New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-05
TARIFF HEARINGS BEGUN.
DEMOCRATS GET A SHOCK.
BERMUDA DELEGATES WOULD NOT TESTIFY
TO SUIT THEM.
CHAIRMAN WILSON AND HIS COLLEAGUE
WANTED TO SHOW THAT THE AMERICAN
CONSUMER PAID THE DUTIES. But THE
FACTS WERE ALL AGAINST THEM
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
FRUITS UNDER
DISCTSSION
(BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrBrNE.1

fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRfBrNEI
Washington, Sept 4-The Committee on Wayo
and Means celebrated Labor Day ny opening hear
| ings preparatory TO the framing OF tariff bill,
one effect of which, if enacted as law, will b
TO reduce the wages and curtall the Opportun-
tiles for employment of American labor. OF course
it was purely a coincidence, and yet 1t seemed TO
ba not only fortunate but appropriate that the
first hearing before a Ways and Mems Commit
tee. whose majority is pledged TO reform the
tariff on free-trade lines and thus benefit for
ejgn producers and alien Industries at the ex-
pense of American producers and American in
dustries should be granted t) British subJects
who had come in an official capacity and with
the consent and approval OF the British crown,
10 argue in behalf Of repeal or reduction OF the
duties imposed by the United States upon Ger
tain products of British capital and labor.
The hearing was an interesting one, but there
is good reason to believe that Chairman Wilson
and his Democratic colleagues who were present.
NIessrs. Turner, Stevens and Bryan-eXperienced
a feeling of relief when it ended for they had
been treated 10 most disagreeable surprise. Both
Mr. Masters and Mr. Wadson who spoke, are
members of the Bermuda " House of Assembly,,
and the former is also secretary OF the Farmers
Alliance Of that colony, and is Thoroughly
familiar with the facts relating TO the trade DO
tween Bermuda and the United States. Both OF
them took the ground that the Bermuda pro-
ducer. and not the American consumer, pays the
duties imposed upon Bermuda products imported
into the United States, and that If the duties
should be removed or reduced tho Bermuda pro-
ducers would be benefited TO the extent OF tho
amount Of the duty in case OF full remission, or
of any reduction that might be made. Both OK
them firmly maintained this proposition, which
was not weakened in the least by the questions.
suggestions and arguments with which they were
piled by Messrs. Wilson, Turner and Bryan
THEY KNOW WHO PAY THE DUTIES.
"How do you know that the producers and NOT
the consumers pay the duties? asked Mr. Bryan
OF Mr.. Masters. The latter replied:
- Well as Secretary Of the Farmers Alliance
was cognizant Of the facts relating TO the ship
mrnt of 10000 boxes OF onions to New-York this
season. The duty on each box was about 80 cents
and the freight 8 cents, making 54 cents, and tho
onions were sold AT an average price OF 80 cents
/. box. Now, if We did not pay the duties. I would
like 10 know who did
lie said that if the duty should be removed tho
producer would receive 80 cents a box more for
his onions Mr.. Wadson also dwelt upon this
aspect Of the subject and clearly established tho
truth of his contention that the Bermuda pro-
ducer IJays the duty. Mr. Bryan tried to extort
an admission 10 the effect that this fact, which all
Free Traders will vehemently deny TO be fact,
despite the clearest and most indubitabe evidence
10 the contrary. resulted from the perlshability'
Eermudan products, which prevented holders frou
taking advantage of the market, but found no
announcement or support in the replies of tho
7-ritish colonists who appear TO know exactly
where the shoe pinches so far as Bermuda is con-
corned Chairman Wilson seemed TO desire 70
make point by comparing the total yearly i'm
portatons Of Bermuda potatoes during season
which lasts from April to June l5, with the total
annual production Of potatoes in the United States,
and remarking that, Of course, the smaller guam
tiy could not control or affect the market price.
This point would have been clearer and seemed
more pertinent if the comparison had been between
the Bermuda imporiatons and the early crop OF
potatoes raised in Florida, Georgia and other por-
tions Of the South, with which the former comes
into competition. Mr. Masters had said that there
was no competition of this sort, but his statement
was corrected by Mr. Turner, of Georgia, who said
that to his personal knowledge potatoes raised in
Florida and Georgia make their appearance in
market early in April. According to Messrs.
Masters and Wadson, the first shipments from
bermuda reach New-lork and Boston only few
days earlier
In brief. the arguments of the Bermuda dele.
gates for the repeal reduction Of duties on
their exports t. the United States were as follows:
That about thrcc-iifths of the imports into the
colony are from the United States; that 1s
per cent of these imports are admitted under
duty OF } per cent al valorem; that nearly
everything Bermuda exports comes 70 the United
States and that the amount of duties thereon,
about Sl5OO0O a year, which is paid into tho
United States Treasury by the Bermuda produ-
cers exceeds by 81 900 the total annual revenue
of that colony from duties on imports that the
amount of duties thus paid to the United States
is equal TO an average tax of $40 year on eacn
man. and child In the colony; that IL
is about Sll 1000 a year more than was PAID on
the same amount and value of products eNpor'e"
TO the United States before tho present law was
enacted. making total OF S35l,OOo paId w
bermuda producers into the Treasury OF tne
United States in three ,eals under existing law
which the producers would not have oeeh re-
ouired 10 nav if the tariff of 1888 had remalneo
in force.
Nessrs Wilson and Bryan both desired to kno"
whether the Bermuda consumer or the American
producer paid the duty imposed on gooos i'-
ported from the United States, and when N.Y.
Wadson and his colleagues replied that the con-
sur.r noid IL they asked with an air OF triumph
why ,hat was 80 Ii was easily enough explained
hr Tho statement that none Of the articles im-
ror,od from the United States encounters do
-; omna,,tion This fact clearly
L,ougbt ont in replies to questions asked by
uossrs Burrows. Payne, Dalzell, Hopkins and
Gear. the five Republican members of the Com
mittee who were present and who seemed to de-
rive considerable enjoyment from the same state
ments which caused much evident annoyance
and dscomposure among the Democratic men,
bers.
MR. BRYAN HAD UAD ENOUGH.
One of the latter. Mr.. Bryan. did not appear al
the afternoon hearing. perhaps because he felt
that he had encountered enough disagreeable