The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-01-07

The first gentleman to appear before the
ways and means committee this morning
was +. w. Cheney. president Of the Silk as-
socia,ion of America. He said the senate
bill WAS acceptable 10 him.
Britton Richardson, secretary Of the
same association. advocated the imposition
OF a compound duty on silk. lie said about
half the silk consumed in this country was
of American manufacture. The great oh
stucle which American manufacturers had
10 contend against was undervaluaticn. He
did not believe that any duty would bo laid
on raw silk high enough 10 protect the silk
growers of this country without crppling
the manufacturer.
Philip Walker chief of the silk bureau of
the department of agriculture, submitted
specimens of cocoon and silk produced
from those raised in the United States. He
dwelt upon the importance of building up
the silk industry IL the United states. The
department of agriculture hHd purchased u
good many cocoons from the ladies' silk
society which hnd collected them IN Cali
fornin.
Joseph Newman. of San Francisco favored
the imposition du on raw silk,
John Dymond. president of the Sugar
Planters association, read n memorial for
protection sufficient 10 enable the United
states 10 produce its own sugar. Dymond
sand free sugar from the Sandwich Islands
lid not affect the price of sugar IN tins
country and was not therefore detrimental
10 the sugar industry in the United States.
Ex.GOy. Yarmouth, of Louisiana. spoke
4 sunie length. lie said during political
campaigns in his state he hnd been met at
various points by Representative So-nnd- so
ia mud 4 ia. t,It
m favor of Il reduction of ~ per cent. in the
arm on sugar. In f0ct these speeches
ind not been 80 successful As
he wosld wish in converting hiA
democratic friends. Yarmouth Thought
the effect of n bounty after years expert
lnuni would be the destruction of the sugar
industry. III YOU want friends ia Luusi-
ana said he. you must not touch the
sugar tariff. We cannot stand reduction
of half cent a pound. II would be lnin
Ius 10 the industry, and without sugar the
city of New Orleans would be depppulated." /"
II the committee could guarantee to plant
ers that II succo eding congress would not
disturb II he would DC glad 20 nccopt n
bounty of cents pound ON the sugar he
rnised, He Wunted. however, TO stand or
the same ground with other protected in
dustries.
Gov. Gear remarked; "You don't stand
on the same ground with them. you don't
produce anything like enough to supply the
demands OF the country
Yarmouth replied: 1--WE bid iair to it We
are gwen the encouragement extended 10
lther industries. What We want is 10 be let
alune.'
Representative Peters. of Knnsns. said he
was Interested IN silk, suglr aud salt. hc
skod protection for his silk rails NJ c0nstit-
ueits hy u suitable duty on raw silk. lie
cited statistics showing the knnsis sugar
product from sorghum caue and how IL was
increasing under the protection of tariff.
Mr.. Peters doesn't think much of q bonn v.
IL is u departure from the tarif poll, v. with
which the people are familiar. IT. impOsl-
lion would invite constant agitation of the
question to the detriment Of The industry.
KANSAS needs additional capital a. put up
sorghum sugar mills. but that capital can
not be obtained under n bounty. The wit
ness, however, argued strongly in favor OF
the retention of the duty, and turning his
remarksinto political vein. he said there
was feeling of unrest among farmers ia
his state which II not nllhyed might result
in making kansns with its 5000 rcpubli-
can majority n democratic stAto.
Henry J. Oxnnnt of Grand Island, Neb.
made an argument in favor Of protection a.
the beet sugar industry, predicting tlnt
with the retention of the present duty beet
sugar would within twenty years outStrip
sugar cane and sorghum in the production
Of sugar. The reduction of the duty would
kill the industry.
Prof. witey Of the agricultural depart
ment, did not anticipate very high results
from Kansas sorghum. M n 10 per cent ar
tice like sorghum could not compete with n
IL per cent article like the beet. However
It made excellent alcohol and he thought
Kansas stood in its own light in preventing
its people from making alcohol.
In secret session the chairman was in
structed 10 report tomorrow his ndminis-
tration bill.