The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
TILES, GLASS, AND MARBLE
IND USTRTES JHAT DEMH Nd IN
CREASED PROJECTION.

ways nnd Means Committee Told That the
Wison Bin Has Drivsn elias. Work ers
to the Wall, Closed Works. Cat Wages,
and Increased the Cost OF the Product.
WASHINGTON. Jan. s.-The Ways and Means
Committee to-day heard reports OF the earthen-
ware. glassware. marble. ana stone ind ustries.
+. w. Walker OF Beaver Falls, Pa. advocated
a change In the section Of the present law re-
lating to tiles. favorinG q new classification,
with specific duties. On tiles now paying 20
per cent. nd valorem he desired a duty of 10
cents per square foot, or 4 cents per pound. and
on the higher grades, now paying 40 per cent,
he requested q duty OF 20 cents per square foot,
or O cents per pound. Most OF the tiles now
imported were being undervalued and were
brought in under the 25 per cent. rate. Tho
duties he asked would give the industry the 70.
Quircd protection, yield more revenue. and SIM
plify the collections.
X. w. Leslie OF Philadelphia advocated the
retention of the present duty on cement.
l.. Arlington Of Alton. ILL.,. asked. on behalf Of
the glass-blowers OF Illinois, the restoration of
the Mckinley rates on bottles.
+. A. Agard of Streator. ILL.,, q glass-blower
said that the American workmen had been
driven to the wall by the present tariff law.
Works had been closed, wages reduced and the
hours of work increased. Under the Mckinley
law the industry had prospercd. and at the
same time the cost OF bottles was reduced 25
per cent. Under present conditions IL was be-
coming more and more difficult for the Amcri-
can glass to hold their own against tho
cheap labor abroad. The old duty was simply
Just and fair and injured no one. The present
duty had In no way benefited the consumer and
1t had almostr ruined the workman.
WI Smith of Pittsburgh spoke for the work.
ers In flint and lime glassware. lie asked for
protection on lime and flint products In order
that the industry might live and give idle work.
men employment. In his opinion the duties
should exceed those In the Mckinley law. He
exhibited glassware which was being imported
ut a price less than the labor on them cost here.
From 10 to 80 per cent. OF the cost Of making
flint and lime glass was in the labor.
w. +. Doorhinger OF New York. representing
the Cut Glass Manufacturer Association. said
70 compete successfully with the ware produced
by cheap foreign labor.
OF cylinder. window glass and green and flint
bottles. said that the effect of the present law
bankrupt most of the domestic makers. From
80 10 DO per cent. OF the cost OF this product
r rsITs.s ,S. iS ssirs 4 Am ,h : M.- som aDs Ito had
1894 and 1896. when American competition had
been diminished. the cost had nd vanced about
~ per cent. The Importation OF foreign glass
was unnecessary. as the mills OF this country
were able to supply the home, demand. and
would do so Il the labor alone had the requisite
protection. He thought 1t reasonable. Just, and
necessary to have rates not lower than those
Samuel Burns. representing the window glass
makers OF Pittsburgh. said that the effects OF
the wilson OIL bad boon disastrous TO the work;
men and the trade. the wOrkmen being forced
to accept a reduction OF from 80 to 80 per cent.
In their wages soon after it's passage. Under
the Mckinley law their wages averaged about
S1e per month for thirty-nino weeks per year.
while under tho present law tho average was
John W. Morgan OF Trenton, =. j., spoke for
the potters Of his state. lie said they were in n
the Iaborers In any other country. Their weekly
earnings prior to the passage Of the Wilson bill
i hsd Sesn ssiisS Per sd s ss'Sa p pna Week x 'ha The yi E"s
been forced to sell their household goods, and in
many cases to live two and three families in one
house; a present every pottery in the State
Mr.. Z. 4. Stevenson Of East Liverpool, o..
condition was much the same as that OF the
New jersey workmen as described by their rep
bill wages In tho West had been reduced. and
they had been able to exc out only a miserable
representative Taylor Of Ohio. who represents
the district M formerly represented BY PRESIDENT:
said, was the recognition by Congress OF the
difference 10 wages paid to workmcn here and
anese ware. which were laid down in New York
a. a price far below the cost here to Secorate.
made In New Jersey, which. he said. was
equal In texture and art to any in tho
WOtIu. lneso HoOus were 80 mo tuht IL EoQulreu
an American stamp TO convince experts that
they were made In this country. American
makers could not, under the present conditions,
pay fair American wages. Some five or six OF
the finest works ever erected here or elsewhere
had closed in the past three years. and those
still operating were running on half time and
reduced wages.
A. G. wigcin, Secretary OF the New England
Crockery Association. advocated the reten-
ton OF the present rates OF duty.
Representative Sorg OF Ohio. at the request Of
the Pasteur Filter Company. asked to have tho
tubes used IN making their filters placed on the
free list. They were not made IN this country,
aud the duty only Increased the cost OF the
article to the consumer.
f.. {. Partridge of Rutland. VT. desired a duty
On marble. Being. IA luxury. II was II proper
commodity upon which to raise a revenue. A
duty on the higher grades OF foreign marble had
the effect Of reducing the price OF the domestic
prod net.
L. NJ. Stewart of Chattanooga. Tenn. a manu-
%fac,urer of lava gas-tips. nd vocated n specific
duty OF so cents per gross on importations of
lava tips.
The committee adjourned until Tomorrow,
when those interested In iron. steel. and lead
ores will be heard.
BOOTH fuckers ~ WASHINGTON.