The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-02

ONE OF THE BAGGTNG BARONS
OPPOSES THE MILLS BILL

An Assertion That a Tariff Duty of
Not Less Than Cents a Yard is
Necessary to Enable the Home
Manufacturer to Make Reasonable
Profit.
WASHINGTON, Sept Appleton Sturgis
of New York city was the only witness be-
fore the House committee on manufactures
to-day. Mr.. Sturgis is connected with the
Eagle Mill Company OF Brooklyn, N Y;
with the New York Bagging Company of
Brooklyn, and is manager of the Calcutta
branch of the firm of L, Waterbury 81 Co.
L. Waterburg & Co. are also the
agents of the New York Bagging Company.
The testimony Of the witness covered
largely the operation of the mills in which
he was interested, and showed nothing Of
general interest not already known. He
was asked by a member of the COMMITTEES
what protection In his Judgment you'd be-
necessary in order that the bagging mills in
this country might retain their trade 10 cot
ton bagging at fairly profitable price.
MADE 1T A STUDY.
He replied: II have given the matter
great deal of thought and attention I
have gone into statistics and facts | have
Dundee, and, in fact, have made
thorough and extensive examination into
that subject. Bagging manufacturers can
not possibly get along without protection
of at least 3 cents per yard. That is
one-third of cent per yard less
than the present duty we're receiving
The present duty is prohibitory. / do nos
think protection of cents a yard would
be. It would put all of US on our mette,
and would force US into competition with
foreign markets at times of dull trade and
low wages and at the same time less pro-
lection would be In an ordinary season an
inducement for the smaller mills to cons
tinue at work and not close our mills en-
tirely, which must be the case if the price.
as a rule, is too low for them to continue to
manufacture at living profit"
THE MILLS RATE TOO Low.
Question--Then from what you have Just
testified to the proposed duties in the bill
that is under consideration would be no
adequate projections
Answer--It would be no protection in my
opinion. | would just az lief see bagging
free as given protection of three-quarters of
a cent yard. 1t would close absolutely all
the smaller mills and in very short time
all the larger ones also.
Mr.. Siurgis promised to furnish to the
committee statement showing the work.
ing capacity of the Brooklyn mills, the
amount of wages paid and various other
data, which would prove of use to the COM
mite in its inquiry.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Sturgis' exami-
nation, the committee adjourned, subject to
the call Of the chairman.
AN INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE
Representatives Catohings OF Mississippi.
and phelan of Tennessee to-day called on
the commissioner of agriculture I'm references
TO substitute for cotton bagging made OF
jute. Commissioner Coleman promised to
make an official investigation Of the pro-
posed substitute and its feasibility. He
also promised TO write to cotton factories
which buy large quantities OF cotton, and
which sell the old bagging as junk, and
suggest to them to ship what they have to
distributing points In the cotton region.
CAN BE USED AGAIN.
Ithas been proven that this old bagging
can be reserved and used the second time.
Paper factories also buy large Quantities of
this old bagging, and the commissioner
agreed 70 write to some of them aud SUI ggest
that they sell all they have on hand. Com
missioner Colman also promised Messrs.
Catchings g. Phelan to make an investiga-
tion and make a report to Jhe next con-
gress A special investigation of a substi-
tute for jute bagging will be made at once.
GRATz BLAMEs THE MILLS BILL,
Mr.. Gratz of st. Louis. who is at the head
of the western branch of the cotton bag-
ging trust, was examined by the Senata
tariff subcommittee to day He stated to
the sub-committee that the organization
owes its origin entirely to the Mills bill, aud
that but for the introduction Of that
measure ii would never have been thought
Of. The cotton bagging manufacturers
were driven to combine in order to save
their mills and machinery.