The news & observer., 1896-12-30
THE TARIFF HEARING
Dav Given Up Largely TO Dis
cusslag Cotton Schedules.
FRAUDS ON THE REVENUE
Fall River Asks Fors Specific
is duties on Cotton Yarns. ,@.~
THE TRUSTS AND PROTECTION
-omnetition is Under Protection sf-
fective Except Against Artificial
Combinations, Said Simeon 3.
Chase. of Fall River.

Combinations, Said Simeon ..
Chase. of Fall River.
Washington. Dec .29.-The Ways and
Means committee devoted the day listen
ing 70 the representatives Of delegations
interested in the schedules relating to
cotton manufactures and silk and silk
goods. The attendance was not as large
as Yesterday. and the number who APP
nearel to make oral arguments was
much smaller. The committee is encour-
aging the fling of briefs wherever possi-
BILE.
The feature Of the day was a brief
oral argument made by f. O.. Hovey, of
New York. representing the Textile Man
ufacturers' Association, in favor of more
stringent regulations to prevent under
valuations and fraud on the revenue.
Mr.. Hovey has a quasi connection with
the New York Board of Appraisers. lie
gave it as his opinion that specific duties
where they could be imposed, offered a
perfect remedy for present abuses. lie
also gave it as his opinion that some way
should be found to compel the real I'M
porter to go on record.
Inc OTHeTS WHO dApeATtu OSAOAC NAN
committee to-day were: Arnold B. San
ford, of Fall River, in behalf Of specific
instead OF advalorem duties on cotton
yarns: Simeon b. Chase, in behalf OF
some amendments relating to cotton
cloths; Robert Pillings, of Philadelphia,
for change to specific duties on cotton
hosiery and elightly higher; Robert NJ.
Cooper, Of 0lneyville, r. l., who asked
for 40 cents a dozen, and 30 per cent. ad
valorem on cotton hosiery; James Tai
bott. of New Britain, Conn, and w. III.
Bilyeu, of Philadelphia, for higher rates
on hosiery; w. r. Craig, Of Vieksburg,
Miss, for a duty on Egyptian cotton;
b. IT. Stoner, Of Wrightsville, Penn,
for new classification Of embroidered
goods and an increase of the rate, and
w. III. Chapman, Of East Hampton,
Mass, who asked that silk buttons be
placed in the silk schedule.
Arnold b. Sanford, of Fall River, rep
resenting the cotton yarn spinners assoc
citation Of the United States said that
the coarser grades of yarn could be man
ufactured in this country, especially in
the South, perhaps as cheaply as in Eng
land. This he attributed to the long
hours and the cheap labor in the South.
He recognized, he said, that some time
in the future the South might become
competitor in the manufacture of the
finer yarns.
Simeon B. Chase, of FAN River,
Mass, appeared on behalf Of the cotton
cloth manufacturers. He said those
whom he represented did not ask an in
crease of duty, although on the finer
grades they did not have adequate pro-
lection. In reply to a question from
Mr.. Wheeler, Mr.. Chase expressed the
opinion that it was hardly possible that
the cost Of manufacture Of coarser
cloths in the South was but two-thirds Of
the cost in Manchester. He said the
exports from the South went chiefly to
China, and were Of such a class that the
cost of the raw material made up the
bulk Of the value.
Proceeding Mr.. Chase said that the sell
ing price Of goods was kept down to the
lowest point by competition.
Mr.. McNIillin attempted to show that
this was not the fact in the case OF many
protected articles, but Mr. Chase insisted
that it was true except where artificial
combinations existed.
A series Of interesting questions put by
Mr.. Dingley developed the fact that the
manufacturers here paid much heavier
taxes than in England.
"Come down into our country" said
Mr.. Wheeler, "and we will entirely ex-
empt you from taxation"
'aThat is one Of the advantages the
South offers" replied Mr.. Chase
A representative of the cotton grow
ers Of the Mississippi Valley, w. r.
Craig, of Vicksburg, Miss. appeared to
ask for duty on Egyptian cotton. This
Droduct was under-selling the extra sta
Die cotton of the Mississippi Valley, hav-
ing greatly decreased in price during the
past ten years Extra staple, he explain
ed was worth four TO Eve cents pound
more than the upland cotton and could
be used for most grades OF glossy goods
in which Egyptian was utilized. Many
New England manufacturers bought
Egyptian or American for the same pur-
poses, according to which was cheaper.
The years growth Of extra staple in
the Mississippi Valley was 100000 bales
and the Egyptian importations from the
port of Alexandria alone was 10000
bales, the Egyptian bales being so per
cent heavier than American. If the in
dustry was once established it would need
no protection for no other country could
grow cotton so cheaply as the United
States. For the present a duty Of 3
cents a pound on Egyptian cotton was
needed, and such duty would help to
improve the quality Of all cotton grown
in the South.
The same question was discussed by
O. r. Baker, treasurer Of the Lawrence
Manufacturing Company, of Lowell,
Mass. he sad that the Egyptian cot
ton was G1.cr than the American goods,
that it had ! s waste and better color;
taaa the American product could not be
used for ceI ain grades Of goods for