The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-09
WORKINGMEN PLAYED THE PRIN-
CIPAL PART IN THE DAYS
TARIFF TINKERING.
PROTECTION FOR P0TTERs
DEMANDED AS A PAYMENT FOR
PLEDGES GIVEN DURING THE
CAMPAIGN.
GLASS WORKERS OPEN THE BALL.
Only One Request Made to the Com
mittee to Put Anything on the
Free List.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The work
ingmen played the principal part in the
tariff hearing today before the ways
and means committee. Delegates Of op-
eratives from the organizations of glass
blowers, flint and lime glass workers,
the bottle and window glass blowers Of
Illinois and Pennsylvania and the pot
tiers of Trenton, N. j., and East Liver
pool, O., spoke. All told a story of de-
creased wages, mills running on short
time and general distress under the op-
GRAFTON of the Wilson law. F. L. Bodine,
of Philadelphia, spoke for the manu-
faoturers of cylinder window glass, and
Congressman Taylor, of Ohio, for the
potters, gave interesting illustrations
of ruinous competition from Japan. F.
G. Partridge, of Rutland, VT, presented
a schedule agreed upon by all the mar
BILE interests, and minor interests were
also represented.
f. w. Walker, of Beaver Falls, Pa,
was the first speaker. He asked for
Reconsideration and specific duties on
tiles. He was followed by E. A. Gard,
of Streator, ILL.,; w. J. Smith, president
Of the flint glass workers, and NJ F.
Darfiinger, of the Cut Glass Manufac-
turers' association. All asked for high
er tariffs and specific duties.
PotterieS were next taken UP and
John w. Morgan, Of Trenton, N. j.,
speaking for the workingmen, asked for
a restoration of the Mckinley rates.
Skilled potters were,- he said, under the
operation Of the Wilson law In a state
of restitution.
E. ]. Whitehead, of Trenton, declared
that not more than one-third of the
Trenton operatives had been employed
during the past two years, and those
on reduced time. Rates equivalent to
the Mckinley scale were desirable. E.
A. Stevenson, of East Liverpool, O.,
told similar story. In answer to q
question from Mr.. Grosvenor, he said
the workers received as fair a share Of
the profits Of the business under the
Wilson law as they had under the Nc
Kinley law. He said that unless some
thing was done for the workmen, their
condition would be terrible, and con-
GUIDED:
II will say on my own responsibility,
and for those l represent that If such q
tariff is not given the manufacturers,
as will enable them to pay fair wages,
l fear for the future of the Republican
party"
Congressman Taylor, of Ohio, who
represents McKinley's old district,
spoke as an expert ON pOtteries. Incl
dentally he remarked that the senators
in charge of the Wilson bill had prom
Used that if the strike then pending
among the potters was settled the rates
would be advanced to 40 per cent on
plain and As on decorated wares. The
strike was settled, but the senators
were unable to keep the promise be-
cause the house adopted the bill as it
came from the senate without amend
ing it in conference.
Mr.. McMillin asked If there was not
a combination of potters fixing prices
and discounts. To this Mr.. Taylor re-
sponded that the organization made
uniform price to stand ON agreed dis
counts, but their agreement was a rope
of sand, binding no one. Seven-eighths
of the capital invested in Limoges, he
added. was practically American CAPT
tai, and seven-eighths Of the product
came to America, consigned at what
ever rates the interested parties chose.
Mr.. McMillin asked Mr.. Taylor to
give the names Of parties consigning
wares to themselves. Mr.. Taylor re-
piled that the matter was one of COM
mon knowledge, and Mr.. TaWney add
ed that the investigation by the COM
mittee last winter had shown the facts
to be as Mr.. Taylor stated them.
Specific rates was the remedy Mr.. Tay-
lor proposed.
A request for leave to file a written
statement was made by Arthur G. Wig
gin, secretary and treasurer of the New
England Crockery association, but the
committee insisted that he should speak
and put him through a cross eXamina-
ton
Are you an Importer?
The reply was affirmative, and Chair
man Dingley said: Let that be en-
tered in the minutes
Replying to a question: Mr.. Wiggin
said that he knew of the agreement
among the potters by the fact that all
agents made the same prices and dis
counts.
Are not the discounts larger to large
dealers than to small ones?' asked Mr..
McMillin.
Eyes"
Are not large discounts given on
large quantities by all dealers?' asked
Mr.. Payne.
YES"
Frank c. Partridge, of Rutland, VT,
formerly solicitor Of the state depart.
ment and minister to Venezuela, pre-
scented a statement agreed upon by all
branches of the marble business, the
importers and producers. He explained
that 1t was the first time the various
interests ever had been able to agree
upon a tariff.
D. M Stewart, of Chattanooga, asked
for a duty per gross on lava gas Jet
tips. Representative Sorg, of Ohio, APP
peared in behalf Of the Pasteur- Cham
berlain Filter company to ask that the