The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-03

asserted, an opportunity never before
known to squeeze the public. The
committee doubted q statement by Mr.
Lyons that the consumption of lineoleum
lad been greater in 1895 than In 1893,
one member saying that If so, it was
the only article of which this was true.
Chairman Dingley stated that under
the Wilson law importations of limo
leum had increased so per cent, and
revenue decreased 33 per cent.
Leslie Combs, of Lexington, KY, who
said he was the largest grower OF hemp
in the country before the act OF 1884,
said the placing of fax. jute and hemp
on the free list had destroyed entirely
his ability to produce hemp, and since
that time he had not produced pound.
He came before the committee, there
fore he said, with no selfish interest, as
even if a fair productive duty was put
on hemp he would not engage in its
production. But he appeared, he SAID,
in behalf of the farmers of Kentucky,
who We're dependent on its production.
He declared that there was larger
percentage of labor cost in the pro-
duction of hemp than in any other
agricultural product. The labor en-
ployed in this industry in Kentucky
was the most intelligent and indus
trious colored labor in the country, and
during the profitable production of
however, did not expect from 81, 20 TO
81 as other protected employees did.
They were contented with less. Plac-
ing hemp on the free list had reduced
wages from 81, the wages by the farm
owners, to 70 cents and so cents. To
place a fair protective duty on hemp
he said would be only a charge of 81
cents an acre on wheat bound with
hemp Irvine.
ha ORC -afNc no cot n OF
until the enactment of the law of 1897
appreciated that the free importation
of jute, sisal and MANILA would DC
fatal to their interests. He charged
that a combination of manufac turers
had threatened to make trouble if a
duty on jute was demanded, He drew
a graphic picture contrasting the poor
negro laborers in Kentucky and the
rich manufacturers and said sucll
threats from the latter made his blood
boil. He called attention to the fact
that the st. Louis platform pledged
protection to four articles specifically,
hemp, sugar, wool and lumber He
asked for duty of $50 per ton on
slsal, manila and jute. He also asked
mat II De made penal offense to sell
1ute goods as American hemp goods.
MI Johnson, of North Dakota. in
terfupted to say that the Northwest
had supported free jute and MANILA
On the theory that there was no sub
stitute for them so cheap for binding
Irvine.
Mr.. Combs said he did not claim that
protective duty would not slightly
| raise the cost. But, on a protective ba-
SIS, this was to be expected. The farm
ers would get this back, if the protec-
i've theory was to be placed in opera =
ton, in an increased price for thej,.
wool
The price Of binding Irvine, Mr.. John
son said, in 1888 was % cents, in 1887 IL
cents and last year cents
Congressman Van Horn, of Missouri
said if fair duty was placed on them
Missouri, the finest hemp producing
state In the country, would go back to
its production. Mr.. Van Horn told
the committee he thought protection
was becoming topsided, there was too
much attention to the manufactures
and too little to the producer of raw
material. The hemp industry in Mis-
souri, was destroyed. With a duty it
would become the second agricultural
product in the state
j. n. BemiS, of Boston, representing
the burlap industry, asked duty of
80 per cent on imported bags and free
raw material. E. r. Biddle, of New
York, an importer of jute fabrics. sub
united brief. He commented on sam
pies OF colth admitted free as burlars
in San Francisco exhibited by Mr.
Rutherford, which he declared would
not be admitted in New York. AMI
which We're not in his opinion, burIaps
at all. Charles E. Pearce, of st. Louis
! representing the manufacturers of cot
ton bagg1ng and cordage, asked for a
restoration of the duty on those prod
Lcts in the act of 1890 with a reduction
or about 20 per cent. The committe c
then adjourned until Monday, when the
hearings will be devoted to the tobacco
| schedule.