The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13
HOME GROWN MACARoNI.
SERIOUSLY NEEDS THE PRoTEC-
TIoS OF THE TARIFF.
II Uncle Sam Ever Enters Into Unre-
stricted Competition with PaupeR
mncaroni He VIII Drop Into the
Soup, IL the Manufactures Knows
Himself. -.

WASHINGTON, Sept. e.-When the
ways and means committe resumed its
session this morning Mr. w. o. Whit
comb Of the Whitcomb metallic bedstead
company OF birmingham, Conn, ana
John Day and ". H. Edsall, representa-
lives Of II. /. Judd & %. of New York.
manufacturers OF bsdsteads and uphol-
stery appeared and presented argu-
ments IA favor OF the retention of the
present duties On the above mentioned
articles and Modification OF the duties
on the raw materials entering into them
Mr. whitcomh stated that he was for
merly an importer Of metallic bedsteads.
and becoming convinced OF the rapid de-
mand for these goods In this country
had decided 20 establish a plant In
America. He said that his company had
invested $4,000 in the business and now,
after having operated for about four
wears, was getting a solid foothold. He
declared that his company was able TO
sell goods at from 10 to 20 per cent less
than he was able to sell them when he
was an importer. He contended that the
wares paid for the manufacture Of these
goods OF this country were from 100 TO
200 per cent higher than those paid In
foreign countries.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Hop
lxins. republican Of Illinois, as ia
whether the present tariff increased the
price Of the goods to the consumer, Mr..
Whiteonb answered that his class OF
goods was sold much cheaper than for
uerly. When asked what result a re-
duction Of the tariff would have on his
business he replied: 1T would be i'm
possible fer our company to compete with
the foreign manufacturer under a reduc-
ton Of tariff unless we make very
material reduction in the wages or the
employees, but under protective tarim
we are selling bedsteads for IS, for which
l received $3.50 when 1 was an importer.
1t would have been suicidal for US to
have started a business without protee-
tive tariff.
tective tariff would be OF vast benefit 10 the
consumer for the reason that his company
would be able 10 sell the goods much
cheaper, as the profits old not depend 50
much upon the price as upon the amount
OF goods sold
Mr.. Toomey, treasurer and secretary of
York was next heard in the interest OF
the macaroni industry IN this country. Mr..
Toomey gave an extended history OF the
manufacture Of macaroni and stated that
five million bushels OF wheat were used IN
the manufacture Of this article. According
TO his statement Wuen TINS COMMONLY Was
first manufactured in this country, it sold
for 20 cents per pound, while IL now sold
for cents per pound. He said that since
the Mckinley act, which imposed a duty
OF 2 cents a pound on macaroni, many fac
tories have doubled their capacity. In COM
pairing wages paid to employees in this and
foreign countries, he stated that the for
eigners paid 30 cents per day TO men ana
Is cents per day to women, while his COM
pany paid from $ TO $40 per week TO girls
and boys and from SIS TO SIS per week to
men. He declared that since the imposition
OF the tariff the price OF macaroni has been
largely reduced 10 the consumer.
The committee then adjou aed until to-
morrow afternoon.