The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-02
MAKES BANK PRESIDENTS
Baltimore Man Objects to Tariff
on 0ilclothS.
HE TELLS WHAT HE KNOWS
Lively Little Tilt Between Gen. Gros-
venor and Mr.. Crawford Lyon at
the Ways and Means Committee
Hearing-Californ Wants Du-
ties on Flax and Hemp.

The hearing before the Ways and Means
| Committee was enlivened by tilt between
| Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and q Mr. Lyon
of Baltimore.
The latter gentleman charged that oil
cloth and linoleum manufacturers had be
come hank presidents in his city. This
led to some sharp questions from Gen.
Grosvenor. The subject of the hearing
was FLAX, hemp and their manufac-
lures" p"
The first manufacturer to be heard was
Mr.. William Rutherford, of Oakland, Cal,
who said that in California they were en-
gagged in making twine, yarn and cloth in
| a great many varieties. The first OF
these mills was started there about thirty
years ago, and within that time the business
had increased largely. They now wanted
a reasonable protection to run their mills,
and he suggested such changes in the tariff
as were considered necessary for the pur
pose.
Voted for Protection.
The manufacturers of California, he said
in the last campaign, had given their votes
for protection, thinking this the quickest
way to give employment for the idle: pro-
lection for themselves and revenue for the
government. The mills OF the United States
had been active in keeping down the price
or these goods to the farmers. Up to the
passage OF the Wilson bill fair duty had
been given the industry. The measure
benefited the mills of Calcutta and other
foreign countries at the expense OF the do
mestic manufacturers.
Between 1893 and 1895 the imports Of
jute and burlaps more than doubled. Under
the clause in the free list admitting cotton
bagging and certain goods made of bur
laps, importers were bringing in cloths
OF various kinds, including horse and car
riage robes.
This was not fair nor the intent Of the
act, but the words ''all such material"
used in the act enabled the goods to be
brought in. The makers OF miXedgoods and
cotton goods suffered from this He had
called the attention OF the customs Off
cials to it, and he understood that they now
had the matter under consideration
One OF the Oldest plants in the United
States, established at Black Point, Cal,
during the war, had beei taken down and
transferred TO Japan.
What Is Wanted.
He had been advised to transfer his
plant to Yokohama, being told that he could
get his labor at from 6 to 2 cents day.
and his coal for about so cents a ton. But
he had found that foreigners could not
hold property in Japan, and therefore he
had to give up that idea The summing up
II ID ..
geStion OF the following rates in the new
tariff:
'Burlaps. of any width, of flax, jute or
hemp or OF which flax, jute or be1sp, or
either of them, shall be the component ma
terial of chief value-except such as may
be suitable for cotton-1 ga cents per
pound. Rags for grain, made of burlaps,
cents per pound"
The chairman inquired of Mfr. Rutherford
whether his industry had been successful
after the passage OF the tariff act OF SOL
Mr.. Rutherford Yes, sir; very success
full. The duty was taken, in that act, off
the raw material, and that gave us an
assistance of Sl5 per ton on Jute. We
were never better off than from 1890 to
1894, when the Wilson tariff act was
passed.
MIR. Crawford Lyon of Baltimore was the
next speaker. He began by characterizing
the last witness as a misleader and an
alarmist, and he contradicted statement
of Mr.. Rutherford as to the admission of
jute fabrics free of duty. The interest in
which he himself appeared was that Of
1ilcloth and linoleum. In the course of
Mr.. Lyons statement he made remark
as to manufacturers of oilclOth in BaIti-
more becoming presidents or principals of
banks.
Mr.. Grosvenor asked what Mr.. Lyons
meant to imply by that remark
Mr.. Lyons said that he preferred to GO |
On with his statement and be interrogated |
lfterward This suggestion was resented |
by several members of the committee, and |
Mr.. Grosvenor added:
Implied Nothing.
Suppose 1 insist on having my question |
now. Tell the committee what |
you mean to imply by saying that Ger |
ain bank presidents in Baltimore have been |
engaged in the manufacture OF oil cloths"
II imply nothing said the witness. Il |
ay that certain manufacturers of OIL
cloths in Baltimore have become presidents |
md principals of banks.'
Perhaps they were bank presidents |
before they became oilcloth manufac- /
5urers," Mr. Grosvenor suggested
"Thatisnot so, - said Mr.. Lyon.
"Then you mean to IMPLY" Mr.. Grosve-
lor persisted, 'that they made unreason-
lble profit as oilcloth manufacturers and
vent into the banking business?"
'I leave you to imply whatever you
Ike was the reply.
1.-The oilcloth and linoleum business
lere," he said, "was in the hands of a few
Any increase in the pre-
ent duties would prohibit importatfons
nd place the makers here in ! osition
o squeeze the public, an opportunity
hey had never been known to overlook.
The cost of making those products was now
over than ever before, and in addition,
he Improvement of machinery enabled one
mploye TO do a great deal more work"
Mr.. Wheeler asked the question sarcasti-
ally whether the people were represented
ere. n
"What people?" the chairman suggested;
the people Of the other side?"
"No,' said Mr.. Wheeler, 81 mean the