The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-29
TARIFF TINKERS talk
Tax, More Tax and Still
More Tax the Cry of
the Protected.
THE AID VAL0REM BUGABoo
Southern Birthright Going for a
Mess Of Pottage Cotton
Manufacturers Woes.

f
WASHINGTON, Dec 20, 18s6.-The sec
ond day of the tariff hearings before the
Committee of Ways and Means of the
House OF Representatives opened with the
sclussion Of Schedule I, cotton manu-
lures, There were six members of the
nnfttee present when, promptly at ten
IA. NJ, the proceedings opened. There
re the Chairman (AIr. Dfngley. of
Maine) and Messrs. Payne of New York,
Evans of Kentucky and Dalzell of Penn
sylvania, all Republicans. and Messrs.
McMilltn of Tennessee and Wheeler Of
Alabama, Democrats.
The first section Of the schedule relates
to the duty on cotton thread and carded
yarns, and ON warps or warp yarn. The
gentlemen who were present to enlighten
the committee in regard to those manu-
factures were Messrs. Andrew S. Han
zford, r. c. Kerr and W. D. Rowland,
representing the Cotton Spinners Assoc
tation Of Fall River. Macs, and Messrs.
A Campbell. j. c. Young and P. ].
4cNally. of ManayunlS, Pa. Mr. San
5rd stated the views OF the Cotton Spin
ers Association, and was subjected to
elose quest Joining on the part of the DEM
yocratic members
Mr. Sanford said that the provisions
placed in the present tariff bill had prac-
tically made it an advalorem measure. 1t
was simply impossible for the spinners
Of this country to put out any fine yarns.
AS far as these yarns went the bill was
imperative and the mills had been COM
PEELED to stop the making of fine yarns
and try the making Of coarse goods for
which their machinery was not adopted.
Under the present bin fine yarns i'm
ported were undervaIued. The manufac-
turer was injured and the Government
was deprived OF much revenue. The Cot
ton Spinnerss Association would be willing
to have the present rates on cotton yarns
remain if the provlsos in the law regard
ing them were stricken out. The impor-
tation of these yarns had increased from
some 100000 pounds in 1894 to over 100000
pounds this year
The paragraph In the present law COM
planned Of provides that in no case shall
the duty levied exceed eight cents per
pound on yarns valued at not exceed
ing p cents per pound nor exceeding
10 cents per pound on yarns valued at
over 25 cents per pound and not ex-
ctttliiS ~ ceAlS per pouLu5 pfON1Q6d, luT-
ther, that on all yarns valued at more
than 40 cents per pound there shall be
levied, collected and paid a duty of
As per cent. ad valorem.
S. b. Chance of Fall River, Mass,
nSpoke- for the makers of cotton cloth
they were not sufficiently protected on
the fine end Of the business. he said
and would ask for a few amendments
TO the present law in this direction.
They wanted new classification for
cloths EXCEEDING 300 threads to the square
inch. otherwise they were satisfied with
They also desired to have goods known
IS inquired weaves'' specially provided
for. This was new branch of the indus
try, and the ngures doubled the value
of the goods
Another matter he wished to call atten-
ton to was the importation of plain
cloth marked Off in colored squares the
9ze of handkerchiefs as handkerchiefs.
Fine cloth was imported in this way,
dntiable as common handkerchiefs. AS
soen as imported these goods were sent
g pc b,eached, the lines taken out, after
Eh1cn they could be used for any purpose.
n TINS way great frauds were perpe-
He complained bitterly of ad ya1oren du-
ues ana the urdervaluation practiced un-
Answering Mr.. McMillln. he said that
- the process OF manufacture improved
the price of goods fell Competition was
go sharp in the United States that it
Would keep prices down even If a pro-
nl1Blfory duty was placed on the goods.
Replying to Mr.. Dingley he said that
nuring the past two years he had been
Forced to import fine yarns, as no maker
IN this country could supply them at
praces as low as at which they could be
His attention was called by Mr. Wheeler
Of Alabama to statements Of several au-1
ynoTlties. to the effect that labor was
petLer PAD IN Europe. He did not agree.
to this On the other hand he said be was
positlve rne American laborers (his, at
leasQ were better paid
Robert Pilling OF Phfladelphia. a maker
o. stockings and underwear said that
later ne would submit statement cover
ing what hosemakers desired. The pres
e4t iew was not satisfactory, especially
On underwear no change will be asked
7ef requested the committee to strike
I'm the stocking schedule clause 261
covered class Of 'old cut goods
DC on knitting frames They were no
Ager made and could not be sold but IL
Ihe clause remained 1t might prove a
foophole for fraudulent irnportations.
referring to labor he sadd that here 1t
was paid four times as much as it was
stocking trade.
,,lso Fer sl,s,s,, years; he said. our people had
goods and were beginning to get a
fppthold but under the present tariff
law they could not succeed. The 'setm-
less machine an American invention,
added greatly to the competition.
r. w Cooper of Olneyville, r. l..
manufacturer OF the finer grade of stock
ings. asked for A tariff OF forty cents
per dozen and thirty per cent ad val
orem on all goods costing $3.50 per dog
en- opd under. The cost Of making goods
here was three times as great as it was
in Germany. and the rate asked for
would exactly equalize conditions in the
two countries and put our people on
the same footing. His company had
been doing business for twelve years and
had never paid dividend. 1t was be-
g4nnins to get on Its feet under the
Mckinley law, but under the present tar
~ had just managed to exist
James Iafcotf, representing the Aineri-
can Hosiery Company of New Britain
Cenn:, said that under the present tariff
hts industry had been very much de-
pressed and their mill viii either be
stopped OF run on limited production. His
company made fine full fashion" goods
This class of goods would be made to-
I pay handsome revenue IL the makers
&0f them In this country were protected.
i He had no rates to suggest at present
zbut would send them IN later
q w. II. Bilyou, of the Philadelphia Knit
ting Mills Company agreed with Mr.. Tai
Fcott and with him would submit rates.
W. b Craig, Of Mississippi, on behalf of
producers of extra stapier cotton of
'th1 s&ss{ppj Valley asked for protec-
~ East Egyptian cotton. This cot
<2fd. came into direct competition
A{Iomezfic product and to large
~ driven the domestic growers
E<omH way. he asserted. the fur-s