Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01
WASHINGTON CULLINGS.
Programme Of New Year Receptions
at The White HOuS
MRS. BLAINE WILL NOT RECEIVE.
Indian Religions Developed After
Their Introduction TO the
Pale Faces
MRS. BLAINE WILL NOT RECEIVE.
ESPECIAL DrspArcHEs TO THE szconD-usuos.l
TARIFF QUESTIONS.
Discussion Before the Commission on
ImDorted Glass

Discussion Before the Commission on
Imported Glass.
WASHINGTON, December 31st-Although
the Ways and Means Committee had as
signed to-day to the hearing Of persons
interested in manufactures aud earthen
ware, the Committee first listened to an ar
guInent from Robert NJ. Thompson of New
York in favor of the free importation of
COPPER ore intended for expectation as re-
fined copper.
|. 1. Bodine of New Jersey impr essed
upon the Committee the necessity OF re-
storing the rates Of duty which prevailed
prior to 1888 on window glass and bottles.
Since the Act of 1883 foreign glass has been
taking the place of American glass,
although there existed in the United
States furnaces to produce glass for the
whole country.
representing the potters, thought all their
trouble grew out of the ad valorem duties.
The pottery industry has never been ade-
quately protected. If something was not
done to check the importation of German
goods the Bohemian wares would have
the markets of the United States within
five years and American potteries would
have to succumb or reduce wages very
materially.
George A. Macbeth, of Pittsburg, a man.
ufacturer of lamp glass, said he manu-
factured 200 styles of lamp glass, and of
that 300 styles only twenty were competed
with by foreign producers. One of the
principal articles used in his business was
soda ash, and he favored q reduction of
the duty on that article. He would take
the duty received from soda ash last year
and buy the soda ash mandatory at SYRIA
cuss four times over.
He bought soda ash, and believes he
could manufacture it at the rate of 60 cents
hundred pounds. The present price was
81 As.
Another ingredient which entered into
his manufactured articles was carbonate of
potash, which bore duty of 20 per cent.
There was not enough of that article in this
country to supply his factory alone. An
increase Of duty, he argued, would not
cut off the importation of foreign glass
ware and crockery. Il would make people
who wanted that identical kind of ware
pay more for it than now. but would not
prevent its importation. The only effect
would be to increase the price of $50 kinds
of lamp glass for which he had no compe-
tition.
He wished to have the duty remitted on
soda-ash, carbonate of potash end Lad.
"Give me free trade or free mat rial, such
as England has" said Macbeth, and give
me the proper products of my labor, and
defy any competition on the face of the
earth"
Mr.. Boyne-"And pay your workmen
the wages you now pay them ?''
Macbeth will pay them more" Mac
beth admitted that he at one time contem-
plated moving his works to Germany. He
said German workmeD were not as efficient
and skillful as Americans, but had he found
il difficult work with them, he would
have taken some from here"
Boyne asked him if he would have paid
them the wages he pays here, and Macbeth
admitted that he would not.
His leading idea in going to Germany
was the cheapness of material and plant.
If he had free trade in his raw materials
he would be perfectly willing to have free
trade in his products.
The Chairman inquired whether the con-
sumer of lamp chimneys would be bene.
fitted by allowing the raw material as we'll
as the finished products to be admitted
free.
Mr. Macbeth said the difference in price
would be or cents a dozen.
Mr. Gear-"That is to the retailer. Would
the woman who goes to store to buy a
chimney get it for less? ?"
Mr.. Macbeth-"My individual opinion is
that doubt it."
James Gillander of Philadelphia said the
lamp chimneys mostly used 10 this country
were manufactured here and sold for less
than the imported chirnneys. Imported
chimneys were used principally on special
lamps and were bought by people of means
He did not want free raw material, and ad-
vocated au increase of duty on various
grsdes Of glass.
If his raw material as well as finished ar
ticle were admitted free, he could not pay
the present wages and compete with foreign
OOnNc