The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-29
DRUGS OF ALL KINDS
The Ways and Means Committee
Gives Hearing
AS TO TARIFF SCHEDULES
Representatives of Manufacturers
and Other interests Involved
Appear to Make SuRges-
tions and statements.

Washington, Dec. sS--In the hear
ing on the tariff schedules to-day be-
fore the ways and means committee,
w. III. Childs OF New York and j. T.
Schoeldkoepf of Buffalo. n. ", argued
IN favor OF increasing the duties on
coal tar and dyes from % per cent. to
80 per cent. ad valorem with n clearer
classification of the schedule, J, $.
Page OF New York. representing color
manufacturers, said the present duties
were ample. hut IL the duties on chem
icals were increased they desired rel-
ative increase on colors. II, c. Stewart
of Philadelphia appeared In behalf OF
duty on c0pperas. ochre. ochery arti-
cles and all oxides of iron used In the
manufacture Of paints, which, under
the present Law, are admitted free. He
read letters from several paint manu-
facturers testifying To the depression
of the industry, owing 10 foreign COM
petition since the enactment of the
present law James Hartford of New
York, on behalf of the chemical sec
tion of the New York board of trade
and transportation. argued In favor OF
a general change from ad valorem to
specific duties ON drugs. Samuel Merz
of Newark. n. j.. argued for rcstora-
tion of the Mckinley law duties on ul-
ira marine and analyne dyes. w. W.
Skiddy of New York. representing log
wood and other dye extracts, urged
III, change from All valorem tn specific
rates, and also some raise In rates.
The drug millers Of the United States
were represented by George Hitler of
New York. who presented Il substitute
for paragraph 1874 schedule \, Of the
I.,,,. I,.Vs
pound on powdered drugs, the same
rate now paid ON powdered spice. Mr..
Hitler presented a comparative state
ment OF the cost OF production at home
and abroad, showing an advantage Of
590.io0 cents in favor of the foreign
manufacturer. In the present law the
duties are 10 per cent al valorem and
the manufacturers recommended
change to specific duties wherever pos
sible, The tariff. Mr.. HITLER said, COW
cred the differences between the cost
Of grinding or powderlng abroad aud
In the United States, hut II was devel-
Oped by questions that the cost of
grinding in the United States Is cents
a pound and In London 2Ss cents for
grinding, while the London prices on
drugs ranged as high as 6is cents, the
United States prices being lower.
Chairman Dingley suggested the pro-
hibition of the importations of adulte-
rated goods. hut the drug representa-
tives held that such law was impos-
sible of enforcement.
j. A. Bean Of New York. represen-
tatiVe of the linsced manufacturers,
said those he represented would he sat
isiled with IA continuance Of the present
rate of 20 cents n gallon on oil and 20
cents a bushel on seed While a greater
tariff would help them, they deemed 1t
wise to agitate the question In the in
terests of the business.
n. A. Overbury Of Niagara Falls. the
only manufacturer of chloride OF potash
in the United States, asked for tariff
of cents "a pound on his product,
which is now in the free list, to make
up the difference in wages paid here
and abroad. The imports this year
reached 100000 pounds. II the duty
were restored he could reopen his
works, he said.
Mr.. Sehaeffer of New Haven, Conn.
a manufacturer Of caffeine, said he was
the first to manufacture the product
and had been producing it about one
year. He asked an increase of the
duty. which is now 20 per cent. He en-
ploys 10 men. His product was used In
other medicines of that class. He asked
fuir specified duty of s. per pound.
Thomas NJ. Culbert If New York.
representing the New York Quinine &
Chemical Works, appeared to ask a
restoration Of the duty Of 20 per cent.
al valorem which existed prior To the
act OF 1870 or its equivalent specified
duty. Qunine was now on the free
list He said the effect of the tariff re-
duction had been most disastrous to
the American manufacturers and un-
less something was done he would
have tn go out Of business.
Alorzo l.. Thompson OF Boston ap-
peared in behalf Of a restoration OF the
duty on sal soda and soda from one
eighth to one-fOurth or cent per
pound. He called attention to the fact
that the decrease OF duty had not stim-
ulated importation. He also asked that
EPSON salts be made dutiable AT one
fourth of cent per pound.
Schedule H-Spirits. wines and other
beverages was then taken UP. John Il.
Thompson Of Herrodsburg. KY, rep
resenting the manufacturers of liquor.
said spirits generally was the first TO
appear. He asked that the duty on
liquors. now $50 per gallon, be re-
stored TO $3.50. the rate under the act
OF 1890. The present law, ne salu, w :
creased the tax on domestic goods 20
per cent. and reduced the tax on i'm
ported goods 20 cents per gallon. He
also urged that there should be some
reciprocal arrangement between Can
ada and the United States. The COM
petition from the Dominion. he said.
was keenly felt by the domestic affairs.
He entered into the discussion Of the
Importation of adulterated whiskey
from Canada To show that the country
was being flooded with spurious
! liquors.
Edward l.. Snyder of New York, rep
resenting the National Wholesale Liq-
uor Lealers' association. urged first
that the same outrage" should be al
! lowed on domestic as Is allowed on I'M
ported liquors; second, such an adjust
ment Of duties on foreign liquors as
will yield the largest revenue, but not
give importers undue advantages;
| third. no increase Of the duties on for
I eign wines and. fourth. a penal statute
| to punish the counterfeiters OF foreign
wines and liquor brands This finished
the days hearings.
Oranss Growers TO BE Heard.