Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-12-30

<NAtVA NSN PuOiit nSNAiiSS wv CAPSNt W
devote some time to the study of
written statements, which will be sub
mitted on the various schedules, and
for that reason it will he difficult to
say when the actual work of framing
the bill will begin.
"Of course there are some things that
can be forecast. as the bill will represent
the Republican idea of a practical rev.
enue tariff bill. We will get as near as
possible to a basis of specific duties.
There is practically no difference of opin-
ion.
Mr. Dingley was asked II the recent re-
ports OF. the bureau Of statistics, show
ing an increase in exports. which the
Democratic administration Is desirous of
ent tariff law, would have any direct
bearing on the construction of the new
tariff bill. He said:
1T Is true that an increase I'm exports
Is shown, but the two articles in which
there has been the greatest increase are
copper and mineral refined oils. Export
of these articles Is in no way due to the
operation of the present tariff.
1T is true also that there has been an
Increase in exports of other articles but
II is not legitimate increase. II merely
represents the surplus for which there.
was no domestic market. Times have
been very hard. and consumption has de-
creased one-half, probably. in this coun-
try. In consequence of this decreased
consumption Il surplus mas accumulated
which has been disposed of abroad at Il
loss. The, real fact Is that these in
creased exports instead of representing Il
prosperous condition in this country.
show the eifects OF depression and hard
times.
Il have made it my business to inquire
into the cause of these increased exports.
In one instance ! communicated with Il
firm that had exported a large amount of
manufactured articles and asked them
what the result of their venture was.
Inc lirm wrote me that on the exports
they had made. they had lost over si00, 600
This goes 10 show that the increase rep
resented by the bureau of statistics in
our exports is not "A healthy one, and is
accounted for by the fact that manufact-
urcrs have disposed OF their surplus
abroad at distinct losses to themselves
Just as soon as prosperity returns to
TINS country and home market IL Gre
at.d FOR our product these exports will
fall 10 their normal condition. There are
some instances. | fancy. where the de-
preston has caused wages TO he knoc ked
down and goods Were manufactured at
prices nearer 10 those abroad than ever
before The conditions as they now exist
are not good arguments In favor of tho
present tariff law
Thomas r. Harrison OF philadelphia.
representing the Manufacturing Cham
lists Association in that city first made
n briet statement 10 the committee Ia
pave the way for 4 brief that will be sun
mitted by that association later i'm th,.
~
ufacturing chemists would ask for a
moderation in schedules and ~ far as
possible change from ad valorem 10
spet'llir duties lie called attention to
the fact that S51.@0gs was invested in
the Manufacture OF chemicals and that
the product annually approxinated Inc
same sum. Those whom he represented.
he said. asked no faVors. fhev only do
sired justice, They wer now hcinr
crushed between the textile ma fact
urerS ana importers. lie said that some
data would also be submitted relative 10
the competition they had 10 meet from
CHINA and Japan.
II. krebbs OF San Francisco. submitted
me hrst formal argument II was for Il
rh'thSc OF IN" schedules Of the act of 1894
rotating to norates and borax. Tie prey-
rnt laW provides Il duty of TWO cents a
pound on borscic acid and TWO cents.on
refined borax. This duty. he argued 6id
not fulhii the revenue expectations OF lne
government or the producers He arrt,a4
Tor "A new classification OF the compounds
oi boraN, to prevent avoidance and eva
sion OF duty. with slightly higher rates
ihe schedule he presented WAS as fol-
lows. Eoraic of soda. cents. b0rata ~
lime containing not more ihan a. nor
cent of anhydrous boracic acid, ; cents.
nofnte OF lime containing more than a
per cent. ce'ts; 9nhydrous borax
urous boracic acid. cents.
IN answer to a question from Mr. Nc
Millin. MIR. krcbbs expressed the opinion
nute rs much revenue as tho present
schedule ana afford much better profar.
ton 10 the producers. Practically All of
the - "W1 pounds Of horax and it's com
pounds used in this country, he thought
could he produced here.
James Mcguire of New York made a
prieI statement in behalf OF a distinction
between hydrate and anhv(irata Of ain
nina SO that the former should nav dI,tv
on'N on the alumna contained in the pro
auct. he desired no change in the rate
OF 4-l0 OF ! cent per pound
". II. H. Childs of New York. who is
interested in the first Installations from
coal tars. submitted a paper without oral
arEument and J. I. Schoellkopf of Ruf
l4io, ~ y. y. made an argument In favor
OF increasing the duties on coal tar dives
from =, per cent to IS per cent ad yalo-
rem with clearer classification of the
schedules. W
color manufacturers. said the present du-
ties were ample. but il the duties On
cneInlcalS We're increased. they desired
a reiatlVe increase. inasmuch as chemi- |
ure OF colors
Mr.. Stewart of Philadelphia. appeared
IN behaf of duty on copperas. ochre
o., ocnerS eartfs and all oxides of iron used
u the manufacture of paints. which un-
ger the present law. are admitted free.
lie read letters from several paint manu-
ihe'9rsrs , he testifying TO the depression of |
the INDUSTRY. owing to foreign competi-
tion since the enactment OF the present
law. The law of 1890. he said. reduced
the duty from one-half to one-quarter of
q cent per pound. This reduction. he said
had been disastrous
James Hartford of New York. appeared
on behalf of the New York hoard of
trade and transportation, and argued in
FAVOR OF general change from ad yaio-
mem 10 specific duties on drugs
. Samuel Merz OF Newark. NJ j.. aro1ied
Tor restoration of the Mckinney law
1uties on ultramarine and anilne dyes
J'he law OF 1880 fixed the duty at 4i5 cents
per pound, the present law at cents |
The nome manufacturers, he said. sun
piled 80 per cent. of the consumption. bilt
the industry was languishing under Iha
present duty. There We're ONLY two man
ufactories in the United States. The con- |
cern he represented employed 20 hands |
ana supplied 65 per cent. of the product |
Mr.. Merz said he had been Obliged 10 |
overcome the prejudice against the home |
product. He created a laugh when he |
said that In order to do SO he had fire. |
quently placed his product In the hands |
Of importers and 1t had been. easily dis
posed of by them.
W. w Skiddy of New York, represent
ing logwood and other dyewood. urged n |
change from ad valorerfl to specific rates.
ne also asked that a distinction be made
between liquid and dry. extracts asking
that duty of seven-eights of one cent |
be placed on the former and IL cents on
-hc latter. Mr. Skiddy read a second pa
per for manufacturers Of licorice paste
md extracts. asking duty of cents.
: The drug millers of the United States
we're represented by George Hitler Of |
New York who presented ), s,1hctif,.tc