The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-29
TARIFF HEARINGS BEGUN
By the Wn,l and Means Committee.
Chemical Interests Ask Tor Restoration
VI Mckinley Kate,-Specinc Instead OF
AhyaiOrem Duiirs Wanted.

hhNalofefn buiies Wanted.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2S.-Thc
tariff hearings before the ways and
means committee began at the capitol
promptly at 10 o'clock, nccOrdIns TO the
published programme There were sew
cral large delegations in attendance and
much interest was displayed. The morn
ing was devoted 10 the chemical sched-
ulN and the afternoon TO wines and
liquors. Chairman DinGley made pre-
lTnlnAry statement rs TO the hearings.
which will be held every day from 10
10 4, with Il recess from 1890 TO l;30.
lie said the committee desired TO avoid
rrpetitoES as far us possible. and would
prefer where convenient to receive con-
dcnscd briefs rather than oral arSu-
mcnts
Thomas r. Harrison, or Philadelphia,
representing The Manufacturing Crcm-
lists Association, OF that city, FIRST made
q brief statement to the committee 10
pave the way for brief which Will be
submitted by that association later III
the week. IN Il general way he said
the manufacturing chemists would ask
for moderation in schedules, and rs fur
uS possible a change from al valOrcm
to specific duties. Those whom he rep
resented. he said. asked no fuvors; they
only desired Justice. They We're now
being crushed between the teXtil" man
ufacturcrs and importers. lie said that
some data would also be submitted
relative 10 the competition they had TO
meet from China and Japan.
Mr.. II. Ercbbs, OF San Francisco, sub
mIttcd the first formal argument. 1t
was for change of the schedules OF
tho act OF 1894 relating to horatcs and
boraN. The present law provides
duty OF two cents per pound OH hOraCic
acid and two cents on refined bOraX.
This duty. he argued, did not fulflll
the revenue expectations of the govern
mcnt or the producers. He argued for
IL new classification of the compounds
OF bOraX to prevent avoidance or eva
sion Of duty with slightly higher rates.
In answer to n question from Mr.. Nc
Mlllin. Mr.. ErchhS expressed the opinion
that the schedule h. proposed would
prOduc" us much revenue a9 the pres
ent schedule and afford much better
protection to the producers. Practically
all Of the 20.00O,00J pounds OF boraX and
i,s compounds used In this country he
thought could he produced here.
james MaEulrc, OF New York, asked
that hydratc alumlna should pay duty
only on the alumIna contained in the
product.
W. II. II. Childs, or New York, and 7.
y. !;clI1ellkopf, ofBuffalO. y. Y, argued
In favor OF Increasing the duties on coal
tnr dyes from 2i per cent 10 &c per cent
nd valOrrm. with n clearer classification
OF the schedules
J. S. Page, OF New York. representing
color manufacturers, eaid the present
duties were ample. but II tho duties on
chemicals were increased they desired
relative lnCrcas" on COlOrs.
IL. c. Stewart, Of Philadelphia. ap-
pcurel In behalf OF u duty on copper rs
oChrc OChCry Curtls and all oxides OF
iron used In the lnGnufHCtur" of paints.
which. under the present law. are nd
mlttCu free. lie read letters from sew
crnI pnnt manufacturers trS;lryinE to
the depression IN tn" Industry owing 10
foreign competition since the enactment
Of tho present law.
james Hartford, or Now York. on be-
hulf Of the chemical section Of the New
York board Of trade and tranSpurta-
lion. argued In favor Of general
change from Rd valOrGm 10 Specific du-
tics on drugs.
Samuel Mcrz. of Newark, y. j., ar
Elird for Il restoration or the Mckinley
law Duties on ultra marine arId nnRlynr
dyca Mr. AlcrH created n laugh by say
Ing thnt In order to overcome the prcIu-
dice against the home product he had
frequently placed his prniuct In the
hands or Importers ana II had been
cnslly disposed Of hy them
W. W, Sklddy, OF New York. rCrrr
RontlnG lOgwDDd and nthrr dye wood
extracts, urged change from nd va
loren 10 specific rates and also some
rniRc IN rates.
The hruE mIlIcra or tho United States
wcyp rcprrgcntrd by George Hitler of
New York. who presented substitute
for paragraph lGlL. schedule a. OF the