Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25

ion Expressions by Representatives OF
Ford Morocco Co., American Leather Co.,
IF. Biumenthal & Co., and Charles Baird
g. Co. cN
To ascertain what effect the addition
OF tariff on hides would have upon the
morocco industry reporter of The
Gazette recently interviewed several
local manufacturers. Under the reci-
procity plan of the Dingley Tariff
bill, provision is made that the Presi-
dent, when he is satisfied that any
government of country or colony of
such government, exporting to the
United States coffee, tea or hides, i'm
poses duties or other exactions upon the
agricultural, manufactured or other
products of the United States, which
sin view of the introduction of such
coffee. tea and hides into the United
| States, he may deem to be reciprocaily
unequal and unreasonable, ''shail
have the power and it shall be his
duty to suspend by proclamation to
that effect the provisions of this act
relating to the free introduction Of
such coffee, tea and hides. raw or un-
cured, whether dry, salted or piokled;
Angora goatskins, raw, without the
| wool, manufactured !; asses skins,
raw or manufactured, and skins,
except sheep skins with tine wool on, Of
the products Of such country or colony,
for such time as he shall deem just.''
The provisions above mentioned is
similar TO that of the reciprocity section
of the act of 1890 (the Mckinley bill,l
with the exception that the act of 1890
included sugar. And speaking of the
act of 1890, it may be we'll to quote at
once what Gen. j. Parke Postles, of the
American Leather Co.. said when asked
what would be the effect under the
present act. He presumed that the
duty was the same as in the Mckinley
bill under which the President imposed
duty against Venezuela and the skins
from that country arose about two and
half cents pound. This fact was
strongly impressed upon the American
Leather Co., for tnat company was
handling, he said. about four-fifths oft
skins that cane from Venezuela. The
advance in the raw stock from that one
country when there was not similar
advance in the stock OF other countries,
put that much disadvantage upon the
manufacturer who handled such ma
terial in his competition with those
who handled that from untaxed coun-
tries. The difference to the consumer
1 lTOll 'buCa q tdA Wouid uuouub W bhh
two or three cents a pair on ladies'
shoes. Gen. Postles did not think it
ever good scheme for Congress to
make law which virtually gives 10 an
individual the power to determine
whether to levy a tax or not. Congress-
is the tay-levying power and that tpower
should not be delegated to any one.
The effect of the tax is an increased
cost of raw material and an unsettling
of the market.
Richard Patzowsky, manager Of F.
Blumenthal g. Go. q big plant. did not
seem to think it would make, any
special difference to his firm whether
the tax was levied or not. He said 1t
would either have to adjust itself in
tho raw material. or leather would have
to be advanced according to the price
paid for the raw material. Mr.. Pat
zowsky gave some surprising figures as
to the quantities Of goat skins con
sumed. In one year the consumption
has aggregated Sc, 0l0. 900 for the whole
world. South America stands at the
head of the list of producers with total
! of 8, coo, 900 hides: East India is next
with $780, 600 and Russia next with
5000, QUO. Twenty -four countries con-
tribute to the crop. or the total,
America uses, according to his esti-
mate, two thirds. The figures do not
include kid skins which are used for
glove purposes.
Returning 10 the question of the
effect OF a tariff on hides Mr.. Patzow-
sky declared that there would not be a
skin less made, and that it would not
hurt the business interests of the city.
Peter j. Ford of the Ford Morocco Go.
was in favor of the reciprocity idea of
,, the bill, but his views on the questions
! of raw material and protection are as
, follows:
l am opposed to taxing raw material,
, especially that which interests us-namely
goat skins. We are selling goods in the
foreign markets, and have during the past
J year opened agencies in London, Vienna
, and Melbourne, Australia. In our business
/ am satisfied that with the raw material
, | free and the skill, ingenuity and intelligence
, of the American workmen, together with
, the great advances we have made in the
development of improved machinery. we
can successfully compete with the world.
So far as the doctrine of protection is con-
) | cerned, l am satisfied that there are some
) ! industries which must be under its fostering
care, for the reason that they are yet in a
| primitive state so far as the improvement in
! machinery is concerned and when in COM
petition with the labor of European coun-
: tries should receive some measure of pro-
7 lection.
. am unquestionably in favor of a specific
duty, and am unqualitiedly opposed TO the
I ad valorem duty, il being liable to miscon-
, struction and the law evaded.
Charles Baird of Charles Baird &
Co., when asked concerning the possi-
! BILE effect of a tariff on hides, took the
view that the bill did not apply to
goat skins, which are mostly used BY the
factories in this city. He said he did
not see the point in putting duty on
q thing that did not benefit anybody.
1t would affect Angora goat skins, but
a they are not largely used here. If,
however, it should apply to goat skins
generally, il would increase their cost
to the amount of the duty, because they
are now free. If the tax were put on,
the manufacturers would have TO charge
more
o Granted Leave to Amend.
0 Counsel for tine p W. & b. Railroad