New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-12
SPECIFIC DUTIES URGED.
IMPORTERS JOIN WITH MANUFACTURERS
IN ASKING FOR THE CHANGE

IMPORTERS JOIN WITH MANUFACTURERS
IN ASKING FOR THE CHANGE
rNr AID vALoREM RATEs-ABusEs OF THE
WEARING APPAREL" PRIVILEGE
END OF THE HEARINGS
rnY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE1
washington, Jan 1.-THE hearing before the
committee on Ways and Means to-day covered
. great variety Of subjects. BY means the
last instructive and interesting feature was fur
,.hed by the representatives OF extensive import
,.~ interests who urged and demanded the sub
,,,ution of specific rates for ad valorem rates OF
au,v in every case in which the former could be
,r.ds applicable. They demanded this In most
or,nhatic terms as measure OF protection
coded by honest importers against dishonest
,norters as we'll as by American manufactur-
er. Mr. Barnhart. the representative OF Mar
.,au Field & Co.. OF Chicago. declared that the
honest American importer is as much In need OF
,,-o,ection as the American manufacturer Is"
"a that specific duties are required for the pro-
.oo,,on of both we'll as Of the revenue. The
sorand Of the importers in this behalf was
,..rv significant one. because II indicated
.rons and growing sentiment in unexpected
-.ers in favor Of specific as against al va
,oreno duties and it was evidently a disagreeable
s,,nrise 10 the Democratic members OF the Com
,o,,.ea especially Judge Turner. who closely
Questioned several of the importers on the sub
jet.
To-day as at every previous hearing. facts were
asvelopei which indicated how extensive ana
svaeping has been the reduction of wages ana
,or large the proportion of wage-earners par
tally or wholly deprived Of employment since the
,arir legislation of 1894. 1t was easy enough 10
sse tina, while prices of few commodities had
declined since 1894 the purchasing power OF the
yare-earners Of the country had decreased IN
much greater degree.
Among the chief industries represented to-oa!
nrsrA the producers Of bituminous coal. the manu-
racturers and importers of buttons. OF gloves ana
Of shoe leather. except sole leather; the manu-
facturers Of boots and shoes. OF morocco anu
glazed kid. Of jewelry and Of artificial flowers
diamond cutters and polishers. and many othe:
industries.
THEY WOULD BE HONEST IF THEY CoohD
The hearing was opened by Represen'a'N@
(orliss who represents the Detroit (Mich) D's-
riot where a large number and variety OF IN
,justries have been injurously arecteo py 'he
legislation OF 1894 The manufacturers or cigars
he said want to be honest but some OF 'he
provisions Of existing law compel 'hem 10 oe
otherwise in order to live. He asserted 'ha' VI
all ~. Sumatra and other cigar leaf tobacco i'm
ported not more than Ia per cent pays the uu'S
~ 81 80 a Mound on wrappers the law requires
although far higher proportion consists Oh iea'
suitable for wra ppers. The Detroit cigar manu-
<.c.u-ars I, annesrs desire a uniform duty or
30 or ~ cents pound on all imported iea'
,oIacco and contend that II would Yield more
,e,anue than is ro.. derived from that source.
ur Corljss referred to the stress of Canadian
connection which Michigan producers anu
manufacturers are required 20 Teet on LUMBER
fruits vegetables. fish ard many other products
and presented number Of petitions praying LOT
an increase Of duties on some articles anu TIC
restoration of lumber TO the dutiable list AZ the
rates imposed in 1890.
J. Richard Smith. Of Waterbury, Cohh' ap
reared in behalf of ths American manufacturers
OF buttons rom vegetable ivory and adVoca'eo
4ha restoration of the duties Of 1890 and the
.,.,,a1 If then, upon a specific basis. Under the
tarin of 1890 the industry. which had peeh
lansuishing prior TO that time. became larry
prosperous. Ii was now in disorgahizeu anu
balf-der,oralized condition. account OF UNI
equal competition from Austria, where iaoo'
a,d no, cost more than one-fourth as much as
in the | nlte0 Sldtts
IN behalf Of the manufacturers Of glass and
metal buttons Rudolph Liedmann. OF New-1or
appeared He said that under the existing al
va1orer1 rate the domestic industry had De-
come completely demoralzed. Cndervaluatlons
amounted TO nearly so per cent Of the total I'M
nor,ations which were constantly increasing.
thus not only defrauding the revenue. but de-
nrvinr American manufacturers Of the protec-
lion which the law was designed TO AFFORD theH'
He advocated the restoration. on speclhc OASIS
o, the rates Of 1890. and promised to submit -
the consideration of the committee practlcdpie
schedule of specific rates.
ABLY" GRUBER ON THE SCENE.
After Mr. Colder had completed his statement
the nroceedings were enlivened by Ably" Gruber
Of New-York. who delivered a spicy discourse on
the subject of free impor,atons of dutiable goods
hv American tourists returning from trips
abroad His statements were interesting ana
several Of them somewhat sensational, as, TOT
example the one TO the effect that the Govern
ment revenue suffers loss OF at least Slo,oo"~
a wear on this account, under existing law, as
construed by the Treasury Department under
the decision Of the Supreme Court in the some
what celebrated case Of Aston against Merritt
Collector Of the Port Of NewYork In that case
he said S5.WM worth of wearing apparel which,
II regularly imported. would have been assessed
for duty at high rates was admitted free. The
law as construed. he thought, ought TO be en-
titled IAN Act to Confer Benefits on Incomes"
lie advocated en- amendment requiring that only
such wearing apparel should be admitted free OF
duty as had been worn. and as necessary TO
the comfort Of the person wearing IT,
Chairman Dinglcy remarked that there had
doubtless been abuses Of the privileges granted
IN the law but he thought 1t might not be
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