Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-05

WAsHrNeroN, D. C., september A
The protected industries wnlch hsNe
been clamOring for full hearing oe-
fore the ways and means committee oe-
fore general tariff bill should 90 pre-
pared do not appear anxious TO aVal'
themselves OF the courtesy granted oy
the committee in this regard. AT lts
last meeting the committee on ways
and means gave due notice by setting
apart the period, from September 4 10
Septem Der 20 Inclusive. for hearings OF
All those interested in the tariff Sched-
MES. Applications have come 10 10
considerable extent, but the gentlemen
desiring a hearing are usually so fastld-
ious as 10 the exact time and circum-
stances under which they are TO make
their arguments that the committee has
been considerably hampeTed In its ar
rRupements After certain industries
have been allotted days and been 10
vited BY the committee TO be present
and present their arguments, they have
on one pretext or another made excuses
for failing 10 fll the time, and have
asked for another date.
John c. $ Davis, OF Philadelphia,
who was to have addressed the commit
tee to-day on the subject Of the duty on
Oilcloths and protection 20 American
manufacturers, caused the announce
menI 20 be made this morning after the
committee assembled that be would not
avail himself OF its courtesy now, but
that he would be glad TO be heard on
some day subsequent 70 the sth. John
". Stewart, of New York, now al
nounces that he will not address the
committee On the 18TH, but asks that
be be granted q hearing on some later
day. Beinze, Lowry & Co. were set
down for a hearing for Wednesday next
on imported hosiery and gloves, fut
havs requested the committee 20 post
pone their hearing Unit the 18th inst.
As the hearings are limited 20 the
psrlod ending September goth, II Is
feared the failure OF interests 70 avail
themselves OF the time now allotted 20
them will lead 10 a general clamor for
the latter dates and result in many in
terests failing absolutely to get In their
arguments.
In the absence OF other interests the
first hearing Of the day was accorded to
q delegation from the Bermuda Islands,
consisting Of T. j. Wadson and ). A.
Masters, representing the legislative
council OF those islands. Mr.. Masters
read an appeal signed by all the mem
bers of the legislative council It e1-
plained that the United States was the
natural market for the Bermuda Islands
for potatoes, onions and other early
fruits and vegetables shipped
between April and June IS.
The duty which the Islands
pay 10 get their products TO market in
the United States amounts 10 Sl5O,OOO,
or TAX OF $40 per capita for every IN
habitant OF the islands. The Bermuda
Council desired that their early vege-
tables be admitted 20 the United States
on the same terms that the same prod
ucts were admitted into those Islands
and II not that they be admitted on the
same terms as obtained before the pas
sage of the Mckinley law. The i'm
ports into Bermuda amount TO S973, 600
out OF a total OF S1,5SO,OOO, showing
that two-thirdS OF all the products i'm.
ported are obtained from the United
States. OF the exports S522, 900, out OF
q total OF S554 900, go 10 the United
States
In other words the balance OF trade
Is Ia favor Of the United States Of S541,-
600. The revenue Of Bermuda is de-
rived from duty on tobacco aud spirits
and a small tax Of 5 per cent on pota-
toes. Bermuda has population OF 49,
coo and has but ., 400 acres under culti-
walton. The contention OF the inhabi-
tants was that the early vegetables ex-
ported TO the United States by Ber-
muda did not come in competition with
like products here. The present duty,
be said, only increased the price here
and made IL q hardship.
Mr. Perkins-This is q case, then, Of
where the foreigner pays the tax?
Mr.. MaSters-Yes, sir. Laughter
In explanation OF his reply Mr.. Mas
ters cited an instance Of the shipment
Of 10000 boxes OF onions last spring.
The tariff was thirty-seven cents per
box and the selling price was only fifty
cents. The shipment on account OF the
heavy tariff was an actual loss 10 the
shipper. Mr.. Masters stated that the
vegetables shipped to the United States
came into the market fully two months
earlier than those grown in the South
srn States.
Mr.. Gear-The removal Of the duty
would make your business more profit
able?
Mr.. MasterS-Tes. II would also
double our production and enable US TO
buy more OF the United States.
Mr.. Masters then yielded 70 his col
league Mr. Watson. The latter in re-
ply 20 a question, then took up the mat
ter OF who pays the tariff tax, and ex-
plalned 90 support Of his assertion that
the inhabitants Of Bermuda (the for
eigners) paid the tax; that this was due
to the extremely perishabie nature OF
the products shipped TO the United
States. After the tariff tax is paid 10
New York the products 90 on TO the
market and bring what they can.
In answer 70 a question by Mr.. Hop
kins, Mr.. Watson said that since enact
ment OF the Mckinley law Bermuda
had paid $3.50, 060 In tariff taxes 10 the
United States This money had been
taken from residents Of those islands
and placed in the treasury OF the United
States.
Mr.. Bryan-When you export to rs,
Won say you pay the tax. Now, when
YOU import products from the United
States, who pays the tax then?
Mr.. watson-Ws pay that K also.
laughter.
Mr.. Brvs.'-You You