Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-01-01
THE TARIFF HEARING.

bA0oF topper Ores clay and POtteF1e9-
Glass Question.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-The Ways and
ment from Robert NJ. Thompson, of New
York, in favor of the free Importation of
copper ore intended for expectation as re.
fined copper.
L. L. Bodine, of New jersey, impressed
upon the committee the necessity Of restor-
ing the rates of duty which prevailed prior
to 1883 on cylinder window glass and bottles,
green and French. Since the act of 1888
foreign glass had taken the place of Ameri-
can glass, although there existed in the
United States furnaces enough to produce
glass for the whole country.
J. Moses Of Trenton, n; J., represented
the potters of the United States, and argued
for the re-enactment of the package
clause" as far "a it applied to earthenware.
Ex-Congressman s. Hart Brewer of Tren-
ton, also representing the pottsrs, thought
the pottery industry had never been ade.
quately protected. Il was his honest
opinion that if something was not done to
check the importation Of German goods,
bohemian wares would have the market of
the United States within FIVE yesrs.
George Macbeth, of Pittsburg, who is a
manufacturer of lamp glass stated that he
manufactured two hundred styles of lamp
glass. He wished to have the duties re-
mitted on soda ash, carbonate of potash and
lead.
Mr.. Bayne--H the Germans came into
| competition with you with their lower rates
OF wages could you compete with them on
your 200 varieties of lamp shades outside Of
this country2
Mr.. Macbeth-Give me free material, or
tree trade, such as England has and give me
the proper products of my labor and I defy
Mr.. Payne-Did you contemplate at any
time moving your works to Germany?
Mr.. Macbeth-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Bayne-Did you know of the unskiI-
fullness and inef6ciency Of the German work
man.
Mr.. Macbeth was going there to examine
into it.
Mr.. Bayne-Suppose you had found the
German workmen to be inefficient.
Mr.. Macbeth would have taken my men
from here.
Mr.. Bayne-would you pay the wages you
pay here.
MI. Macbeth-No, sir.
Mr.. Bayne-What would you have paid
Mr.. Macbeth-What could get them for.
Mr.. Bayne expressed his doubt as to any
workman leaving Pittsburgh to work in
Germany at lower wages. Mr.. Macbeth said
that his leading idea in going to Germany
was cheapnees of material and plant.
Mr.. Bayne-Was labor an elements
Mr.. Macbsth-Of course labor was an ele
ment.
In reply to question by Mr.. Carlisle, Mr..
Macbeth expressed his belief that not a man,
woman or child in this country paid labor
more than he could help. Naughter.) If he
had lad free trade in his raw materials he
would be perfectly willing to have free trade
| in ia yrO6uok Cpaobino 0f he loo1
Mr.. Macbeth said he was not opposed to
trusts Those were business concerns. The
United States government was q partner in
the lead trust.
MIR. Bayne inquired whether the govern
ment was partner in the sugar trust and
received an affirmative answer, as he did also
to his next question as to whether trust
put up the price of a product.
Mr.. Flower-Do trusts increase an articles
price more than corporation?
Mr.. Macbeth-That depends. daughter
The chairman inquired whether the con-
sumner of lamp chimneys would be benefited
by allowing Mr.. Macbeth's raw material as
well as the finished products to be admitted
free of duty. A dozen chimneys were now
sold at thirty cents. How much would they
sell at if the duty were left Oft
Mr.. Macbeth-The difference would be
three or four cents.
Mr.. Gear-That is to the retailer. Would
the woman who goes to the store to buy q
chimney get it for less!
Mr.. Macbeth--Ny individual opinion ia
that doubt it. Uaughter.)
James Gillander of Philadelphia said lamp
ohimneys largely used in this country were
manufactured here and were sold for
less than imported chimneys. The imported
article was used principally on special lamps
and was bought by people of means. He did
not agree with Mr.. Macbeth that the work.
ingmen of Germany were less efficient than
those of the United States in the industry
which he represented. He did not want free
raw material in the glass industry. Every
article which needed protection should be
protected, but the glass manufacturers should
not be compelled to pay higher duty on his
raw material tnan was imposed on the finish
ed article. He advocated the increase of duty
on various grades of glass. If his raw mater
ial as we'll as the finished article was admit
ted free be could not pay his workmen the
present wages and compete with the foreign
goods.
D. G. Ripley, president of the American
Flint and Lime Glass association, advocated
protective duty on cut glass. He presented
several specimens of Belgian glass and
averred that they could be laid down here at
a less price than they could be merely cut for
in this country. g. L. King, representing
the Crystal Plate Glass Co. of st. Louis, |
favored the retention of the present duty on
pressed glass. He only wished that pro-
vision should be inserted in the law to make
It more explicit.