Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-13
THE TARIFF HEARING.
Those Who Appeared Before the
Ways and Means Committee.
PLATE GLASS AND OTHER INTERESTS.
What Mr.. Reed Calls an Extra
ordinary Proposition.
AS TO COLLARS ANb CUFFS.

The tariff hearings were continued be-
fore the ways and means committee to-
day, representatives of the glass ware in
dustry having the floor
Mr.. E. A. Hitchcock of ST. Louis, repre-
senting the Crystal Plate Glass Company.
asked the committee in behalf Of this in
terest as well as the labor interests so
closely identified with it, not to disturb the
existing rates of duty on plate glass, and
justified the request by asserting that they
had already accomplished what was sought
to be secured by reducing rates, viz: Lower
prices to the consumer, which prices were
today less than one-half what they were
ten years ago. while no change or reduc-
ton whatever had been made in either
the tariff or in the rates paid for labor
done.
This had been brought about by competi-
ton caused by the increased plants brought
into existence by the protective tariff There
was now but one direction In which cost
could be further reduced, and that was by
a reduction of wages, which. during the ea-
tstence of the present tariff had not been
disturbed or varied, but which must feel
the fun effect of any blow struck against
this industry. all other means for reducing
cost having been exhausted
Alfred Bloom of Bloom & Toch New
YORK. importers OF plate glass for the man
ufacture of mirrors, said that they had to
import 20 per cent of the glass they used
as II was of small size not made here. Man
ufacturers would not take orders for It He
could not see why duty should be put on
glass Of this size.
The Furniture Industry.
Leo Austrian. Chicago furniture manu-
racturer, and one OF 4 committee OF three
appointed by the National Furniture Asso-
citation, appeared before the committee on
behalf of the association to ask Congress
TO help them to gain an export trade The
furniture industry of this country he said
did not need or ask for protection. II was
one OF the few industries which co.,ld stand
foreign competition. The industry employ
ed about 100000 hands, and it's product was
valued at about Sis, COO 600 a year Germnn
looking glass entered largely into the com
position of furniture. 1t was not made in
small sizes, and he asked that IL be put on
the free list.
Snce the passage of the Mckinley law
the price of this glass had increased 30 per
cent and WAS controlled by the German
Looking Glass Company of New York-a
trust. 1t increased the cost of the article
to the consumer.
Mr.. Reed-Then YOU want US to remova
purely revenue duty?
Mr.. Bloom-Yes. sir. 1t is not protective
duty.
Mr.. Receive are not doing this kind of
thing. We are here to abolish protective
duties.
Mr.. Reed called the attention Of Chair
man Wilson to the extraordinary PROPOSE
ton.
Mr. Bloom also asked that the duty of Is
per cent be taken off mahogany lumber
This, he said. could not be grown by legis-
lation.
NJ. Payne reminded him that this was
another revenue duty.
Mahogany logs, Mr.. Bloom said, were
free; but manufacturers did not like to buy
rt.a.~.
buying. If these requests Were granted it
would help them in the export of furniture.
Collars and CUES.
Charles II. Corlss, representing the Troy
Collar and Shirt Mandatory, asked that
the following schedule of the tariff remain
unchanged: Collars and cuffs, composed
entirely of cotton. 10 cents per dozen pieces
and % per cent advalorem; composed in
whole or in part of linen, 30 cents per doz-
en- pieces and 40 per cent advalorem. Shirts
and articles Of wearing apparel Of every de-
scription, not specially provided for in this
act composed wholly or in part of linen,
IS per cent advalorem.
The percentage Of wages paid was A 1-2
per cent OF the sales and so per cent of the
cost of production. There was a capital
of S2.l5 800 invested in the shirt business
of the United States. and the value of the
product was S2Sli9.71; the number Of per-
sons employed was 1850.
The tariff of 1888, he said, gave the in
dustry no recognition and practically no
protection, and the advent of German COL
lars, cuffs and shirts made a substantial
protection necessary. The Mckinley act
had re,nedied all that. The trade had not
been enlarged by protection; it had been
saved, and prices had been reduced.
They considered that the law of 1880 pre-
served and allowed the continuance of their
business.
In conclusion, he said that the protection
given manufacturers had been of the ut
most benefit to the community and to the
workers. as fully nine-tenths of the labor
is performed by women, who. if deprived of
this wage-earning occupation, would be
without employment, such as no other in