New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-10
Because look for a return of confidence and

the restoration Of prosperity, was the reply.
Respecting the export OF 10000 tons OF Ameri-
can pig iron to England. Mr.. Sinner remarked
that 1t did not seem so great quantity when
brought into comparison with the normal pro-
duction OF the United States which amounted to
some 9.0OOOO0 tons, or even with the smaller
production Of last year.
j. G.. Thropp. chairman OF the Executive Com
mttee Of the Eastern Pig Iron Association. also
addressed the committee and urged the restora-
ton Of the duties OF 1890. Existing conditions
were abnormal. he urged. and. with a fair
trade. the present rates Of duty would be in
adequate. The present low prices were due to
domestic competition and the reduced home
consumption on account Of the general depres
sion and stagnaton Of business. Domestic com
petition was welcomed. but provision ought to
he made now against unequal foreign compe-
tition In the future. In regard to the lower
cost OF production OF pig iron In Alabama and
Tennessee as compared with States further
North. Mr.. Thropp said he did not regard COM
petition from that quarter as either undesirable
or very dangerous. The profits Of the few iron
companies in the South which had divided prof
its recently had come from their stores. from
which their employees were obliged to obtain
their supplies at high rates. according to his
information.
James ID. Battelle. Of Piqua Ohio. president
OF rolling mill company. appeared in behalf
Of the iron and steel sheet industry, in which
about $14.OO0OOO Of capital is invested and in
which about 1900 skilled hands are employed
He filed written statement In which an argu-
some Of the higher grades Of sheets which come
into competition with Russia sheets. and on
taggers sheets. The rates on these manufact-
ures were fixed too low in 1894. he said. but
with these exceptions the manufacturers were
satisfied to allow existing duties to stand.
THE TINPLATE INDUSTRY.
W. c. Cronemeyer. Of Pittsburg. OF the
pioneers in the manufacture OF tInplates in
the United States. made a strong statement In
behalf Of that industry.
The manufacturers desire some changes OF
classification and an increase of rates of duty
which he said cut too deep In 1894. Wages
had been reduced 10 to % per cent on account OF
that cut. but the workingmen had yielded only
after a strike which had lasted four or five
months. And then" continued Mr.. Crone-
meyer, 1T seemed as though Providence had
come to our aid after the United States Gov
eminent had deserted us. for the price of steel
billets fell and were able TO continue. At the
old scale of wages we could not afford to run
single day
The domestic output of tnpates has largely
decreased and in 1896 the proportion Of foreign
black plates timed in the United States did not
of the provision which allows drawback of 9W
per cent of the duties on all imported tnpate
that is re-exported He said that 10 per cent
of the total drawbacks paid was on this account
and II was serious injury to the American in
dustry. In 1896 it amounted to about Sl6OOOO
which represented SJOOOOOO of wages that
the drawback allowance. This drawback was
paid chiefly to strong and prosperous concerns
like the Standard Oil Company. and the great
meat packing establishments. Prior to the In
PRODUCTION of the system. they had paid higher
price for imported tinpIate than they would now
have to pay for the American article.
John Jarrett Of Pittsburg. spoke to the same
effect. The average reduction Of wages In the
industry since 1894 he said. had amounted to
% per cent. no part of which had the manu-
facturers been able to restore THE cost OF
L1, ,art
can labor he said, somewhat bitterly. In re-
ply to a question by Mr.. Payne. and added:
Wages are too low, and the wage-earners arc
complaining"
OBJECTS TO INCREASE ON TIN PLATES.
r. T. Smith. Of Baltimore. representing the
Canned Goods Exchange Of that city. protested
strongly against any increase OF the duty on
tin plates. the ground that II would curtail
the revenue; that the existing rates afforded
ample protection to American manufacturers.
and that any increase would give them "exor-
bitant prices" He was asked in regard to the
tin-plate factories In Baltimore. One of them
which began operations under the tariff OF 1917
was not now in operation: another which had
put in It's plant had never begun operations ION
account of lack Of capital
There was still another. but Mr. Smith did not
say what had been its fate. except that 1t was
not now In operation.
Congressman Morse and Simpkins, OF Massa-
chusetts. appeared in behalf Of the manufact-
urers OF tacks. who want specific duties restored.
together with a change OF classification. when
will prevent the Importation as nails OF what
are actually tacks. and should bear a higher rate
Of duty. In Mr. Morse's district four factories
which formerly gave employment to 1000 hands
have gone into the hands Of receivers within
the last two years. and most OF the remaining
factories unable to withstand German cOmpeti
ton under the deceptive and delusve adj
valorem system" which afforded protection
whatever to the American manufacturer were
either closed or not running on full time A like
condition Of affairs prevails in Mr.. Simpkinss
district according to his statements to-day.
Thomas Hunter, of Cayuga County, y. Y,
manufacturer Of sporting shotguns. appeared
in behalf Of that industry. The competition
from which it suffers most Is that from Ger
many from which large number Of cheap and
almost worthless shOtguns are imported every
year under the existing law. Out Of an importa-
ton of about 10000 shotguns last year. he said.
about $1,000 came from Germany. and the
average dutiablc value only 81 -. upon
which an ad valorem duty was assessed. These
guns. he said. ought not to be placed In the
hands OF American youth. why" he ex
claimed. "a flock Of birds will sail through
charge Of shot fired from Of these guns
without losing a feather" The law OF 1871
had compelled reduction Of wages amounting
to 81 per cent and reduction OF % per cent
in the number of hands employed.
r. F.. Hastings Of Philadelphia. appeared In
behalf Of the makers of gold. silver. aluminium
and Dutch metal leaf I'm this industry also the
law of 1894 had forced a heavy reduction Of
wages and If the same scale of wages that
paid in 1890 was now in force every American
establishment would be idle and every ounce OF
leaf would be imported. as a great and
stanty increasing proportion OF II now is
THE MANUFACTURE OF SEAMLESS TUBING.
H. W. Hartman. OF Elwood City, Penn. ap-
peared in behalf of a new industry-the manu-
facture Of seamless tubing. He advocated the
substitution for ad vaorem rates OF specific rates
of duty which were absolutely necessary to pro-
tect the industry from the undervaluations which
experience had shown to be excessive The
did not ask for a material in
crease OF rates Of duty.
Charles Il. Storrs. of New-Jersey. appeared to
advocate the restoration Of specific duties
anthony the importation of which. he said. had
largely increased during the last two years, pre-
venting the development and extension Of the
domestic industry.