Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-29
THE TARIFF HEARING.
Almost to a Man Those Present Were
Seeking a Protective Tariff.
They Want Something 10 Keep Out Foreign
Goods and Start Our Industries.

Washington. Dec. 2S.-At the tariff
hearing, today. J. A. Dean of New
York. representing the linseed oil man
ufacturers, said they preferred to have
the rate on linseed and linseed oil re-
main as it is rather than have agita-
ton on the subject.
F. Overbury of New York. manu-
facturer of chorate of potash. asked
for duty of five cents a pound The
article is now on the free list. The cost
Of the foreign article, laid down in the
United States, he said, was less than
it could be made here. His plant was
closed and could not be opened unless
some protection was given. The duty
Of 1890, cents per pound, would not
afford the protection necessary.
Thos y. Cuthbert. representing New
York qunine works. asked that quin-
me be taken from the free list and
given a duty of about 20 per cent. or
the equivalent in specific duty. This
was necessary, he said. to compete
with foreigners who sent their surplus
product here and sold it at cost. MI.
Cuthbert said his business had stead
lily decreased since 1889.
A representative of Powers & Wight
man of Philadelphia. said the low
price of quinine, today. was not due
to placing the article on the free list
but the cultivation of the bark enter
ing into it's manufacture. But for the
determination Of his firm the manu-
facture of quinine in this country
ouid have ceased long ago.
4. J.. Thompson Of Baltimore, said
+ la. ia. c.4I In
fair to American makers Under it
the raw material and finished product
received about the same protection.
American makers kept up the fight by
selling their product practically Tor
nothing. ON EPSON salts he requested
a duty Of q of a cent per pound to
place ii with other drugs.
J. u. Thompson Of Harrisburg kN.,
appeared for The manufacturers Of
spirits. lie requested The restoration IL
$50 "A gallon Of the duty On ali ina
ported spirits~-the rate provided IN the
Nc kinney bill In the Wilson Tin The
tax on domestic spirits was Increased
and that ON tn" imported decreased.
He asked for a reciprocal claus" rrla-
tive To- the Importation OF spirits from
Canada. I'nder The present arrange
menl he asserted. American producers
could only ship 10 Canada in ceTta@l
sized cases, but the Canadian could
send spirits to Us in any amount.
L. l.. snyder of New York. represent
ing National Wholesale Liquor Deal
| eis' Association believed the duty on
spirits should i've ~ adjusted as Eot to
bar foreign products. No increase
should he made III the rate On foreign.
wines. The rates should he fixed 10
yield revenue and treat fairly both the
foreign and domestic products. lie
advocated penal law for Counteyfeit-
ing foreign brands.
+. jacob If san Francisco. asked fol
I ne restoration Of the Mckinley rate
on wines-5o cents per gallon and s. 80
a gallon on all ether spirits. He held
that this duty would not Increase lhe
prize of domestic Wines. Domestic
manufacturers aimed t. keep the price
low. They supplied the masses-the
poorer classes-and To raise the price
would TIE detrimental to their interests.
He asked the committee not 10 extend
the reciprocity clause to foreign liquors.
The committee adjourned until IT. to-
morrow