Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-28
THE COAL AND IRON TABLE.
Arguments Before the Ways and
Means Committee.
By Associated Press

by hbbOCldtcu L Teh5
WASHINGTON, December 27.-The
ways and means committee was yes
terday enlightened upon the duties
levied upon imported iron ores and
coal. In pursuance of the program,
to give interested parties hearings, the
first OF these took place ut the com
mittee room yesterday
The first argument was made by Mr..
George H. Ely, of the Western Iron
Ore association. He gave figures to
show that the duty OF sev-nty-tive
cents per ton on iron ore had increased
wages and enlarged the production.
He did not ask for any increase of
duty, but he earnestly urged the re-
tention Of the present rate. He testi-
fed, however, that to make the full
equivalent OF the difference of wages
between this and foreign countries
the duty should be $3.50 per tou.
Mr.. Henry Toby, of massachusetts,,
took the other eide of the question,
and argued in favor OF the free inpor-
tation OF iron and coal. He read Il
long memorial prepared by the New
England manufacturers OF iron aud
steel in support OF the position which
he advocated; and he cOntendrd that
the present tariff was prejudicial TO
the interests of the Atlantic coast.
while it Disseminated in favor of the
Western Pennsylvania section. Mass
achusetts asked for cheaper raw ma
terial. Her contest was not with
England, but with highly protected
Pennsylvania.
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 he
thought that any bad effect wnich
might result to the coal miners of
Penps, lvania would be more than
compensated for by the increased
business which would be done in the
New England states
Mir. f. s. Witherbee, of New York,
president of the astern Iron associa-
ton, argued that the chief obstacle
to the development Of New England
manufacturers was the almost phohib-
itory rates charged by the New Eng
land railroads.
When MIR. v. x Moore and Mr..
Powell Stackhouse, of Michigan.
were on the stand, Mr. Flower, of the
committee, end-avored TO obtain from
them information IN regard TO the III
vestment of capital and the amount
OF labor required to produce a ton OF
iron. No data could be given where
upon Mr.. Flower announced his opin-
ion to be that the business methods
in vogue among the iron ore pro-
ducers were slipshod
Hon. Galusha a. Grow advocated e
reduction on coal, but maintained
that proviso should be added TO the
law declaring that the reduced duty
should apply only to the products OF
such foreign countries as did not
charge higher duty on import Of
American coal. He did not urge an
abolition of tariff, put that it should
be fixed at rate which would cover
the difference in wages in the United
States aud Canada.
Mr.. Charles F. Mayer, president Of
the Consolidated Coal company. Of
Maryland, and president OF the Balti
more and Ohio Railway, read paper
protesting against any change in thr
existing rate OF duty on coal. He held
that to reduce the rate would effect u
reduction in wages, and would also
destroy the coasting trade of the Uni
ted States He did not ask that the
rate should be increased, although the
Just duty would be 81 25 u ton He
did not want to pnt the American la
borer down on the same plane as the
British laborer, but reduction Of
the rate of duty would have that eff
feet