The Portland daily press., 1888-03-12
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The ozark Lantern" Bill Draws Out
Some Vigorous Protests.

SOtHO NfSOt00o FtOtOotos
WASHINGTON, March 10.--It is uncertain
when another meeting of the Ways and
Means Committee will be held to consider
the tariff bill. On Tuesday Major McKin-
leys motion to refer the bill to the Treasury
Department for statement of its probable
effect on the revenues was defeated by a
party vote. Since then, however, and with
out any formal vote of the committee, the
Treasury department has been requested by
Chairman Mills to furnish the information
which the majority refused to ask for on
Major McKinley's motion. 1t is not known
how soon the treasury will be able to furnish
the required estimate.
1t is understood that the representatives
of the West Virginia potteries, most of whom
are Democrats, succeeded in obtaining pri-
vate hearing from MIR. Wilson and perhaps
two or three other Democratic members of
the Ways and Means, but that they failed to
obtain any promise or relief. Protests and
petitions from workingmen and manufac-
surers continue to pour in and the daily vol
ume increases. From some four hundred
working people employed in New Jersey
potteries, Mr.. Buchanan, of that State, to-
day received petitions against the proposed
reduction of the duty on pottery ware. In
one case petitioners, about 24O In number,
say
Whereas. We notice with alarm that a bill has
been presented, for consideration by your honora-
Bile committee, which will greatly reduce the pres
ent duty on pottery ware, which Dill II passed VIII
necessitate either a runous reduction OF our
wages, or lead to the closing OF the potterles,
therefore, we. the undersigned working people OF
the Greenwood Pottery Works, would respectfully
urge your honorable body so 10 amend said Dill,
as to remove the necessity OF reduction OF our
present rate OF wages, and because so large pro
portion of the cost of making pottery ware is III
the cost of labor.
As the petitioners disclose the fact that
they have "a pecuniary interest In the
pending measure, of course the majority OF
the committee will pay no attention to their
protest. A letter has been received here
from a very prominent Ohio Democratic pol
itician, who is also a manufacturer Of win
dow glass, protesting against the heavy re-
ductiOn of 33 per cent proposed ON the artl-
Gle he makes, and pointing out the TACT that
the Ozark Lantern" confederates, after
the glass manufacturer, have left the duty
on most of his "raw materials" such as
soda ash, etc.
Mr.. Goldman, who is a Democrat of the
Frank Hurd sort, says that he is in full SYM
pathy with the attempt to reduce customs
duties but he protests against reduction OF
duties on manufactured articles without
proper Compensation" to the manufacturer.
The Sugar Trust.
The sugar trust investigation was resumed
this morning by the House committee Oh
manufactures. Henry o. Havemeyer was
the first witness examined. He is member
of the board of trustees of the Sugar Refner-
les Company. Not per cent of the raw
sugar purchased by his firms was of domes-
tic production. The sugar trust board has
no office. They meet at various places No
meeting has been attended by all the trus-
tees, and no minutes were kept; the board
did no business. 1t was the original inten-
tion to put the stock of the various refneries
in the hands of the United States Trust
Company, and it was pity it had not been
done, as the functions of the present trus-
tees had been falsely stated. The statement
that they had controlled the sugar business
of this country was entirely untrue. The re-
fneries that came into the trust after its for
nation were not represented upon the board
of trustees.
The chairman asked Mr.. Hayemeyer
who conducted the negotiations to bring in
those refneries subsequent to the formation
of the trust,
The witness replied that was assuming
that negotiations of this character had taken
place, which was not a fact. There was no
authority given to anyone to negotiate.
The witness said that John K. Searles, Jr.
originated the movement for the organiZa-
ton of the trust. The prime object of the
trust was economy and to avoid loss from
the marketing of the Louisiana crop, which
is about 40 per cent OF the consumption dur
ing of the Louisiana crop the refners had to
reduce their productions from % to 80 per
cent. Witness said there was 100000 tons of
raw sugar imported into and refined in this
country annually There mas been a, no time
in the last five years that sugars OF all grades
have not been cheaper in this country than
in England or in any other country.
Vessels Dues.
In the House today Mr.. Dingley OF Maine,
from the commit ee on merchant marine ana
fisheries. reported back the resolution calling
upon the Secretary of the Treasury for in
formation as to the amount of tonnage tax
maid Nv American and foreign vessels 10 the
United States since 1852. 1t was adopted.
Granite from maine Hills.
The specifications for the stone work for
the sub-basement for the congressional libra
ry have been advertised, and quite a large
number of New England quarries have sig
nifed their intention of bidding on the work,
which will amount to nearly 100000 Among
the quarries are the Quincy Granite Co., the
Dodlin Granite Co, of Waterville, Me-, the
Vermont Marble Co., two quarries from
Manchester, N. H.. and w. II. Stout Of Fox
Island, Me. Paul Vandervoort, of Nebras,,
ka. has been in Washington for several
months looking after this matter. He repre-
sents the Waterville quarries and is said to
have made arrangements with several OF the
leading quarries by which they will pool
their issues, should anyone be the successful
bidder. The bids will be opened March 81,