The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03
DUTIES ON FLAX AND HEMP.
A CALIFORNIAN THE FIRST W.T.
NESS OF THE DAY.

Attacks the Wilson Bill-CraWford
Lyon of Baltimore InsinuRtes That
Manufacturers OF Oil Cloth and
LinoIeum Have Been Making In
reasonable Profits.
Washington. Jan. To-day was the
fifth day of the tariff hearings before the
House committee on ways and means, the
subject of discussion being "haX, hemp
and their manufactures There was
quite a large attendance of persons inter-
ested in those industries.
The first manufacturer 10 be heard was
William Rutherford OF Oakland, Cal, who
said that in California they were engaged
in making twine yarn and cloth in
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 20 run their mills,
and he suggested such changes in the
tariff as were considered necessary for the
purpose.
The manufacturers Of California, he
said, In the last election had given their
votes for protection, thinking this the
quickest way to give employment for the
IDLE; protection for themselves and reye-
nue. for the government The mills OF the
United States had been active in keeping
down the price of these goods to the farm
ers. Up TO the passage Of the Wilson bill
fair duty had been given to the indus
try. The measure benefited the mills of
the expense Of the domestic manufactur-
ers. Between 1898 and 1895 the imports Of
jute and burlaps more than doubled I'm
der the clause in the free list admitting
cotton bagglng and certain goods made of
burlaps, importers were bringing in cloths
of various kinds, including horse and car
riage robes. This was not fair nor the in
tent of the act, but the words All such
material used in the act enabled the
goods to be brought in. The makers of
mixed jute and cotton goods suffered from
this. He had called the attention of the
customs officials to il and he understood
that they now had the matter under con-
siderat ton.
One of the oldest plants in the United
States, established at Black Point Cal,
during the war, had been taken down and
transferred TO Japan.
He had been advised to transfer his
plant to Yokohama, being told that he
could get his labor at from to y cents
per day and his coal for about 80 cents
per ton. But he had found that foreign
ers could not hold property in Japan, and
therefore he had had to give up that idea.
The summing up of Mr.. Rutherford $
statement was the suggestion of the fol-
lowing rates in the new tariff: "Burlaps.
of eny width, of fax, jute or hemp, or Of
which flax, Jute or hemp, or either Of
them, shall be the component material Of
chief value Except such as may be suit
able for cotton) IA cents per pound. Bags
for grain, made of burlaps, cents per
pound
Crawford Lyon of Baltimore was the
next speaker. He began by characterize
ing the last witness as misleader and
alarmist; and he contradicted a state
ment of Mr. Rutherfords as to the ad-
mission of jute fabrics free of duty. The
interest in which he himself appeared was
that of oil cloth and lineoleum.
In the course of MIR. Lyons statement,
he made a remark as to manufacturers
of oil cloth in Baltimore becoming presi-
dents or principals of banks.
Mr.. Grosvenor asked what Mr.. Lyon
meant to imply by that remark.
Mr.. Lyon said that he preferred to go
on with his statement, and be Intercepted
afterward.
members of the committee, and Mr. Gros-
venor added: Suppose l insist on having
my question answered now. Tell the
committee what yOu. mean TO imply by
saying that certain bank presidents in Bal
timore have been engaged in the manu-
facture of oil cloths"
Il imply nothing" said the witness. Il
say that certain manufacturers of oil
cloths in Baltimore have become presi-
dents and principals of banks"
Perhaps they were bank presidents be-
fore they became oil cloths manufactu-
rers," Mr.. Grosvernor suggested.
THAT is not So said Mr. Lyon.
Then you mean to imply" Mr.. Gros-
venor persisted, that they made unreal
sonable profit as oil cloth manufacturers
and went into the banking business"
Il leave you to imply whatever you
like" was the reply.
The oil cloth and lineoleum business
here, he said, was in the hands of a few
companies. Any increase in the present
duties would prohibit importations and
place the makers here in a position to
squeeze" the public, an opportunity they
had never been known to overlook. The
cost of making these products was now
lower than ever before, and in addition the
improvement of machinery enabled one
employe to do a great deal more work.
Mr.. Rutherford of California the first
ing called an "alarmist' but he would not
submit TO being characterized as a mis-
leader, and he went on to argue that he
was right in his original statement.
John Wilson of Newark, n. j., fax
worker, spoke on behalf of those engaged
in this trade. He asked for the restora-
ton of the duties of cents per pound
on dressed flax, with free raw material
If raw material was taxed l cent a pound
he asked Az cents per pound on the dress
ed article to even the difference in wages
here and abroad
Leslie Coombs of Lexington, KY, said
that previous to the passage of the pres
ent tariff law he had been the largest
hemp grower in this country His bust
ness had been practically destroyed under
the law, and he had not grown pound
for years. The putting of sisal grass, ma
nilla and jute on the free list had greatly
damaged the hemp industry. AT the time
of the formation of the Mckinley bill the
growers of hemp did not understand the
danger from these substitutes. He asked
for a duty Of $50 per ton on Russian and
Italian hemp, and S25 per ton on MANILA,
sisal grass and jute. He also wished a
clause placed in the law making it a crime
TO sell jute goods, colored and dyed, as