The San Francisco call., 1896-12-29
PUBLIC HEARING
ON The TARIFF
Merchants Before the Ways
and Means Committee
of the House.
Duties on Chemicals, Spirits
and Wines Receive First
Consideration.
San Franciscans Among Those Who
Ask More Prote ction for
Hcme Products.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 28.-The
first of twelve public hearings 30 be given
on the revision of the tariff was begun
this morning. Chairman Dingley pre-
sided ard there was pretty full attend
snce. Though Dingley has requested that
the communications should be in writing
as far as possible, 1t is anticipated that
the so-called hearings" will be in large
part readings" Nevertheless there were
3 number of leading chemical manufac
turers present, the first cay being devoted
to schedule A, chemicals, oils and paints,
ana schedule H, spirits, wines and other
beverages.
The first schedule only was under dis
cussion this morning. Among those pres
ent we're representatives of Philadelphia
firms and other manufacturers from Chi
csgo. Cincinnati and other large cities.
Their general views favored the restora-
ton OF specific duties. There were only
six mem bers of the committee present,
the chairman (Dingley OF Mainel, Dalzell
of Pennsylvania. Payne of New York,
Evans of Kentucky and Johnson OF North
Dakota, all Republicans, and McMillin OF
Tennessee, Democrat. The two first gen.
tlemen, who were heard on the chemicals.
paints and oils schedules, were Thomas
A. Harrison of Philadelphia and Henry
Krebbs Jr. of San Francisc.
DR.. Harrison, representing the Manu-
featuring Chemists Association. was the
first to address the committee. His asso-
citation desired rates to be specific instead
of ad valorem as at present. He said
committee of FIVE, appointed by his asso-
oto lot bn
rates desired on chemicals.
Henry 81. Krebbs of San Francisco,
speaking of the chemical schedule, said
that the tariff act of 1894 did not meet the
expectation of the Government or the
manufacturers. He desired a change in
the classification of borate of lime aud
borate of soda. The present law was de-
fective in its specifications and he desired
it changed so as to be more explicit. Un-
der it the American miners and producers
had been deprived of one-half of the home
MAJ ket, because under the name of crude
borate of lime calcined concentrated and
artihciaily treated material containing
very high percentage of borlc acid was
imported.
James Mcclure of New York desired
change In the classification and wording
OF the alumina schedule.
No change in the rate of duty was de.
sired, but under the present law il was
necessary to i'm port So per cent of water TO
get their product.
n. G. Stewart of Philadelphia asked for
a duty on ocher, ochery earths, SIENNA and
oxide of iron. If these articles remained
on the free list two more years they could
not live.
E. L. Snyder of New York, representing
the National Wholesale Lquor-dealers'
Association, said the duties Oh spirits
should be so adjusted as to not bar out
foreign products. An increase should be
made in the rate on foreign wines. Rates
should be fixed so as to yield revenue and
treat fairly both tbs foreign and domestic
products. He advocated a penal law Tor
counterfeiting foreign brands.
F.. jacob of San Francisco did not agree
with Mr.. Snyder in regard to wines. He
asked the restoration of the Mckinley
rates on Yine-50 cents per gallon-and
81 80 per gallon on all other spirits. He
held that this duty would not increase the
price OF the domestic wine. Domestic
manufacturers aimed to keep the price
low. They supplied the masses-the
poorer classes-and the advanced duty
would be detrimental to their interests.
He asked the committee not to extend
the reciprocity clause to foreign liquors.
Mr.. jacob, in advocacy of an increased
duty on wines, was supported by Edward
Frawenfeld OF California and P L. Crovat
manager of the Leland Stanford estate
The committee ad journed until II O'Clock
tomorrow when those interested in the
cotton schedule will be heard.