The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-23
LUMBERMEN WANT A TARIFF.
THEY WILL ASK CONGRESS- 10 RE-
STORE THE DUTY OF 1852.

Democratic Congress OF lS3Z ne
stored-A Convention of Lumber
men Held Yesterday 10 Aid the
Recommendations II. y. Smart
Explains Why Consistent Demo-
Gratis Favor the Movement.
The democratic lumbermen of Georgia
are in favor Of protection on their product.
They do not consider this a declaration
in favor OF the principle Of protection, but
they have simply concluded that as
protective duty is placed upon all machin-
cry, tools and supplies used by them in
their business, it is simply a matter Of
business that a protective duty on their
product is necessary in order for them to
be on the same footing with other indus
tries OF the same class.
The lumbermen want the protective
duty of 81 per thousand which was re-
pealed by the Wilson bill, restored. In
their meeting at the De Soto yesterday
reasons were given why the duty should
be restored.
The meeting was called on short notice,
the call having been sent out by Mr. II.
=. Smart and others as a result of the
recent general conference of lumbermen
from all over the country at Cincinnati,
which Mr. Smart attended. On account
of the short notice and also on account of
the holiday season being at hand the at
tendance was small There were letters,
however, from lumbermen who were una
bic to attend, expressing sympathy with
the object of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order in the
gentlemen's parlor by Mr. Smart who sug-
gested that the election of a chairman was
in order Mr.. j. ]. McDonOugh moved that
Mr. Smart be made chairman. The mo-
ton met with a prompt second, was put
by Mr. McDonough and carried unani-
mousy. Mr. VI. V. Gress. vice president
of the Gress Lumber Company of Atlanta,
was elected secretary.
Mr.. Smart gave an account of the re-
cent convention at Cincinnati. This con-
Vention was largely attended by lumber
men from all sections of the United States.
The chairman remarked that 1t was the
only time he had ever known the lumber
men of the north and the south to agree
on anything. AS a rule, they had always
pulled in opposite directions. The conVen-
ton was unanimously in favor, however,
of petitioning congress to restore the tar
iff of 1882 on lumber and committees were
appointed to appear before the ways and
means committee of the present congress
in advocacy of such action, at the session
OF the committee on Dec. 81
THE convention was composed largely
of republicans" said Chairman Smart. In
order that might not be placed IN a false
a democrat, had always been democrat
and always expected to be one, and further
that l was a firm believer in the great
principle of free trade, and that l be-
ieved 1t would ultimately triumph.
told them, however. that
there was a tariff on steel rails, on all
machinery, and practically on every arti-
Gle used by the lumbermen in producing
his product, that / was convinced that 1t
was necessary, IN order to place the lum-
bermen on equal footing with other in
dustries and enable him to compete with
his competitors across the border, that
tariff should be imposed on lumber. The
tariff asked for only amounts to about -
TO 20 per cent, as against a tariff on all
articles used by us of % to 35 per cent.
The Canadian lumbermen, who pay none
OF these tarin duties on machinery and
mill supplies, have only to ship their lum-
Der across the boundary to put IL in COM
petition with our product, which has
borne these tariff burdens. As the matter
stands now, we are taxed simply for the
benefit of the Canadian lumbermen. There
fore l told them that / was in favor Of the
proposed tariff duty on lumber.
The chairman stated that the imports of
lumber into the United States from Can
ada for the nine months ending Sept. 30,
1896, amounted to 549, $4,000 feet, the value
OF which was So, 902 800. The number of
shingles imported during the years 1895 and
1896 was 1O0,l0O0O0. The chairman also
stated that there is 80 per cent. tariff on
ehingle bands which are used by manu-
facturers of shingles, while shingles are
admitted free Of duty lie gave statis
machinery and supplies used by the mill
men is 20 per cent.
Letters. were read from several promi-
nent mill men, regretting their inability
70 De present at the meeting and indorsing
the movement to reimpose the tariff They
also authorized the use of their names in
support OF the movement.
chairman Smart stated that he was one
OF the committee appointed by the Gin
clhnau convention to appear before the
ways ana means committee of congress in
behaf OF the lumbermen As the COM
Inlttee is to consider this schedule on Nee
o., remaining in session during the holt
lays, tnere Is very little time to lose He
had called this meeting, he said in order
mat steps might be taken to secure the
i,pgod6orsement Of the iumbermen of this sec
Mr. w. B. StilIwell expressed himself on
the same line as Mr.. Smart The lumher
s,lei OF the northwest. he said, with their
seemingly inexhaustabe forests, made
inllIlohs while the tariff was in force
ABOUT the time their supply began III ~
~ hia eIstt ana the yellow pine lumber of
me south was beginning to come in de-
Ilanu az the north the tariff on lumber
was removed. The lumbermen of the
sou'ni ne sala. mad been very blind not to
SET me effects of this at the time The
Importation, free of duty, of the Cana
Nldn iuinDer 10 supply whatever demand
Was was not supplied by the lumbermen Of the
north ana west, he said. effectually shut
southern yellow pine out of the northern
market By reimposing the tariff. what
nren uenclency existed between the de-
nlied by the southern mills and the Amer
ican iumbermen would control the Amer
lean market.
AFTER some discussion of the hest means
OF erecting the desired end, Mr. McDon-
ough moved that committee of three be
appointed, OF which the chairman should
ne a member, to prepare a memorial from
me ium bernen of this section 10 he sub-
mited TO the ways and means COMMITTEES
ana mat the same committee preDare a
memorial OF greater length and datail,
70 pc laid before each senator and reDre-
sentative at the next session of congress
when the tariff bill is taken up. MIR Nc.
Donough's motion was adopted
fhe committee was authorized 10 use
Whatever means u should see fiji In nre-
pafng these memorials The chairinau
appointed on the committee with himself
mr Stiilwel and Capt r. s. WvlIv. The
time being short the committee was Am.
Inorized TO communicate with the mill
men direct In such matter as II Should
~ was recommended that the lumber.
men communicate directly with the cor.
eressmen from their respective districts
ana inform them OF the action Of me
meeting and the reasons for 20 and on.
osaNor to secure their support n was
Slated tnat several OF the Representative
ION MS state have already expressed
t ,i as In sympathy with the move.