Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-26
TARIFF HEARING TODAY.
President Ely Before the Ways and
Means Committee.

The first OF the series OF tariff hearings
mapped ont by the House committee on ways
and means was held this neutrality-suspicious. in
terested in metals, ores and coal being per-
mitted to give their views.
George H. Ely, president Of the Western iron
ore association, which was organized eight
years ago, spoke in favor Of the retention of the
duty on iron ore. The duty of as cents ton
had been beneficial, he said. It had been salts
factory. It had promoted the iron and steel
interests of the United States in remarkable
degree.
INCREASED PRODUCTION.
As an instance of this benefcent effect he
ted the production of the Gogebic district
which had increased from 200 tons in 1884 to
IA, 600 tons during ten months of 1889, and Of
the Minnesota district, which had increased
within the same dates from $4,000 to 100000
tons. In 1886 the total production of Amer
lean mines had been 10000, 0G0 tons, while the
estimated production for 1889 was between
"A, 600, 900 and 5000 900. The question of duty
he said, was
QUESTION OF WAGES
In the Spanish mines the hours Of labor
we're ~ hours a week. in the Lake Superior
region the hours were 55 hours week. In
Spain the wages Of drillers and miners we're GO
so cents. In the Lake Superior mines the
wages for drillers and miners were 81. % to
S2.15 day and for iaborers SLIGO to g. He
believed in the protection of American labor
ana In keeping up the rates of wages to
American workingmen. If the range OF wages
were ever to crash in England that country
would have to change its policy. He did not
ask for any increase Of duty, but he earnestly
urged the retention of the present rate. The
duty had operated to make up part of the
difference between the wages at home and
abroad. II the duty was high enough to make
full equivalent for this difference it would be
at least $3.50 a ton.
FREE IRON AND COAL.
Geo. Toby of Massachusetts, addressed the
committee in favor of the free importation of
iron ore and coal.
NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT TARIFF.
He read a long memorial prepared by New
England manufac turers of iron and steel in
support of the position which he advocated
and he contended that the present tariff was
prejudicial to the interests of the Atlantic
coast, while it Disseminated in favor of the
western Pennsylvania section. 1t was not just
that there should be such a tariff rate as en-
abled one or two states to kill out the iron in
terests of other sections New England should
not be forbidden by the tariff laws from enjoy
ing the advantages which her location on the
sea naturally presented her. She should not
be set back in civilization by the impeachment
arising from the want of cheap iron and steel.
Massachusetts asked for cheaper raw material.
Her contest was not with England, but with
highly-protected Pennsylvania.
NEW ENGLAND INTERESTS.
In response to questions by Mr.. Hayne he
stated that the abolition of duty on coal would
stimulate work in the Canadian coal fields, but
nc thought that any bad effect which might re-
suit to the coal miners of Pennsylvania would
be more than compensated by the increased
business which would be done in the New
England states.
Mr.. Gear inquired as to the general position
which the witness held to the tariff, and re-
ceived the reply that in his opinion no hori-
zontal reduction should be made.
SAYS THE RAILROADS ARE TO BLAME.
F. S. Witherbee of New York, president of
the Eastern iron association, argued that the
chief obstacle to the development of New
England manufactures was the almost pro-
hibltory freight rates charged by the New
England railroads. The manufacturers in
terest would be best protected by keeping a
steady duty on the raw material. That duty
stimulated the mining industries. IT it was
removed capital would be intimidated and he
believed, that all the mines in his section of the
country would be abandoned.
At the end of Mr.. Witherbee's argument the
committee took recess of 80 minutes.