The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-01-09
Hearings on the Tariff.

The first of the hearings on the ta"llf
was heard on the 26th before the Com
mittee of Ways and Means of which
Hon VIM. Mckinley is Chairman. The
object of these opinions, some based
on theory and others on experience, IS
to get at the facts in making up tariff
schedule:
George H. Ely president of the Western Iron
Ore Association, which was organized eight
years ago spoke in favor of the retention OF
duty on iron ore. The duty OF seventy five cents
a ton had been bene1cent and satisfactory. IL
had promoted the iron and steel interests in the
United States in a remarkable degree AS an
instance of this benefcent effect, he cited the
production of the Gogebic District, which had
increased from 1000 tons in 1884 to HOO tons
during ten months OF 1880: and Of Minnesota
District, which had increased within the same
dates from 62 00 to 100000 tons. In 1856 the total
production Of American mines had beer 10000,
900 tons while the estimated production for 1889
was between IA, 900 900 and 15,00O,000.
The question Of duty, he said, a question
OF wages. In the Spanish mines the hours of
labor were seventy hours week. In the Lake
Superior region the hours were flfty-flve hours
week. In Spain the wages Of drillers and mi
labofers 36 to 50 cents. In the Lake Superior
mines the wages for dril1ers and miners were
81. 225 to 2.75 day, and for abOrerS SLIGO to 81
He believed in the protection of American labor
and in keeping up the rates Of wages to Ameri-
can workmen. Ii the range of wages were ever
to increase in England that country would have
to change its policy. He did not ask for any in
crease of duty, but he earnestly urged the re-
tention Of the present rate. The duty had OPP
Grated to make up part of the difference be
tween the wages at home and abroad. If the
duty was high enough to make a full equivalent
for this difference it would be at least $1.50 a
| ton.
F. S. Witherbee, of New York, president of
the Eastern Iron Association, argued that the
chief obstacle to the development of New Eng
land manufactures the almost prohibitory
freight rates charged by the New England rail
roads. The manufacturers interest would be
best protected by keeping steady duty on the
raw material That duty stimulated the mining
industry. Ii it removed capital would be
inundated, and he believed that all the mines
in his section of the country would be aban-
doned.
The committee heard statements from " X.
Moore and Powell Stockhouse, of Michigan,
an the questions directed to them by members
OF the committee were intended to draw from
Uuein 1nIOT1naClOn as TO anlQQnI or laDOr ana
of capital contained in ton of iron ore Their
responses, however, were no more satisfactory
than those given by the gentlemen on the stand
before the recess, all declaring their inability to
give correct answer, owing to the varied con-
dtionS Of different mines.
Mr. Flower, of New York, who was persistent
in his questions on this point, characterized the
business methods i'll vogue among the iron ore
producers as 'slip- shod."
The chairman read telegram from Smith NJ.
Weed regretting that he not able to be pres
emit at the meeting of the committee and pro-
testing earnestly against any reduction of the
duty on iron ore.
j. j. Dominies, of New York, argued against
a reduction of duty on iron ore.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York SIN says:
Tae tariff hearing of the WAYS and Means
Committee to-day developed some phases of I'M
usual interest and altogether unexpected. 1t
/ gave forth frank expressions from the South on
the subject OF free trade and protection that
were anything but conSOlng to Messrs. Carlisle,
| Mills, Mcmillan, ct al. The session was devoted
chiefly to the subjects of coal and iron, and
nothing occurred to vary the monotony of as
sertions and statistics until General j. d. limbo
den, of Virginia, who won fame on many bat
tlehelds as gallant leader of Confederate cav
airy, stood before the committed TALL stalwart
in physique, and commanding i'll bearing, he
took his place at the foot of the committee table
His fIrin set Jaws, determined mouth and grim
moustache conveyed the idea of leader either
in war or in peace. General Imboden, in graphic
and comprehensive language, described the vast
mineral resources of Virginia, saying at the
| same time that not Virginia alone, but Tennes-
see Kentucky, North Carolina and Alabama