The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-03
SOLID FOR SEATTLE.
Chamber Of Commerce Adopts
Tariff Memorials.
OPPOSES FREE COAL. LUMBER.
Iron Ore Also shsuid Be FfsseeteA-
The Qsessies warmly Debated
-wstsywsys Wanted.


have been Before the Chamber Of Com
ruercs for the past threa weeks, protest
ing axa:ns. .he removal Of tie duty ca
coal and lumber, were finally acted upon
Al 4 general meeting Of tie chaTnber last
evening, and adopted by an overwhelming
vote. The question was divided and the
ouly exhibition Of strength was on the
frat vote when division was called for
showing 10 in favor and 5 agains. adop-
fson Of the memorials.
The Anticipated discussion brought OFT
the largest attendance In several months
and in calling the meeting to order Prssa-
dent Graves took occasion 20 eongrstuiate
the chamber upon this fact snd also to re-
view briefly the work OF the year. The
special order Of the evening was intro
duced by the reading Of the memorials By
Secretary WhittIessy.
In order 20 get the memorials before the
house In parliamentary manner. Mr..
Prosch moved their adoption. In open
ing the discussion he stated that he was
uncom promIsingly 1T variance with those
who claimed the introduction of these
memorials in the chamber Was improper.
TIE chamber was nade up of men who
were interested in building up this com
munity, in inducing people 20 come here,
In procuring public institutions, and IL
was its duty 10 stand by the people who
came here. The chamber could not shirx
the responsibility, and unless IL fulfilled
this duty tho sooner il went out of bush
ness the better.
G. =. Smith, general manager of the Ore
gon Improvement Company. ty special
Invitation, addressed the meeting. He
presented some actual figures OF the work
of the Oregon improvement Company for
the year 1898 lie said he had not carried
his investigation outside of King county,
as IL would have taken more time than was
81 bis disposal. Mr.. Smith read the sta
tistics compiled by him ard published IN
the rosr-iyTKELfGFscxR several days ago.
In summing up be said that If - cents
per ton werc 10 be taken of the profits OF
mining here the mines in all probability
could not run. lie cited the price of dou-
hle-screened coal In Victoria and Van
conver as being s., and II the local mines
should be closed and the cities on this side
be placed on q level with the British Column
bia citier, then prices would go up 81 per
ton. Referring to an article published in
reply TO his figures be said the average
price OF coal In this city had declined
since he came here S. cents per ton, and
that il could ne substantiated by hundreds
OF Witnesses in this city that japanese and
Chinese were employed as top men in
British Columbia and inside the Comox
mine. In reply TO questions Mr.. Smith
stated that Seattle double-screened coal
sold here at s. per gross ton. in Tacoma at
s. - per net ton and In San Francisco Mt
81 50 per ton. lie explained that more
coal was shipped from British Columbia
than from the Sound, its market being
California. Mexico and Honolulu.
J. 8, Goldsmith stated that while he was
inclined TO agree with Mr.. Smith on the
coal proposition. he could not, for the life
of him. see how removal of the duty on
lumber would hurt Washington.
DR.. Samuel Ramsey said he knew moth
ing about the coal business. but knew how
the tariff affected the hop business. In
only one year, since there had been duty
on hops, had 10 affected the price in this
country. That WAS in lss6, when short
crop neoessitated the Importation of hops.
Whenever surplus OF any product is in
n country the price is regulated by what Is
paid in foreign countries. When the price
Was not made by unrestricted supply and
asked Mr.. Smith ii he thought coal would
he any cheaper II the duty were removed.
Mr.. Smith said be could not answer that,
but il coal would not be cheaper there
would be no object In removing the tariff
II j. should he cheaper IL made a great
ference 20 the coal companies. Mr..
Ramsey did net believe the local mines
would close IL the duty on coal vas re-
cal LEI at 1. a
little effect on wages. He criticised a
number Of oruditiss in .he memorial and
stated that, in all tariff discussions, he
heard no one take the part of the con.
sumner. who vas the goose 10 be plucked
The prosperity Of this country does not
depend on the tariff. II Ia an incum.
btanee. IL might make 10 differences
to him. bus il he had his way he
and lumber. lie expected great immi-
grafton 10 this country within two or three
years. and cheap Gumber would be great
blessing. lilo supposed the gentleman
who introduced the memorial would think
II al iniury II a cargo Of coal should come
into Elliott hsv in ballast. but the speaks >,
thought !; would be good thing, for he
believed in buying sn article where he
think IL fair for our coal companies to sell
in san Francisco at the natural price oi
supply and demand and AZ the same time
scis here in Seattle at an arsi8cla! price.
Judge IL. 6. Bond was called upoa hy
George h. Hebron as having eonsiderabls
experience in the coal business. Mr.. Bond
cid not agree With H.. Ramsey. Us
thought the sentieman's theory OF havins
where things were cheapest was not tho
hest one The general welfare Of tho
country should lie considered. This c0un
fsy wanted the benefit Of it's own prodwc
uons lie would rather have the pasron
nSe of y single state Of the Union than "a
tie 40. 0sa 0o) Of ASiAtics whose stomach.
hsd been adjusted e. famine for hundred,
a. years liz was patent that the price O
labor must DO reduced 10 pAnper !eye
81 the mines closed down il th,
daiy - removed. II the Goa
market must b divided y ith British c.
lamela &c would Re Improbable fog tAos,
engaged in mining. Cules< mines wer,
operated for LARGE output they eauld no
be profitable. lie did nos agree With Mr.
goldsmith On the lumber proposition. I
was well known tAAt the lumber bushes,
was not profitable in Washington today
The market Cor oar igmeeg VAS not ia f9s
eiga countries. ss low grades could not ,,
shipped foreign. bat must he sold 81 home
on taking the annual inventory one Of III,
beg mi.i companies had been exceeds usj,
grained 20 ana az had lost emily So. cao
lie did uoi thiaS thss state hal begun 1,
see the hard times it would Il the tariff -
came iAw.
Col Granville u usltar ss{a aha Yssrstfv,I