nothing Of
tEeLrice Of labor on either side, knew moth.
ing Of any inventions or improvements
that had not originated in Europe, and did
not know how many foreign factories there
were selling their products to America.
He thought that the importation made
about 5 percent Of the total consumption
but he afterwards said II might be twenty
percent, The point he was sure about was
that the reduction Of the tariff would not
stop American furnaces, or, II 1t did,
would not increase European prices.
Frank L. Bodin, for the American Win.
dow Glass Association, lRsde statement
showing that In all grades OF glass manu-.
iactured tho wages paid in this country
averaged tlity percent higher than in
Europe. He thought the present tariff
was little enough to make up for 1t. As
to the effect Of shutting up American
manufacturer, he showed that European
prices went up during the temporary
stoppage by the strike In 1883.
simon BosGhe, tho largest New York
windowglaaB importer, answered him, but
confined his remarks to general state.
ment, that the consumers were paying the
amount Of the tariff duty in addition to
the proper'prlCe Of glass.