The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-02
THE B4GGiNG TRUST.
American Manufacturers Cannot Continue
Business Unless They Are Protected.

WAsHINGTos. SEPT. 1.-Mr. Appleton stureis,
the House committee on manufactures to-day.
Mr.. Sturgs is connected with the Eagle Mill
Company. OF Brooklyn; with the New York Bag
Company, and is manager Of the Calcutta branch
of the firm of L. Waterbury & Co. l.. Water
bury & Co. are also the agents of the New York
Bag Company. Tbs witnesses testimony COW
cred largely the operations of the mills
in which he is interested, and
showed nothing of general interest not already
known. He was asked what protection would
be necessary in order that the bae-mis in this
country might retain their trade In cotton
bsgcing at fairly profitable price. lie said he
had given the matter great deal of thought.
cutta and received letters from Dundee, and
have made thorough examination
OF the subject. The mauufactur-
ers cannot possibly get along without a
protection Of at least two cents per yard-that
is one-third cent per yard less than the present
duiy. The present duty is prohihtory. don't
think protection OF swo cents would be so. IL
would put all of Us oc our mettle, and would
force US into competition with foreign markets
at times Of dull trade and low wages, and at the
same time the less protection would be in
ordinary season an incucement for the smaller
mills to continue work and not close our mills
entirely. which must be the case If the price, as
q rule, is too low for them TO continue to manu-
fscturs at living profit
"Then. from what you have just testified, the
proposed duties in the bill that is under consid-
GRAFTON would be no adequate protectionlP
1T would be no protection. / would just
leave bseeing free given q protection of
70 yard 1t would close absolutely all the
smaller mills, and IN q very short time all the
larger ones
Mr.. Sturgis promised to furnish statems nt
showing the working spscity of the BROOKLYN
mills, the amount OF wages paid, etc., which
would Oe of use to the committee.
Mr.. Gratz. of ST. Louis, who Is at the head of
Western branch Of the cotton bag trust, was ex-
ahmed by the Senate tariff subcommittee to-
day. He stated that the organization owed its
the introduction OF that measure it would never
have been thought Of The cotton-bag manu-
facturers were driven TO conib ibine in order TO
save their mills and machinery
Representatives Catchines, OF Mississippi, and
Phelan, OF Tennessee to-day called on the Com
missioner OF Agriculture in reference to a sub
stitute for cotton baggng made Of jute. He
promised 10 make an official Investigation of the
proposed substitute. He also promised to write
TO cotton factories which buy large quantities of
cotton and which sell the old bsgging, and sug-
eest TO them TO ship what they have to d is
tributng points in the cotton region
used q second time. Paper factories also buy
large quantities OF this old bagging. and the
Commissioner agreed to write to some of tnom
and suggest that they sell what they have on
hand. The Commissioners also promised Messrs.
Catchings and Phelan to make an official in-
vestgation of the whole subject aud make re-
port 10 the next Congress.