The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-05
DUTY ON FLAX AND JUTE.
MORE TARIFF TALK BEFORE THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.

Manufacturer of Cloths of Course
Champions a High Tariff.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The hearings
before the committee of ways and means
were opened this morning with an argu-
Inent by E. A. Whitman of Boston in favor
Of the removal of the duty on fax. The
present rates, he said, had now been in force
nineteen years, and yet the product of fax
in this country had steadily decreased. 1t
was practically non-exstent industry. It's
culture required too much arduous manual
labor and technical skill. The product had
fallen off from $1,000, 600 pounds in 1860 to
100000 pounds in 1870, and to-day it was
SO Insignificant that no one could tell what
it was. The duty was therefore burden to
linen manufacture without being COM
pensatory to tho farmer.
DUTIES ON CLOTHES.
The next statement was made bv Mr.
Anderson of Maine, a manufacturer Of
fancy cassimeres, broadcloth, etc. He ar
gued in favor of the restoration of the du-
ties on such goods to about where they
stood prior to the change made in the tariff
law of 1888, and in opposition to the re-
moval of the duties on wool. In reply to
questions by Mr. Carlisle, the witness said
that he did not want the rates which were
increased by the tariff of 1888 reduced to
what they had been; but that he wanted the
rates which had been reduced put up to
what they had been.
A petition from the flax hackers of Pat
erson, n. j., in favor Of duties on flax was
presented by the chairman; and one from
Philadelphia signed by large number of
persons asking for free raw materials was
presented by Mr.. Carlisle.
A HIGH TARIFF ARGUMENT
The next statement was made by J. r.
Turner, Jr, of Boston, president Of the
Flax and Hemp Spinners' Association. He
complained that his business had not the
same degree of protection as other indus
tries had, and that consequently in many
lines Of goods competition with foreign
countries could not be kept up. He argued
in favor Of an increase of the duties on the
same grades Of linen goods, so that there
might be home production and q market;
aud of the retention of the present duty of
IS ton on fax straw and $50 ton ON
dressed fax. He asked for a duty of
cents q pound on all linen coarser than
1900, with an additional rate of 50 per cent
ed valorem, instead Of the present rate OF
50 per cent ad valorem.
A DUTY ON HEMP.
Mr. Combs of Kentucky, a hemp grower,
made an argument in favor of duty on
hemp and against the proposition TO put
jute, sisal, and MANILA on the free
list. He would like the duties
on jute, sisal, and manila raised
cent pound; but he would
be content if the present duties on them
were retained. In reply to questions by
Mr.. Carlisle, the witness stated that the
hemp production Of the country had gone
up from 2, 500 tons in 1869 until it was now
about 1900 tons. It had been at one time
$1,000 tons, but its use had been largely
A. -l-uAsE
other materials for ropes, and iron hoop for
cotton bagging He stated the average
production of hemp at 500 pounds to the
acre, the entire cost of it at $34 60 per ton,
and the market price at $40, SO that the
profit per acre is but S5 40, and Mr.. Carlisle
put questions to show that a much better
result would be attained by the farmer in
cultivating corn or tobacco.
WANTS THE DUTY DOUBLED.
The committee heard a statement from
William Bright, of Newark, n. j., repre- -
senting the fax dresser operatives of that
section, allied to the Knights of Labor. He
asked that the duty on dressed fax be in
creased from $40 to 800 ton. In support
of this demand he said the industry in this
country is languishing because of
insufficient protection. The cost OF
count y is S64, while in Europe tits but $35.
He SAID it required great skill TO dress fax,
and he presented to the committee specimens
OF the rough and dressed products In
answer to Mr.. Breckenridge the witness
said he asked the additional duty upon the
difference in wages alone.
THE DIFFERENCE MORE THAN COVERED.
Mr.. Breckinridge-Bu the present duty
is $40, and the difference in the cost Of labor
is but S29
The witness explained that it required
S,700 pounds of rough fax to make q ton of
the dressed product He was asked to pre-
pare in detail the figures and processes by
which he fixed upon 800 ton as the neces-
sary amount OF duty, and have them incor-
porated in his remarks. Mr.. Bright was
accompanied by several other flax dressers
Abram Bentley, a twine spinner of Brigh-
ton, Pa, asked that the present duties be
retained on jute siSal, aud MANILA. He
asserted that under the conditions that
obtained formerly. and which could be
reproduced with adequate argument, the
existence of the bagging trust would have
been impossible. Mr.. Bentley said that in
his opinion the home demand for binder
twlne can be wholly met by American
hemp.
FLAX FOR COTTON BAGGING.
The witness said that fax could be pro-
duced suitable for cotton bagging at from
to cents pound. 1t had been done, and
could be done again.
NJ pOtuU, On IuOtkOu VI DnJ AAos
the committee decided to have all manu-
scripts prepared by witnesses filed without
reading, tho authors being allowed to make
brief oral statements in explanation.
Several representatives Of jute mills made
arguments and presented memorials favor
ing free raw jute. Other memorials were
presented in support of the same duties
asked for by the Flax Growers and Spin
ners' Association.
CAPACITY OF THE JUTE MILLS.
Charles E. Pearce of ST. Louis read a
statement showing that the jute mills in the
country can manufacture 10000, 900 yards
OF cotton bagging, while the total amount
required by 1000, 900 bale crop of cotton
Is but 40, 100000 yards, leaving surplus OF
25,O00,0 600 yards. The material used in this
manufacture is suitable for nothing else,
except waste paper stock The witness
made comparison of the cost Of Calcutta
and American bagging, showing that with
quite butts free duty Of at least cents per
yard upon the manufactured product must
be maintained, in order to maintain the In
guustry in this country. II the present duty
OF 30 ton on jute butts Is retained, then
tne duty on the manufactured product must
pc 25S cents per yard. One of these combi-
nations OF rates Mr.. Pearce asked to have