The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-05
pI,IoRrnD FAUls,
A way and Means Committee Meeting
Full OF Meat.


WASHINGTON, D. O., March 4,-The
feature OF the Ways and Means Commit
tee hearing this morning was the sharp
Cross.examination by Mr.. Hewitt. He
was even shrewder and more unfair than
usual, and on one or two occasions COM
PEELED Republican members TO interfere
10 prevent the gentleman making state.
ment from having his testimony twisted
into Gn almost completely different mean.
Ing. His abilities were shown particularly
during the hearing Of Mr.. Joseph Whaf-
ton, Of the Bethlehem Iron and Steel
Company and the Cambria Works. Before
that time Mr.. b. F. Jones had read a brief
statement in behalf Of the Association,
and their printed protest was read. No
body asked any questions, and Mr.. Nor
rison and Mr.. Hewitt both seemed to be
waiting for the appearance Of some other
momber OF the delegation.
Mr., Morrison invited the further testi-
mony by saying rudely that he was tired
OF political harangues, and would like to
get down 10 business. Mr.. Jones answer
ed pleasantly that he was tired OF politics
also, and then announced that Mr.. Whar-
ton would furnish the practical intorma.
tion wanted.
"l'll he glad to hear Mr.. Wharton" said
Mr.. Morrison, smilinglyi "he knows what
he is talking about.
"Yes," said Mr.. Hewitt, sarCaatically,
''and he knows what he wRnta.h
Both statesmen smiled, and then Mr..
Whatton began by reading statement
t.a,,, kI,n no Irnt, n nd EtaA f1ot,,-
psny, concerning late bid for steel rails
In California, Putting them down in New
York at $35 per ton, and paying freight
and other expenses, with the present
tariff, they could be delivered In San
Francisco at Just forty.two cents less than
the English product. The margin was
too small, he Baid, to permit OF any re-
duCtion In the tariff without opening the
market 10 the foreign manufacturers.
One or two other places, with figures
makinga similar showing, were instanCed
and then he attempted to conclude by
saying that iron manufacturers would
furnish other testimony OF the character
Which would be more conclusive than
any general argument he might make.
Mr.. Hewitt was too quick for him, how.
over, and suggeatcd that he would like to
ask a few questions on his own iniorma.
tion. Mr.. Wharton had nothing to do but
acCedo, and then tho sharp work begun.
The first questions showed tho iron mon
that Mr.. Hewitt was thoroughly familiar
With the Bethlehem Company's busint IS,
and perfectly clear as to It's weak points
politically. He knew, for instance, that
Mr. Wharton, operating a mill In the East,
would not he much opposed, as a pure
matter Of busineSs, 10 the introduction Of
free ore. He knew that the Bethlehem
works had q pretty good understanding
with each other III regard to tho extension
OF business, and lie knew particularly that
the Bethlehem Company had opposed
trades unionism and would not permit
Knights OF Labor or the Amalganated
Association In their works. He took adj
vantage OF all those points, and held Mr..
Wharton In his place, answering questions
and seeing himself nisrt presented, until
the close Of the hearing.
lie started IN with an inquiry as TO tho
possibility Of competing with English
manufacturers by allowing each works to
supply Ito own local market II the tariff
we're reduced, he questioned, would not
mills spring up In the South and West,
and ptactlCally ltotect themselves ny Tue
cost Of uanspoT!aion from the ssapoard ,,1 70
their own Locality, any lnl!renhally was
not the present tarlll supporting me
Northern mills 70 enCh on extent thst the
Southern ones could not no stariedr
Mr.. Wharton thought that the South
would be o produclng een!er some time III
the future, and admitted some general
manifest laCts III regard 70 lle cost Of
transportation as protective laclion, put
Hewitt, by answering hiB own question
and eGaggeratlng where " was necessary,
graduaHy alrlyea ata p1lnt Whste le c0ulq
tell The committee that The SPEAKER had
sdmitted all tue alleged eVl's ne haa called