The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-01
CLASS AND THE DUTIES.
,eosT OF THE MEN BEFORE THE
costMIFTEE PROTECTIONIsTs.

with ANY LaDOr on the race OF the
varth-He Thought of Moving to
Germany.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Although the
,zavs ana means committee had assigned
today to the hearing of persons interested
IN the manufacture Of glass and earthen
ware. the committee first listened to an
argument from Robert NJ. Thompson of
Nsv York in favor of the free Importation
os copper ore intended for expectation as
refined copper.
Jesse B. Kimes of Philadelphia asked for
an increased duty on China clay.
William N. Wilson of South Carolina
advocated the restoration of the duty i'm
posed upon clay previous to the law of 1888
as an act of humanity. 1t would protect
tbe white man of the south, and in pro-
tecting him it would protect the colored
man.
Mr.. Bodine of New Jersey impressed
upon the committee the necessity of restoring
the rates of duty which prevailed prior
to 1888 on cylinder window glass and bottles,
green and French. Sipce the act of 1883
foreign glass had been taking the place of
American glass, although there existed in
the United States furnaces enough to
produce glass for the whole country.
J. n. Morse Of Trenton, N. j., represent
ing the potters of the United States, argued
for the re-enactment of the package
clause" as far as it applied to earthenware.
THE AID vALoREM SYSTEM BLAMED.
Ex-Congressman J. Hart Brewer of
Trenton, also representing the potters,
thought ali the trouble grew out of the
system of ad valorem duties. The pottery
industry had never been adequately pro-
ok1d ba mi or1stfo oNf-
urers did not sell all the goods used in the
United States was that they were not able
at the present time to produce them.
j. G.. Aldrich of Pittsburg, representing
the tile industry, favored revision of the
tariff so far as the classification of that
article was concerned, and also an increase
Of the duty on what was known as plain
tile.
After brief recess the committee list
ened to an argument from George A. Mac
beth of Pittsburg, who is manufacturer
Of lamp-glass. He stated that be manu-
tsctured 200 styles of lamp-globes, and out
Of the 200 styles only twenty were COM
peted with by foreign producers. One
OF the principal articles used in
his business was soda ash, which now bore
duty Of % per cent, and he favored re-
duction of the duty on that article. He
would take the duty received from soda
ash last year and buy the soda ash manu-
factory at Syracuse four times over. He
bought foreign soda ash, though he could
get the domestic ash cheaper. An increase
OF tho duty, he argued, would not cut off the
importation Of foreign glassware or creek
cry. 1t would make people who wanted that
identical kind OF ware pay more for it than
now, but 1t would not prevent its importa-
tion. Foreign and domestic producers
would compete as much as ever. The only
effect would be to increase the price of $50
kinds Of lamp glass for which he had no
competition. He wished to have the duty
senlittei on soda ash, carbonate of potash,
and lead.
GERMAN COMPETITION.
Mr. Bayne-If the Germans came into
competition with you, with their lower
rates OF wages, could you compete with
them on your $50 kinds of lamp shades
outside Of this countrys
Mr. Macbeth--Give me the free material
OF tree trade, such as England has and
give me the proper products Of my labor,
and defy any competition on the face of
the earth.
Mr. Bayne-And pay your workmen the
wages you now pay them!
Ar. Macbeth will pay them more.
Nlr. Bayne-How much do you pay your
Tdrkmen on the averagea
Nr. Macbeth-About 81 so day.
Ar Bayne-Do you claim that you
pay your mon 93 OU b Qay, IL Uu9
t7efINans could manufacture exactly the
Samekind of chimney and employ the same
amount Of labor at, say, 50 rs days
Mr.. Macbeth-Yes, sir.
Mr. Bayne-You could under this condi-
slon cohpete with German manufacturers.
Mr. tacbeth--Yes, sir.
Mr. Bayne-On the hypothesis that
Amerlcan workmen are more efficient and
skllltul, Ind better organized than German
WORKING nd unu
pete?
Mr. MaNbeth-Yes, sir.
THOUGHT OF MOVING TO GERMANY.
=. Mr. Bayhe-Did you contemplate at any
Sifne moving your works to Germany!
Mr. Macbeth--Yes sir.
AR. Bayne1-DiG you know of the unskill-
tainess and Inefdciency of the German
workmen2
Mr.. Macbeth II was going there to ex-
emine into it,
Mr.. Bayne-Slppose you had found Ger
man workmen to re Inefficient?
Mr.. Macbethr4I would have taken my
workmen from hare.
Mr.. Bayne-WSuld you have paid thu
wages you paid here's
Mr. Macbeth-NS, SIR
4, Mr. Bayne-WhaE would you have paid
Mr. Macbeth-wAat .ould get them
for.
Mr. Bayne expressed his doubts as to any
svorkmen leaving PAtsburg to work in
.Termany at lower wases.
MI Macbeth said that his LEAKING idea in
gong to Germany was the cheaIoess of the
material and the plantl
Mr. Bayne-Was Labor an eIemsnt.
Mr. Macbeth-Of coutse labor was an
element.
in reply to aquestion byM Carlisle, Mr..
macbeth expressed his belief that aot
man, woman, or child in this country paid
saoor more than he could hAlp. [Laugher. !
IL be had free trade in his raw material he
would be perfectly willing to have flee
trade in his product.
NOT OPPOSED TO TRUSTS.
Speaking of the lead trust, Mr.. Macbeth
said that he was not opposed to trusts.
Anese were business concerns. The United
states government was a pastner in the
lead trust
Mr. Bayne inquired whether the govern
inent was partner in the sugar trust, and
received an affirmative answer, as he did
als9 TO his next question as to wha5her trusts
Sut up the price Of products.
Mr. Flower-Do trusts increase the price
OF an article more than a corporation!
Mr. Macbeth-That depends Laughter.
lhe chairman inquired whether the CON
sumner OF lamp chimneys would be benefited
bY allowing Mr.. Macbeth's raw material as
well as the finished product to be ad-