The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-29
THE HEARINGS.
Arguments of Manufacturers Of Chem
icals and Liquor Dealers.

Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON. Dec 2S.-The hearings.
which the ways and means committee of
the House will give to the representatives
of the various industries interested in the
preparation of the new tariff bill, began i'm
the room of the committee at the Capitol
to-day, and will continue daily until Jan.
IL. Much interest was manifested and the
room constantly thronged with deega-
tiCns and the representatives Of various
trades. Owing to the brief time allotted
for hearings and the desire of the COM
mittee as expressed by Chairman Dingley,
to avoid unnecessary repetitions many of
those who appeared simply filed their briefs
and made no oral arguments. Mr.. Dingley
expressed the opinion that the presentation
of condensed briefs would answer the pur-
pose of the committee better than argu-
ments and advised the filing of such briefs
where possible. He announced that briefs
would be received until Jan. H. Only seven
of the seventeen members of the committee
were present to-day-Messrs, Dingley of
Maine; Payne of New York; Evans, of
Kentucky; Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, and
Johnson, of North Dakota. Republicans,
and Messrs. McMillin, of Tennessee and
Wheelock, of Alabama, Democrats. The
schedules on which hearings were accorded
to-day were those relating to chemicals and
spirits and wines. Without exception all
who appeared asked for an increase of the
duties on the particular industry in which
they were interested. Almost all of those
who appeared in behalf of changes in the
chemical schedule urged change from ad
valOrem to specific duties.
Thomas +. Harrison, of Philadelphia rep
resenting the Manufacturing Chemists AS
sociation of that city, first made a brief
statement to the committee to pave the
way for a brief which will be submitted by
that association later on. In general way
he said the manufacturing chemists asked
for moderation in schedules and as far as
possible change from ad valorem to
specific duties. He called attention to the
fact that $500 600 were invested in the
manufacture of chemicals and that the
product annually approximated the same
sum. Those whom he represented, he said
asked no favors; they only desired justice.
They were now being crushed between the
manufacturers and importers He said that
some data would also be submitted relative
to the competition they had to meet from
China and Japan.
BORATES AND BORAX.
Mr.. III. Krebs of San Francisco. SUBJ
mitted the first formal argument. 1t was
for change of the schedules of the act of
1894 relating TO borates and borax. The
present law provides a duty of 2 cents a
pound on boracic acid and cents on re-
fined borax. This duty he argued. did not
fulfill the revenue expections of the gov
ernment or the producers. He argued for
a new classification of the compounds OF
borax to prevent avoidance and evasion of
duty made by the slightly higher rates.
The schedule he presented was follows:
Borate of soda, cents: borate of lime con-
tanning not more than "A per cent. of
anyhrous boracic acid. 3 cents; borate of
cents: anhydrous borax. cents; boracic
acid cents, and anhydrous boracic acid,
cents In answer to a question from MIR.
McMilin, Mr.. krebS expressed the opinion
that the schedule he proposed would pro-
duce as, much revenue as the present
| TO the producers. Practically all Of the
| twenty million pounds of borax and its
| compounds used in this country, he
/ thought. could be produced here.
| James Mcguire of New York. asked that
| hydrate alumina should pay duty only on
| the aluminia contained In the product.
W. III. II. childs. OF New York. and j. T.
| Schoellkepf. of Buffalo. N. ". argued in
favor OF increasing the duties on coal tar
| dyes from % per cent to 80 per cent ad
valorem, with a clearer classification of the
schedules.
! j. s. Page. OF New York, representing
| color manufacturers. said the present du-
| ties were ample. but IL the duties on chem
| icals were increased they desired a relative
| increase on colors.
in behalf OF a duty on copDeras. ochrs.