The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-20
Matthews Learned q Lot Of
Things at the National
Convention.
Explains the Injustice Wrought by
the Tariff Law ON His Line
Of Trade.

ing most of his time while in the eaat to
study of tariff questions. The result
that he found the Mckinley bill full Of
onslstencies and brought the influence
ihe convention to bear upon that high
If statesman with view to having some
these glaring inconsistencies straight
out. So completely absorbed was he
le absent with convention business that
found little or no time to compare notes
b fashionable tailors in the east as to
new things and styles to be worn this
However, he was able to say in reply
in inquiry from the reporter on this line
rough goods will be universally worn
fall, largely in black. 1.-THE rough che
$50 he said, will be in demand in both
* and fancy colors. Plaids are to be
n very generally. There will be no rad
changes in either style or fabrics.
Trousers will be worn little smaller
double-breasted sacks will be in high
or.''
Er. Mathews was much more at home on
It he saw at the convention than on
stions of style in mems dress. Speak
Of the convention, he said it was a grand.
monious meeting of Rood-looking men.
was profitable, too" he said, lin every
and We got at tho bottom of things.
found ourselves out of joint with the
# or the tariff out of joint with us and
got at the bottom of tariff facts as far
hey concerned us. Twas placed at the
d Of the tariff committee of the conven-
and the position entailed much hard
br, but became enthusiastic in tnestudy
he question. and think, mastered It
10 fully. We came to the conclusion
we wanted an equalization of the tariff
equalization that would place cloths
clothing materials on an equal footing
ready made clothing on the import
pr. Labor is 200 per cent higher here
b in Europe, and we get no protection
tever from European labor.
You can say" he continued, shat it is
universal opinion of those who attended
convention that they deprecate raising
duty upon wooden goods. We asked
the duty be made the same upon man
btured goods that it is upon the mate
and We also asked protection for our
y. At present we have none at all.
duty is IS per cent ad valorem and 40
70 We pay 40 per cent ad valorem and
ents pound on wooden goods. On silk
be the ad valorem is 80 per cent. Now
duty on ready made clothing amounts
per cent and fraction, while the duty
lothing materials from which we make
nents is 81 per cent. This shows that
present tariff discriminates against our
mess in favor of the foreign manufao-
rs"
+. Matthews proceeded to denounce the
tice under the present tariff regulations
PRINTING Wholesale importations, duty
OF clothing BY the wealthy class IS
the $500 personal effects clause in the
b. We asked to have the amount re-
ID to $500 or $3.50. The abuses prac-
under the present regulations reach
ST, 900 to 100000 year. A
can take orders for high-cost suits and
q boy to Europe and import for $500
ming worth 81 600 here duty free. Or
an buy for $3.50 there that which is
h $500 here and bring it in free of
duty. This practice is going on con
tly. Here is another argument: If I
90 to Europe and get $500 worth of
peg and import the garments free, why
Pnal use in the same way? No, I can't
bat, but can get my clothing.
he tailors have not asked more than
they be protected in their trade and
pc Disseminated against. Look at the
rdity of the present tariff regulations
personal effects. A lady can 70 over
nrope, to Paris, and buy $25, 900 worth
Eesses, in silks and satins, which are
to the importer 90 highly, and bring
immense wardrobe free of duty. If a
maker brings over dress, even to be
in her rooms as q sample, she must
duty on it, and that to the last notch.
hSnk that 10 1uk md
hst 1t. Why lady can bring personal
Is over duty free, according to her
be. II she can fill fifty trunks, it is all
anne. There is no limit to her free i'm
etions except her own wealth. I say
these free importations by the rich in
United States reach nearly $lO,OOO,-
year. You see nearly 10O,-
people bringing over 5000 worth
will make $5,OOO,O 600. There is
valorem duty on silk of 80 per cent.
how can the silk importer compete
lst the Paris and London merchants
this state of things2 The duty on
|ete with European tailors whose
lean customers bring their garments
Ety free. to the extent of $500 head2
on see," continued Mr.. Matthews. sthat
are taxed II per cent more than man
ured clothing. There can be no diver
bf opinion about that. Now we want
uty equaliZed in this respect. and we
an additional duty to protect our labor.
ave asked congress to limit the per-
effects allowance 1.travelers and
SITS to $3.50. That will cut off the abuse
what, but it will not abate it wholly.
manufacturer in New York told
he other day that unless the duty were
lied he would commence manufactur-
Europe and quit this country alto
Il. We want an increase of the tariff
he manufactured article, an increase
will equa,ize the present discrimina-
md give us some protection for our
also. We sent letter to MIR. McKin-
king him to change his bill SO as to
such change. We also asked to
a stop put to downright smuggling
cover of the personal effects regula-
At present the steward of every ves-
consists of clothing either for man or
n. There are scores of young men
to and from Europe who are paid to
out the full limit of the personal eff
clause on every trip, when in fact they.
ny of them, do not own second suit
world.
Whist Do Yea Knsw
the Superb Pullman Dining Can
have been recently placed in service
90 Union Pacific, ''The Overland
~ They run on the fast Vestibuls
- between Council Bluffs and Denvez
the Limited Fast Nail'' betveen
Pll Bluffs and Portland.
% want to 9se q sumptuous meal
travelling. don't fail to take the train
ich these diners run. Meals, which
% surpassed in any Of the hrst-clseG