New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-04

PRACTICAL MEN ENLIGHTEN TIE WAYS AND
MrA&c cOMNiITTFF


Ways ard Means has at last granted the privilege OF
| public hearing to the representatives. Il one 0l '"e
important industries Of the country which II proposes
10 strike down. 4 subcommittee, consisting oi "V9'
Mont conery. Bryan and Reed today listened 10 'o
| arguments O. committee OF tie lumbcrmen OF me
United states IN opposition 10 the BryaN u" - p"
sawed lumber aths. shingles. etc. on the zee ~
The interest which j. felt In this subject WIS "',c-
by the large attendance. Those who spoke Wee T. W.
Goodyear, Of Buffalo. Democrat. Dht not rI'c
Trader who with his brother, has extensive iuhloer
interests ia Pennsylvania ii. VI. Loud OF N 9aO'e'
Mich; W b. DiclcIsOn. Of Chapman An anu o. =
O'Bnen Of saltwater. MINI.
Mr. GOODYEAR at the outset remarked that MS COM
mtee represented domestic industry In wlnch Is III
vested about $4,000 900 Of capital upon when aoon'
600 900 persons depended for support. ana WHc i
the largest ingle manufacturing industry In tc 'hileu
States In few words lie brushed away Tie assertion
that lumber Is a "raw material" The American iuH-
herman does not ask for an increase OF duties uut inc
conditions are such that reduction OF the present
duties will demoralze the industry and cause widc
spread disaster. The present rates are less lElh ~
Der cent ad valOem. Mr.. Goodyear eNphIheu the
natnr,, OF the Canadian competition. Ihc American
must make large investments In timber land or IN
" stumpage' In Canada the lumberman buys " tim
Der limit and the small royalty which he pays to the
Dominion Government Is not due until the logs nave
been cut; he is not required TO Invest large amount
OF money in land he has no taxes TO pay wages arc
much lower provisions and suppes IRE cheaper More
over in British Columbia the Government encourages
the lumber industry by RENTING half the stumpage
in case the lumber exported and the luInberlneh
have the advantage of Chinese cheap labor. The pres
ent cond OF the lumber industry in the Pacific ana
southern States Is precarlous and II would De para
yzsd # not DESTROYED by removal OF the duties while
il is an open question whether the American consumer
would lie benefited by repeal Of the duties.
Mr.. Bryan's cross-examnation OF Mr. Goodyear uiu
that
the latter had the advantage which actual pracuca
knowledge OF q subject always gives man over an
other who knows little nothing about H.
Mr. Loud. who followed, gave the Free Traders still
less comfort. He knows all about the LUMBER business
OF Michigan and its relations TO Canadian competition
and what Mr.. Bryan does not know about those SUD
ects would fill large volume. The Nebraska states
man seemed 10 think that, because man earns only
5000 in six and half months In the mills, he must DC
idle and earn nothing during the remainder OF the year
Mr. Loud quietly Informed him that. during the months
IN which the mills closed, the men are WORKING III
the woods or otherwise employed In The lumber III
dustry and that the average yearly earnings OF man
are 800 to 5000. Common laborers receive 81 %
dav md the wages range from that to 81 day for
the most skilled labor employed. Mr.. Loud FRANKLY
admitted that lie did not know whether the repeal
of the duties would result In giving domcsuc
consumers or Canada the benefit After inc
enactment Of The Mckinley law, which i'm
Western Union Telegraph Company 10000 cedar
poles for which there was market until that tme be-
cause the company found 1t cheaper to get It's supply
from Canada The filling OF this one contract had
given employment 10 labor representing about 100
families in Michigan and had required the payment
probably Of 100000 In wages.
In his cross-examlnation Of Mr. Loud, Statesman
BRYAN seemed anxious to show that II the destruction
OF the lumber industry deprived the persons employed
I'm II OF employment they would not displace persons
employed In other industries. and Mr.. Reed finally
observed:
"You do not seem to know that one OF the great
objects Of the Democratic party is to compel men to
do what they don't want to do"
Mr. Bryan retorted "And one OF the great objects
Of the Republican party is TO prevent people from
buying where they want to-
Mr.. Reed rejoincd; Yes II they want to patron'ne
foreigners at the expense OF Americans"
There that col0quy ended. .
The cause OF the southern lumbermen was cfccuvey
argued by W. u. DlckersOn, or Alabama. :" IN inc
SOUTH said he, we have more standing timber than
there is in all the OF the country Our Industry
almost unknown. Our product sells for 70 80 less
thousand than IL did in 1880 II the repeal OF duties
shOud reduce tDe price or derange the business we
would simply be Obliged TO quit or run at loss.
Every small concern would be crushed. The lumber |
industry OF the South IS In prccaous condition and
II could not stand legislative Interference
Mr.. O'Bnen. OF Minnesota, tried to set the Demo. |
cratic members Of the sub committce right on several
points and assured them TINT the effect OF the repeal
OF the duties would be simply TO reduce the wages OF
labor employed In the lumber industry without bene-
fitting the domestic consumer.