The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-07


cholera and yellow fever in its lists.
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rRoTECTIoNIsTs AND THE Ma
TToNAL WAYS AND MEANS COM
MITrEE.
We have from time to time referred
to the hearings going on before the
WAYS and Means Committee, now sit.
ting in Washington. These hearings
furnish a very interesting fund for
thought apart from the information OF
various kinds brought out in the testi-
mony. This testimony, without excep-
hon in the slightest detail, is in the line
of the selfish demands OF special inter
ests, the witnesses summoned before the
committee having, "a rule, been care
fully selected az being thoroughly
drilled in that leaning Of economic
thought favored by the majority Of the
committee, which WAS so packed in It's
Republican element by Speaker Reed
10 the first instance, as TO represent the
most Incorporating protsctionist sen
iiment.
There is very frequently sharp con-
nict Of iuterests, a. in the case of the
New England manufacturers with re-
ference 10 the introduction Of certain
raw materials free. and the producers
Of those raw materials in different parts
u the Union. II may be remarked
that this conflict between the industrial
interests Of New England, and the in
dustrisl interests not only OF producers,
but also Of manufacturers elsewbers.
seem. 10 extend to every form Of raw
material. This was illustrated in the
hearing on Saturday. Mr. Whitman.
II Boston, made strong argument 10
favor Of the entire removal OF the duty
90 fax. on the ground that the product
had ALLEN of in spite Of the tax. to IN
amount too small to DO estimated. On
he other hand, the importation Of
linsn, in the Manufacture Of which ne
vas engaged had increased to $4,000
900. which he claimed could be saved
oy placing oil grades of flax on the free
list.
Mr.. Bright. Of Newark, n. j., de-
manded, in direct opposition to Nr.
Whitman, that the duty on dressed
aa1 be advanced from $40 ton to 800,
tho laDguishing of this industry, in his
opinion, being due to insufficient pro
lection. Mr. Leslie Combs, Of Ken
lucky, a producer was equally urgent
that greater degree Of protection be
granted those whom he represented.
There was similar conflict Of IN
tsrests in the matter Of jute. Severn
witnesses expressed themselves very
strongly against the proposition to put
II on the free list. In opposition to
.hese views. one Of the witnesses before
he committee read telegram from
one Of tho largest firms of msnufsc-
lurefs Of this article in the United
States, in which it was stated that they
would be compelled TO suspend unles,
iute was placed on the .free list, and
this. they claimed, was the position OF
others engaged IN the business Of jute
manufacturing.
These are only few Of the instances
ofthe conflict Of interests that has bean
daily disclosed in the hearings before
the COMMITTEES. Every witness wishes
to be protected in his special product
whe:ker natural or manufactured. They
oil agree as to the necessity Of proteo-
ton 90 far ~ the special products
which they have for sale are concerned,
but they radically disagree in very
many cases as 20 whether raw material
sball be relieved of the present duties
or not.
These hearings throw considerable
light uron the growing inclination
among manufacturers Of many articles
10 favor raw material. and this is Ger.
tain to become a more and more i'm
portant ground for contention in tho
future in the ranks Of the protection
isis. blr. Leslie Combs. in the hearing
on January 4, expressed the sentiment
Of many producers in various lines.
when he indignantly denounced the
manufacturers for directing all the
benefit of tho changes in the tariff 10
themselves" This is precisely what he
might have expected, as the wholesystem
Of protection az it exists in this country
At present, 10 founded upon the princi-
pie Of the grossest and most unscrupu-
lous selGshness. No just-minded man
can read the report Of these hearing.
without a feeling Of shame for the
grasping character Of thuman nature,
and Of the most bitter opposition to Al
economic system, which, robbing the
consumer. is only concerned as to how
to divide the spoils between the classes
for whose advantage alone it was estab-
lished.