The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-17
HEARINGS ON THE TARIFF.
The AlabamiaRS Plead for Protection
for Coal and Iron.

The Livelihood of 10000 Men in the
State Affected by the Two Indus
tries-one of the Speakers Urges
That the Tariff is Local Issue-Vir-
ginia Potato Raisers Want Con
tinuance of the Protective Duty.
The Beer Interest Heard From.
Washington, Nov. 16-It is the hope of
the democratic members of the ways and
means committee to be able to report
their new tariff bill to the public about
Nov. %, or near the close of next week
Popular pressure is so very great for in-
formation ON the subject and the impor-
tunities of interests affected by changes
in the bill is so embarrassing to the COM
mittee, that it has been determined to set
tie all the points upon which uncertainty
exists as soon as possible.
SERIES OF CONFERENCES.
For this purpose series of conferences
OF the full democratic membership of the
committee will be held, and the work of
the subcommittee is to be submitted
schedule by schedule, and finally passed
upon by the entire membership. Upon
veXed questions concerning which the
-NOllAllAuNNCo lluNC UtCD ulldULC "
arrive at definite conclusion, the princi-
pal discussion of the members will be first
directed. Among the most important of
these problems are the question of an in
come tax, the internal revenue schedules
and contemplated additions to the free
list.
THE FREE LIST.
There is a difference of opinion among
the democratic members over adding iron
ore, coal and salt to the free list, and the
discussion is sharp as to the wisdom of
such action. Free wool, free lumber
and free cotton bagging seem assured
though there is even some dispute on
these points. The Alabama democrats
are up in arms against putting coal and
iron ore on the free list, and still demand
that their appeal to the committee shall
be heard.
DATE OF THE MEETINGS UNCERTAIN.
A call was issued this morning for
full meeting of the democrats of the ways
and means committee to be held to- NOR
row, at which it was expected that the
fest draft of the new tariff bill would be
considered. Later in the day it was de-
cided to postpone the meeting of the ma
iOrity members of the committee indef-
nitely. Bourke Cochran, of New York,
who has been telegraphed for, had not
arrived, and Mr. Bynum, of Indiana, was
unexpectedly called out of the city last
night. Both gentleman may be present
tomorrow, but further action will de-
pend upon their movements.
APPEALS OF THE EGATIoNs.
Several members of the majority
were kept busy to-day listening to
the arguments and appeals from
interested persons and parties, who de-
sired to have their views upon certain
matters incorporated into the new tariff
bill. The most important of these were
delegations from Alabama and Virginia.
The former represented the coal and
iron interests of that state, and they pre-
sented to Chairman Wilson and to Messrs.
Turner, NcMillin, Montgomery and
Stephens, who happened to be present in
the room at the time of the call, reasons
why, in their op4Aion, coal and iron ore
should not be placed upon the free list.
This delegation consisted of the following
gentlemen: F. w. Anderson, B. f.
Moore, Ross G. Smith, w. B. Phillips and
Chappell Cory, all Of the Commercial
Club, of Birmingham; Z. G. Bush, presi-
dent of the Mobile and Birmingham Rail
way Company and j. M. McKleroy pres
ident of the Admission Land Company, of
Admission, and Nat. Baxter. Jr., of
Nashville, president of the Tennessee
Coal and Iron Company, located at Bir-
mingham
THE INTERESTS AT STAKE.
Messrs. Bush and Baxter were the
spOkeSmen for the delegation. They
stated that they came as business men
purely, although the entire delegation
are democratic in political affi!iation.
The interests they represented, the COM
mitteemen were informed, amounted to
Sl25 0O0, ,0O0, and were the means of liveli-
hood of 10000 men in Alabama. The coal
and iron interests of Ala bama, it was
stated, fed and clothed more than one
fifth of the entire population of that
state, and the comfort and happiness of
this large number of people was involved
in the question whether or not these arti-
cles should be put upon the free list
THE TARIFF A LOCAL ISSUE.
Mr.. Bush held that men should be loyal
to their state and sections, and to the
welfare Of the whole country. He real
lied the difficulties that confronted the
committee. He realized, as did great
many Of the democrats, that the tariff
was local issue, He hoped that the
committee, in changing the existing law,
would not iniure any class of business.
Chairman Wilson here informed Mr..
Bush that he might base his argument on
the premise that it was not the intention
OF the committee to lnJure any business
or industry
MIR. Bush then continuing said he real
lied that revenue for the government
must be secured, and most of it through
the custom house. As long as duty on
imports was required he thought it should
be divided as nearly equally as possible,
so divided that each article should bear
its share of the burden. In this connec-
tion, he called attention. to the criti-
cism which the republicans have been
subjected to for placing so many articles
on the free list.
ALABANrA's GROWTH
In 1876 the total assessed values Of Ala
bauia were about Si6O,OO0,0O0. This was
at the beginning of the production OF coal
aud iron. To-day the assessed values
were $3.50, 100000 The increases were
found in the mineral districts The de-
velopmcnt of these industries had greatly
benefited { he farmers and improved the
market Tor their goods, They wanted to
see the coal and iron trade projected. If
the dutJ on these articles were reduced
the pay of laborers engaged in their pro-
duction would also be reduced. If their
pay were reduced it would drive
them to the farms. The industry in
the south was still an infant" and
needed the present degree of protection.
Those engaged in the business had been
encouraged TO enter it by legislation if
any one was TO blame for the present re-
quest, ii was those who made the laws.
If the committee was going to experiment
he asked that they do il gradually, do il
so as not to strike down a great industry
The routlpmpu before the committee tvpre