Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-04
MUST GO TO CANADA
If the Proposed Tariff on Imported
Hides Should Become a Law.
ALLEGHENY TANNERS UP In ARMS.
They Appeal to Congressman Bayne, Who
Promises Them His Help
TO BLOCK THE BIG FOURs GAME

The Allegheny tanners are worked up to
the highest pitch over the proposed tariff Of
15 per cent ad valorem on hides. The Com
mittee of Ways and Means has agreed on
this duty, and leather makers here are,
without exception, up in arms against the
proposed tariff. There are in Allegheny
nine tanneries, the aggregate output OF
which is close to II, 600 sides ofleather every
week, Pittsburg's only tannery is that of
the Hartleys, at East Liberty, which pro-
duces only leather betting.
It is within bounds to say that over 5000
hides go into the vats every week at this
trade center. The tariff on hides of Is per
cent ad valorem will add 2Hc to &c per
pound to their cost.
Letters have been pouring in to Congress
man Bayne for the past week or two pro-
testing against the proposed tariff A letter
received from him by one of the leading
local firms within day o. two, states that
he will do his best to prevent the passage of
this item of the tariff bill.
There is not a tanner on the Northside who
is not determinedly opposed to the duty. A
number were interviewed yesterday. and,
while they shrink from newspaper notorlety,
were very free to give their views. Said rep
resentative of one of the foremost firms:
PRICES WOULD BE FORCED UP.
There can be but one result to the tariff on
hides, namely, an advance in prices; and the ad-
vance will in the end fall on the consumer. All
tanners look on this move of Congress as ad-
verse to their interests. We might have nice
profits at the start, but in little time there
would be a reaction and little or no advantage
would accrue to the tanner in the end. The tar
iff is evidently in the interest of the Big -Four,
In hoaf md w
would reap large profits If the import trade was
cut off. Western farmers, too, would reap some
profit from the tariff, and in my view the move
Inent to place duty on hides is due to the Big
Four and the desire on the part of politicians
to conciliate and sweeten the farmers OF the
West"
Another prominent Northside tanner said:
Everybody that wears shoes onght to protest
against the proposed tax on hides. The tan
ners may be able to stand il, but in the end it
will be disadvantage to them. since what
hurts the consumer will in time hurt the manu-
facturer. The thing is unjust, and is an effort
upon the part of four great firms to force every
man, woman and child in the land who wear
shoes to carry corn to their grinding mill: But
feel little apprehension that the bill will pass
Congress has already heard from the country
in thunder tones and you may put it down that
the Representatives will weaken when voting
time comes. That this is the general feeling
1 bought 5000 hides to-day from Western
dealer. II that dealer had had any thought
that the tariff would pass into law, he would
have been much firmer in his views of values,
and put me off until a more convenient sea-
son."
HOW IT WOULD HURT.
A leading dealer in hides said: II would reap
immediate advantage from the tariff, but it is
unjust, and don't want it. Besides in the end
it would be no real help to my trade. The
United States tans more hides than any coun-
try in the world. and we do not produce enough
for our needs We receive large supplies from
South America. Asia and Africa. and the effect
of the tariff will be to dry up these sources OF
supply or increase the cost of hides. As
country we are well supplied with bark, and
can now produce leather as cheaply or more
cheaply than any country in the world. The
New England shoemakers are now able to ex-
port their products, at a reasonable profit.
The profits on shoe making have become SO
close that few cents q pair tells the story of
profit or loss to the manufacturer. The tariff
on hides will in the end come out of the
pockets of the people If 1t should pass we will
all be forced to contribute to the Big -Four in
higher priced footwear. The leather interest
of this city is now next to iron and glass in i'm
portance, and a blow at this will be seriously
felt by a large element of our population"
HOne tanner said that if the tariff bill passed
1t would have the effect of driving American
tanneries to Canada, where hides could be
bought at legitimate prices.