The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-30
Manufacturers Appear Before the House
Committee to Ask for Governmental Aid.
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN WAGES AIRED
The Question Received Considerable
Attention and Involved Some Spi-
cy Diniognc-Ihc Duties OH Cotton
Manufactures DIscus>cd- Mill OWN
crB All Want Govcrnmcnt Help.


cussion of Schedule l, cotton manufac-
lures. There were six members of the
committee present when. promptly at
10 u. m, the proceedings opened. These
Messrs. Payne, Evans and DalZeil, of
Pennsylvania, all Republicans: and
Messrs. McAIilln and Wheeler. of Ala
bama, Democrats.
The first section of the schedule re-
lates TO the duty on cotton thread and
carded yarns, and on warps or warp
yarn. The gentlemen who were pres
cnt to enlighten the committee in regard
TO those manufacturers were Messrs. An
drew b. Sanford. r. c. Kerr and w. d.
Howland. representing the Cotton
Splnners' Association. of Fail River,
Mass. and Messrs. J. y. Campbell, J.
Q. Young and =. j. McNally, of Mana
yunk, Pa. MIR. Sanford stated the views
of the Cotton Spnners' Assoc!a ton, and
was subjected to close questioning on
the part of the two Democratic mem
bers.
Mr. Sanford said that the provisos
placed in the present tariff bill had prac-
tically made ii an ad valorem measure.
WE CAN'T MAKE FINE YARNS.
1t was simply impossible for the spin
ners OF this country To put out any fine
yarns. AS far as these yarns went, the
Dill was imperative. and the mills had
been compelled to stop making fine
y
goods. for which their machinery was
not adapted. Under the present bill
fine yarns imported were undervalued.
The manufacturer was injured and the
Government was deprived of much reve-
nue.. The Cotton Spinners' Association
would be willing TO have the present
rates on cotton yarns remain II the
provisions of the law were stricken out.
The paragraph in the present law cOm-
pla!ned of provides that in no case shall
the duty levied exceed eight cen per
pound on yarns valued at not exceeding
25 cents per pound. nor exceeding IL
cents per pound on yarns valued ut over
% cents per pound and not exceeding
40 cents per pound. provided. further.
that on all yarns valued AT more than 40
cents per pound there shall be levied.
collec cd and paid DUTY Of 45 per cent.
ad valorcm.
COTTON CLOTH MAKERS
S. r. Chacc. of Fail River, Mass. spoke
for the makers of cotton cloth. They
were not sufficiently protected on the
fine end OF the business. he said and
would ask for few amendments to the
present law in this direction. They
wanted q new classification for clio hs
exceeding 900 threads to the square inch.
otherwise they We're satisfied with the
present duties.
They also desired to have goods
known as Figured weaves" specially
provided for. This was new branch
OF the industry. and the figure doubled
the value Of the goods.
Another matter he wished 20 call at
tention to was the importation OF plain
cloth marked off In colured squares the
size of handkerchicfs as handkerchofs.
Fine cloth was imported in this way,
dutiablc aS common handkcrchiefs.
AS soon as imported these goods were
sent To he blcached. the lines taken out.
after which they could he used for any
purpose. In this way great frauds
were perpetrated He complained Dit
tcrlY Of al valorem duties
Answering Mir McNilin lie said that
as the process Of manufacture improved
the price of goods fell. Competition was
so sharp in the United States that II
would keep prices down even If a pro-
hibitory duty was placed on the goods
Replying to Mr.. Dngley he said that
during the past two years he had hecn
forced TO import fine yarns as no dealer
In this country could supply them at
prices as low as at which they could
be imported
Ills attention was called by Mr..
Wheeler Of Alabama To statements Of
several authorities to the effect that N
hor was better paid lin Europe iIo did
not agree to this on the other hand
he said he was positive the American
lahnrers this at leasO were the better
paid.
STOCKINGS AND UNDERWEAR
Robert Pili!ng. OF Philadelphia. a
maker of stockings and underwear said
that later he would subhit statement
covering what hose makers desired.
The present law was not satisfactory.
especially on fashion goods"
ON underwear no change would be
asked. He requested the committee 20
strike from the stocking schedule clause
2G2
Referring to labor he said that here
it was paid four times as much as it
was in Germany, the great competitor
in the stocking trade
For years, he said. our people had
been struggling to supply the fashion
goods and were beginning TO get a
foothold. but under the present tariff
law they could not succeed The seanl-
less machre. an American invention.
was being made abroad and this ad-
dcd greatly to the competit~ 20,
Il. w Cooper. of OlncyviIic, Il. T.. a
Of finer grade of stock
ings, asked for Il tariff of 80 cents pal.
dozen and 40 per cent. adj valorcm un
all goods costing $i.Yo per dozen ana
under. The cost of making goods here
was three times as great us ii was ia
Germany, and the rate asked for wYuli
exactly equaliZe conditions in the tNo
countries and put our people on The
same footing. His company had been