Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-17
WAYS AND MEANS.
DELEGATIONS FROM ALABAMA AND
VIRGINIA HEARD.
Inv ""'.er ot the Retention OF Duty on
Coal and Iron-Ore and on
Potatoes.
d3y telegraph to the DIspatcb.,


definitely. Bourke Cochran. OF New
YORK. who had been teegraphed for, had
not arrived, and Bynum, OF Indiana, was
Unexpectedly called out of the city last
night. Both gentlemen may be present
tomorrow, but further action will de-
pend upon their movements.
Several members OF the majority were
kept busy to-day listening 10 arguments
and appeals from interested persons and
parties who desired TO have their views
upon certain matters incorporated into the
new tdriH bill. The most important OF
these were delegations from Alabama
and Virginia. The former represented the
coal and iron interests of their State.
ana they presented TO Chairman Wilson.
and to Messrs. Turner, McNlllIn. Mont
Somery, and Stevens. who happened to
be present In the room at the time OF the
call, the reasons why, In their opinion,
coal and iron ore should not be placed
upon the free list. This delegation con-
sisted Of the following gentlemen Messrs:
W. r. Anderson. p. +. Moore, Il. Smith,
W. b., Phillips, and Chappell Cory, OF
the Commercial Club of Birmingham
r. c. Bush president Of the Mobile and
Birmingham Railway Company; j. Nc
Kell0ch, OF Anniston, and Nat Baxter,
Jr., OF Nashville. president Of the Tennes-
see Coal and Iron Company, located at
Birmingham.
Messrs Bush and Baser were the
spokesmen for the delegation. They
stated that they came as businessmen
purely. although the entire delegation
were Democrats I'm political affiliation
The interests they represented. Fthc com
mitteemen We're informed, amounted TO
Sl25O00O00. and were the means Of live
ihood of 70,oo0 men in Alabama. The
coal and iron interests Of Alabama. II was
stated. fed and clothed more than one
ffth of the entire population Of that state,
and the comfort and happiness OF this
large number OF people were involved in
the question whether or not these articles
should be put upon the free list
Mr.. Bush held that men should bt
loyal 10 their state and section first
ana TO the welfare Of the whole country
afterward. He realized the difliculties
that confronted the committee He rea-
lizcd, as did great number of Demo
Gratis. that the tariff was a local Issue
lie hoped that the committee, in
changing the existing law, would not
niure any class Of business.
Chairman Wilson here informed Mr.
Bush that he might base his argument
on the premise that it was not the In
tention OF the committee TO injure any
business or industry.
FREE-LIST DANGERS.
Mr. Bush. then. continuing, said he rea-
liZed that revenue for the government
must be secured and most of II through
the custOm-hOuse. As long as a duty
on imports was required he thought II
should be divided as nearly equally as
possible-so divided that each article
should bear its share Of the burden
In this connection he called attention
to the criticism which the Republicans
had been subjected TO for placing SC
many articles on the free list.
In 1876 the total assessed values II
Alabama were about SG0,0O0 900 This was
at the beginning Of the production OF
were S2C0 10000. The increases were
found in the mineral districts. The dc.
veiopment Of these Industries had greatly
benefited the farmers and improved tn,
market for their good. They wanted tC
see the coal and iron trade protected
If the duty on these articles were re-
duced. the pay OF laborers engaged ir
their production would also be reduced
II their pay were reduced. ii would
drive them to the farms The industry
in the South was stll an infant" and
needed the present degree of protection
Those engaged I'm the business had beer
II any one was 10 blame for the present
request 1t was those who made the laws
II the committee was going to expert
ment, he asked that they do it gradu-
ally. Do II 50 as not to strike down
great industry. The gentlemen be-
fore the committee were all business
men, and not politicians. They were
Democrats by principle, and certainly did
not expect to suffer I'm the house OF
their friends. II they did it was a ques-
ton as to how long they would kiss
the hand that smote them"
Mr.. Baxter said these southern products
were beginning to lind market In the
North. He could not see who would bo
benefited by placing them on the free list,
except few blast furnaces on the coast.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Baxters re-
maks Chairman Wilson said the question
presented by the delegates had given the
committee much anxiety. so much in fact
that they laid awake at night for fear
that they would injure some one
THE VIRGINIANs.
The Virginia delegates represented
Churchland Grange. Norfolk county. and
were MeSsrs John r. Griffin. Joseph r.
Duke, Henry Kern, r. T. Trotman. w.
q. Carney. and X. G. Murray These
gentlemen had an interview with Chair
man Wilson. in which they urged upon
him the necessity, from their point of
view, of retaining in the proposed new
tariff measure the duty OF 2j cents a
bushel on potatoes.
Mr.. Murray acted as spokesman and
presented facts and figures showing the
extent of the interests involved He said
that this was the only protection that
was afforded to the farmers OF the At
lantic coast, or at least that portion OF
It tributary to the Norfolk market They
have 20 pay protective prices on articles
that they consume, but the tax upon po-
tatoes did not. 1t was asserted raise the
price of this great product to the people
Norfolk. Dir. Murray stated, handles
about ,0OOO coo barrels Of potatoes annually,
and the property interests OF Churchland
Grange are valued al $500, 600. IL was par
ticularly desired he said. TO protect the
farmers there against the importation
of Nova Scotia potatoes which come in
ballast. paying but little or no freight.
The labor in their production and the
value OF the land upon which they are
raised being less than In the United States
the producers of potatoes here would be
placed at a disadvantage II they were
compelled to meet this Canadian competi-
ton.
objection 20 the free importation OF Ber-
muda potatoes, for the reason that at the
time they came into market the native
product was not ready for sale, and there
fore did not come directly into COMPETE
tion with the imports from Bermuda
they are considered as luxuries
PROTEST FROM BREWERS.
The United States Brewers Association
entered a protest with the committee
to-day against an increase In the internal
revenue tax on fermented liquors.
The internal revenue schedules are so
interviewer with the proposed income-ta
that the question OF what shall be done
with the one depends largely on the fate
OF the other. IL an income-tax yielding a
revenue Of say $5o0OO,0oo per annum be
Incorporated In the bill, the increase In
internal revenue taxation will be COM
paratively small. II 1t be decided not TO
levy an income-tax, or If the revenues
therefrom be not considerable, material
Increase In the internal revenue schedules
may be safely anticipated.
DlRecTUM AND Allx.
The Proposed Race Declared Of-Tur'
Events ActuairEntriss.