The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-10
THEY WANT PROTECTION.
GROWERS ARGUE FOR A DUTY
ON BEANS.

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Bone Button Manufacturers Ask an
Increase OF Duty manufacturers of
Spectacles and Eyeglasses Want the
Tariff Adjusted to Their Business.
Other Interests Heard.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9-The ways and
means committee this morning listened
again to the needs Of farmers in the way of
protection. Growers of beans in Central
New York asked for duty of so cents per
bushel. One bean grower was willing to
protect sugar or rice, or any industry in
this country, and in return he wanted pro-
lection for beans. The duty should be made
special
Arguments were made in favor of in
creasing the duty on reed and cane for
chair bottoms, and also against an increase.
Arguments were also presented on both
sides of the question of increasing or abol-
ishing the duty on wood pulp for paper
stock.
DUTY ON WOOL GREASE.
A strong delegation, representing New
England shoe and leather interests, argued
against an increased duty upon wool de
greas or wool grease, used in dressing
leather. They had heard that the mem
haden oil men were seeking to have the
duty on this article increased In order that
their product might take its place.
Manufacturers of New York wanted the
duty on starch and dexterine fixed at 3
cents per pound.
BUTTON MEN WANT AN INCREASE.
Several manufacturers of the cheaper
grades of buttons asked for an increased
duty on products which compete with
theirs. One of these was Leopold Moritz OF
Philadelphia, who spoke very broken
English. He told Of the depreciation of
the bone button trade, resulting from for
elgn competition. Buttons cost him TO
manufacture 81 25, aud cents was pure
labor. To explain the process Of manu-
tacture, witness produced a bag full of
specimens, and began by holding up
slim bone, which, he said,
was the lowest grade used, and yet he could
hardly pay for them. He rapidly explained
the various processes in broken dialect, and
partly succeeded in establishing his claim
respecting the producing of buttons. He said
that when he tried to sell his buttons he was
told that he must meet the foreign rate.
That was 80 cents. 81 tell you, that made
feel weak" said the witness, plaintively,
and he went on to tell how he was too
old to 60 out and learn a new trade
to take the place of the one which he had
followed all his life, and must give up unless
conditions are changed for the better He
wanted duty of 25 per cent. imposed on
foreign bone buttons, and when he had
inisheds he was told by Representative
Flower that he had, in his homely way,
made as effective an argument as had been
heard by the committee up to this time
Some New England cutlery men wanted
the duty on razors increased.
sPECTACLEs AND EYEGLASSES.
Spectacle and eyeglass makers from New
England wanted the committee TO admit
optical and lens glass free of duty, as we'll
as red ochre earth, used in polishing lenses,
the latter not being produced at all in this
country. They also asked to have the
duty on lenses increased to keep out cheap
German lenses, which were only ground on
one side and were destructive of eyesight.
Spectacle and eyeglass makers would
like a duty of so cents per dozen
duty was 45 per cent. ad yalorem, and a
change would prevent undervaluation, as
well as afford some protection against the
prison labor of the old world. The witness
produced samples and said that medium
quality of spctacies made by himself was
sold for 81 So a dozen.
Mr.. Flower-You don't mean to tell me
that anybody can make spectacles cheaper
than that9
Witness-Yes, sir. Here is a German
copy of that sample that sells at from 60 to
50 cents per dozen, after paying, it is
alleged, 45 per cent. duty
Fur hat manufacturers asked to have the
duties of their wares readjusted and in
creased, to save their business from extinc-
tion by English and Belgian competition.