New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-16
AGAINST TARIFF REVISION.
GREAT PRESSURE FOR HEARINGS BEFORE
TIE COMMITTEE.
CHAIRMAN WILSON AND HIS COLLEAGUES HEAR
SOME WHOLESOME FACTs-DEMoCRArs
ADD THEIR TESTIMONY.
Ipr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBusE.1


fer TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSr1
Washington. Sept i5-As the period fixed for
hearings before the Committee on ways ana
Means draws toward a close. the pressure lor
hearings from representatives OF various industries
and interests increases I'm force. To-day for the
first time since the hearings began Chairman VIII
announced that the representatives OF each
OF the Industries which were TO be heard to-uay
must not exceed the time allotted, which III nearly
every case was thirty minutes. lie did "o' oi'en
succeed In enforcing this rule. however aIthough
he called attention to IT several times ana once
twice showed symptoms Of impatience because
members OF the committee insisted OH aShH"s
questions OF the men who appeared
On OF these occasions he interrupted MI
Reed, who had asked a question. with the remark
that the time allotted TO that subject hah EXPIRED
and others waiting to be heard Inc c"a''-
man may have regarded the question as immaterial
irrelevant. but he would undoubtedly AUNT 'hat
he and his Democratic colleagues have consumer
at least thrice the amount OF time in the cross-ex-
animation OF witnesses that the Republican MEM
bers have and that the questions asKeu ny 'he
latter have been at least pertinent ana mate
rial as those asked by himself and Messrs. Breck-
inridge, Bynum, Tarsney and other Democratic
members OF the committee. Mr.. Reed was in
cined 10 resent any attempt to deprive members OF
the right to ask such questions as they might
desire and said that for one he would protest
against It, The hearings were granted Tor the
purpose of gaining necessary information anu op
tanning facts to assist the committee IN framing
n general revision of the tariff, and Mr.. Reed OBJ
served that: There is plenty OF time IN front oil
US" Chairman Wilson and Mr.. Turner both re-
piled that a date had been named after "hicn
the committee would to grant hearings and
No member could assume that the order fixing that
date would be revoked
One feature Of to-day's hearing was poth mover
and interesting 1t was the production OF the tesu-
mony of Democrats In behalf OF the protective
tariff system. The first contributor to TINS feat-
ure was F. f. Kip. president of the Bridgeport
Plush Company, of Bridgeport, Conn Mr.. Kip
was introduced to the committee by Representa-
tive De Forest. Democrat. who bespoke lot MN
the kind and favorable consideration OF its men,
bers In support of his appeal for the retention OF
the existing duty on pushes ana VelVe's MI NIP
read a petition signed by large number Of citi-
zens of Bridgeport, who in the BODY OF the pe'i-
ton describe themselves as Democrats and earn
esty recommend that the protective rates OF duty
on plushes and velvets be maintained In order
that injury may not befall or disaster overtaKe
promising domestic industry. The list OF sghers
was headed by the names OF w. ID. Bishop ana
Nathaniel f. Wilson, and Mr.. Kip remarked mat
many of the other signers are Democrats OF
scarcely less prominence and influence He exhib-
tied similar petitions In favor of protective tariff
all the signers OF which. he remarked. are Demo-
Gratis These petitions were from Paterson y. De-
Catasauqua, Penn. and other manufacturing
''"''' DEMOCRATIC TESTIMONY
The other contributor was A. c. Raymond Of
Detroit who appeared in behalf Of the pearl button
Industry He is a prominent well as an earnest
Democrat, and he seemed to feel IT necessary 10
explain why he had come TO plead In behalf OF an
industry which had been so violently assaiied by
Democrats In partisan discussion. His explanation
tCa1 ~ 10
after a careful and thorough investigation he had
become fully convinced that protective tarh was
necessary to the preservation and maintenance OF
this industry, which bad sprung up within the last
two or three years under Republican legislation,
and he was in favor OF IT,
But don't you think that is unconstitutional?
asked Mr.. Daze
"Well" replied Mr.. Raymond 'It Is an infant
industry and We must care for It, although 1t Is
a child OF Republican legislation, was the reply
Mr. Reed remarked: You are in favor Of pro-
tectye tariff then, in this case? The duty you adj
vocate is n protective one, is 1t not?'
Yes II is," replied Mr.. Raymond
.1-ben Won believe in that part OF the Democratic
n,a.form which was not adopted, do you not?'
asked Mr. Reed. This question caused an eruption
Of Democratic eloquence, which did not subside
until the Detroit lawyer was out or breath lie
wanted Mr. Reed to understand that the Demo
cratic party is just wise. Just as patriouc ana
4ust q cOmpetent TO administer tHt VI III,
Nation as the Republican party Is. and moreover II
Us the party Of the majority.
PERHAPS yeu will answer my question
quietly observed Mr.. Reed. and Mr.. Raymond ola
40 In the Affirmative. He appeared TO desire 10
purs,e the discussion, but Chairman wilson re-
minded him that his time had expired ana called
the next witness
All the Democratic members did not rehsh Inc
! production OF Democratic testimony ana arguments
In favor OF protective rates Of duty. but MI stew
ens who Is sometimes described as "a sugar-coated
Prot,ctionist" appeared TO enjoy II.
Another noticeable feature OF to-day 5 nearing
| w.s the assurance which every Importer VINO ap-
pearcd FASTENED to express. that he harbored nc
| feeling of hatred hostility toward the domestic
| manufacturer but on the contrary desired TO SOC
him prosper These assurances appeared 10 10
sincere and whether actually or not. they Offered
nleaSant contrast to the rude declaration made by
| Mr. Van Horn n New-Nork importer. on Nednes'
| dav II was also noticeable that nearly all the I'm
| porters who were heard today spoke AZ strongly
! and vigorously against she substitution OF al val
orem rates for specific rates Of duty as ala any o.
/ The manufacturers and they denounced with un
SHARING severity the conduct and practices OF for
| eien manufacturers who establish agencies In th'
United states which they c"nSign all the good'
| ,bev sh,p To this country and refuse to sell &c
| American importers jobhers. except through the
own consgnees This method Of doing business. th'
| importer DECLARED. was invented and Is practisec
In order 10 d,fTau1 the Government ~ the revenm'
10 which II Is entitled. and alsu 10 fix prices an,
| prevent free and fair competition In the sale o
| foreisn goods la the American market The hearing
to-day furnished additional strong evidence In sup
port of the proposition that the Of production
Of manufactured goods In this country has renchc,
| a point below which u cannot he further reduce,
| without a proporiionaie reduction in wages.
WINS OF HOSIERY IMPORTERS
| ,rb. ir,porters nj hoaierv knit uoode and rlove
have held "A number of conferences lately with re-
gard 20 the revision Of the iarin the articles n
| which they Interested. and have made EFFORT
90 agree with tho domestic manufacturers upon
| new schedule Of duties These efforts have no
been wholly successful Maurice Lowy appcare'