The Indianapolis journal., 1893-09-19
HE NEEDS PROTECTION
Gas Belt Glass Manufacturer Be-
fore the Tariff Thinkers.
Mr.. Yandeventer Says He Cannot Run
His Factory at Anderson If
the Duty Is Abolished.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal


WASHINGTON, Sept. 1s-Window glass
and kindred interests were given another
short formal hearing by the House commit
tee on ways and means to-day. Not sim
gle interest, on any one of the four or five
days when the window glass industry has
had hearings before the committee. has
ventured to request reduction of the duty
upon this article. Ii window glass
is. as the free-trade members OF
the committee have argued. "the laboring
mans article of necessary oonsum ption,"
the working man has been significantly ST.
lent Among those who were before the
committee to-day. as speakers and auditors.
was Mr. j. L. Vaudeventor. OF the Victor
Window Glass Company. of Anderson. Mr.
Vandeventor made no formal speech. but
he circulated among mem bers OF the COM
mittee and impaired a great deal OF val1-
able information respecting this great in
dustry In the great natural-gas BELT of In
diana. He told members of the committee
what he also stated TO the Journal corre-
spondent.
1.-The glass manufacturers in the natural
gas belt of Indiana" said Mr. Fsndeventor.
'can get along well. If not better. than
the glass manufacturers In any other Sec
tion of this country. but il there is q ma
terial reduction OF the duty upon the I'M.
ported article we will simply have to close
our factories. There is not the least re-
semblance between the glass manufac tur-
ing industry in this country and Europe.
We must not only pay from two TO four
times as much wages TO our men. but our
plants and everything sppertaining
TO them cost many times more than
those In Europe. Our investments In the
industry are SO much heavier than those
in Europe. and our repairs AMI the ma
cbinery which We are compelled TO con-
stantly add. cost so much more than those
In Europe that we must have u larger mar
gin. even after paying for laUOr. 1t Is
true that IN EN- bers OF this committee con-
tend that since We nave an abundance OF
natural gas and are near the base OF ma
terial supply We should In these have an
advantage over Europe which would place
us pom an equal footing. even though the
European manufacturers have cheaper
labor lt ought to be hrst re-
mem bered that about 81 per cent.
OF the cost of glass is III labor.
We have sand at Michigan City and other
points In Indiana from whioh glass can be
made, but We get most of our material
from distant point IN Ohio. We are COM
pelled to put 1t through an extensive wash
lng and refining process after purchasing
and shipuing It long distance. The eX-
traordlnary expense OF constructing plants
In this country overcomes the saving from
free fuel. Those who are not locate in the
netural-ges belt will have TO close up their
glass factories If the duty Is disturbed at
all. and If there Is any material reduction
it will close our doors in the gas belt"
Mr. FandeventOr opened the eyes of the
committee as TO the cheapness OF window
glass In this country at the present time.
The committee had no idea 1t was near 40
| inexpensive. And yet. In spite OF the lower
md n hs dnf ha IN
manufacturers moet our prices and SO suc-
cessfully compete with our own manufac-
turers. oven In the Indiana field of con-
sumption, as Co supply about one-fourth of
the total amount consumed. There were
also before the committee representatives
of the labor engaged In window glase man.
ufacture, and they also asked that the pres
ent duty be not distur bed.
+. l.. BOCiDe, OF PhlladeIp phla, appeared
for the American man ufacturers Of window
and bottle glass, and presented reasons
why the duties on window and bottle glass
should not lie reduced. He claimed that
the least reduction In duties would make
il necessary to reduce the wages of Amer.
lean workmen and the aboIshment of
American factories. which would result IN
diminishing competition and therefore in
crease prices OF glass.
}. p. Eberhart, of PIttsburg president
of the Window Glass Workers Association,
made an appeal In behalf of the glass work
ers for the retention of the present duties
burden of q reduction of the tariff would
rest upon the workman. as his wages would
be reduced In order to allow the American
manufactures TO compete OD equal lines
with the foreigner.
John NJ. stewart. q selling sgent Of tho
firm of importers OF seal plnsbes. declared
that the present tariff rates on seal plushes
are too high: that 1t was In fact pro-
hioitive duty and consequently deprived
the government OF an enormous revenue.
He insisted that the seal pushes made IN
this country were inferior TO the foreign
articles. that n pumbe OF manufacturers
who have attempted to manufacture this
article in America had gone into liQuida-
ton.
William II. Benton. of Taunton. Mass.
represented the Mason machine works and
argued for the retention of the present
rates OF duty on machinery. He declared
that labor constitutes the chief element of
| cost In his factory, 1t being 20 per cent. of
| the total cost of manufacture.
The agricul,uriets of Long island were
represente by Messrs Joseph Nimmo and
| Parker, who said that the agriculturists of
New York derived great benefits from pro-
| lection. They declared that reduction Of
| The duty on agricultural products wouid
greatly iniure New Workers., because three
fourths or the impOrtstiOns in this line
| found their way To New York. Since the
passage OF the Mckinley act the value of
| the products of New York. they stated. had
| increased 51.0)0.0 00O. $4,000. 900 more were
| paid III wages and S3%OO0COO more were
paid in savings banks.
Col. w. w. Dudley wanted the duty on
| mineral salts reduced. as it does not enter
| into competition with an American product.
Henry Mertz favored the continuance of
| the present duties*on dyestufis ETC. and
| claimed that under protective tariff the
| prices OF these commodities had been re.
| Guosd.
| The manufacturing chemists were repre-
sented by Alexander Cochrane of Boston.
| He objected TO having chemicals placed on
| the free list.
Alfred Il. Hunt. of Pittsburg appeared
| for the Pittsburg Aluminium Company,
| which desires the continuance ot the pres.
| ent rates of duties on aluminium. The
| committee then adjourned until tomorrow
! morning.
HUMAN WOLVES.