The herald., 1896-12-30
Talk to the Ways and Means
Committee
THEY ALL NEED PROTECTION
And Generally Prefer Specific to I'D
Vol0rem Duties
Representatives From the South Ask
for a Tariff Tax on Cotton-Sugar
Makers Will Talk Today.
Press special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The ways
and means committee devoted the day to
listening to the reports of delegations
interested in the schedules relating to
cotton manufacturers and silk and silk
goods. The attendance was not as large
as yesterday and the number who ap-
peared to make oral argument was much
smaller. The committee is encouraging
the filing of briefs wherever possible.
The feature of the day was brief oral
argument made by 1. c. Hovey of New
York, representing the Textile Manu-
facturers' association, in favor of more
stringent regulations to prevent under
valuation and fraud on the revenue.
Mr.. Hovey has quasi connection with
the New York board of general apprai.-
ers. The others who appeared before
the committee today were Arnold f.
Sanford of Fall River, in behalf of spe
cific instead of ad valorem duties on
cotton yarns; Simon b. Chase, in behalf
of some amendemnts relating to cotton
cloths; Robert Pillngs of Philadelphia,
for change to specific duties on cotton
hosiery and slightly higher; Robert M.
Cooper, Olneyville. r. l., who asked for
40 cents a dozen and 80 per cent ad va
loren on cotton hosiery; James Talcott
Of New Britain, Conn.,, and w. H. Bill
yeu of Philadelphia, for higher rates on
hosiery; w. K. Craig of Vicksburg,
Mass, for a duty on Egyptian cotton;
b. T. Stoner of Wrightsville, Pa, for
new classification of embroidered goods
and an increase of the rate, and w. II.
Chapman of Easthampton, Mass, who
asked that silk buttons be placed in the
silk schedule.
Arthur b. Sanford of Fall River, Mass,
representing the Cotton Yarn Spinners'
association OF the United States, about
1,000,0G0 spindles, said that the main
trouble with the present law was that the
duties levied We're practically ad valor-
EN- and permitted of extensive underval-
uation. The present schedule will be
satisfactory II the two prCvisos were
stricken out, which levied the duties on
yarns not exceeding 25 cents per pound to
cents, exceeding 25 and not exceeding
40 cents, Is cents, and exceeding 40 cents.
45 per cent ad valorem.
Mr. Sanford produced statistics show
ing that in 1893 the importation of yarns
was $4,000 pounds, and in 1896 2,43l 000
pounds. He said that the commoner
grade of yarn could be manufactured in
this country and especially in the south,
r,
perhaps as cheaply as in England. He
.--recognfzed, he said that some time in
the future the south might become a
competitor in the manufacture of finer
yarns.
Simon B. Chase of Fall River, on be-
half of the cotton cloth manufacturers,
said those whom he represented did not
ask an increase of duty although on the
finer grades they did not have adequate
protection. They recognized that the
new classificatio in that act of 1894 was
in the right direction. What they de-
sired were two or three amendments TO
compel Importation of certain classes un-
der specific duties. as they were per-
suaded that abuses had crept in.
Mr. Chase and Mr. McMillin had a
sharp tilt over the effectiveness of ad
valorem duties
'Ad valorem duties,' Mr.. Chase said,
"catch nothing in the custom house."
In reply to a question from Mr..
Wheeler, Mr.. Chase expressed the opir-
ion that it was hardly possible that the
cost of manufacture of coarser cloths
in the south was but two thirds of the
country's manufacture. He said that
the exports of the south went chiefly to
China, and were of such class that the
cost Of the raw material made up the
bulk of value. Proceeding Mr. Chase
said that the selling price of goods was
kept down to the lowest point by compe-
tition.
Mr.. McMillin attempted to show that
this was not the fact in the case of
many protected articles, but Mr.. Chase
insisted that it was true. except when
artificial combinations existed.
''Then in your opinion artificial COM
binations do exist?" asked Mr.. McMul-
lin.
Il have so understood" replied Mr.
Chase.
WELL" calculated Mr.. Steele of In
diana, looking blandly across the table
at Mr.. McMullin, what are you going
to do about it?"
A series of interesting questions put by
Mr.. Dingley developed the fact that the
manufacturers here paid much heav-
Ter taxes than in England. Mr.. Chase
said his mill paid $4,000 taxes while a
similar mill in England would pay but
$4,000. In England everything was done
to stimulate manufactures, and employ
ers were dealt leniently with and the
workmen were forced to give up part
of their wages. Here the employer paid
all and the employe nothing.
A representative of the cotton grow
er's of the Mississippi valley. w. r. Craig
OF vicksburg. Miss, appeared to urge a
tariff duty on Egyptian cotton. This
product was underselling the extra sta
pie cotton of the Mississippi valley, hav
ing greatly decreased in price during the
past ten years.
The same question was discussed by
c. P. Baker, treasurer of the Lawrence
Manufacturing company of Lowell,
Mass. He said that the Egyptian cotton
was finer than the American goods. and
that it had less waste and better color:
that the American product could not
be Used for certain goods for which the
Egyptian was used, and manufacturers
were willing to pay IL cents per pound
more for the Egyptian goods, in which
either class could be raised The ex-
pense of producing Egyptian cotton was
great, because the land had to be irri-
gated.
1.-THE south would be selling its birth
right for a mess of pottage to ask for
this protection" commented Mr. Wheel
er of Alabama.
What do you call it's birthright -"
asked Chairman Dingley.
Free Institutions free trade, free av-
erything," replied Mr.. Wheeler.
Robert W. Cooper, president of the
British Hosiery company of Olneyville,
r. l., presented figures to show that the
cost of producing the grade of goods
manufactured by his firm is s1.66 per