Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-28
MEMORABLE CONGRESS-
In Refs: &c to the Tariff Question, Though
Not Without Heated Debate.
S'RIcAN INDUSTRIES FIRST
i'd Foreign Competitors Last, the Gist OF
a Resolution Adopted Which Will Be
- Transmitted to the National Law
Makers--Favors Bottled Spirits.

Philadelphia, Jan. 27-The convention
of the National Association of Manufac-
turers, in session here today, adopted.
resolutions favoring the Tennessee Cen
tennial exposition, which opens its gates
on May l, 1897, and are commencing that
the members of the National Association
of Manufacturers give 1t their most cor
dial support.
The committee to consider the question:
of tariff reported the following resolu-
tions:
Resolved, That 1t is the sense of the
National Association of Manufacturers
that the tariff law should be revised at
the earliest possible moment, in order
that uncertainty may be removed, conf
dence restored and business permitted to
revive.
Resolved, That the rates of duty
should be made as low as possible con-
sistent with the adequate protection OF
our manufacturing and agricultural in
dustries and the labor they employ. The
tariff should contain only specific duties
or mixed ad valorem and specific duties.
Resolved, That congress be invited to
re-establish and extend the system or
reciprocity, which may be employed to
secure for us tariff favorS in Latin-Amer-
lean and other markets, in which we are
the largest buyers, while Europe is the
preferred seller, solely because of the
lower wage rates and lower general costs
of production in European factories.
The resolutions caused lively discus
sion Mr.. Hamilton, of California, con-
tended that importers had no business In
the convention, as their interests are d.
rectly opposed to the interests OF the
manufacturers of the United States. he
asserted that congress Is composed large
Ia. aF Ioxxy G0hpmiQQ politicians,
who "hold the country up simply to get
the popular vote of the country.
Mr. Hamilton said that he had no use
for the convention If 1t did not demand
adequate protection. Mr.. Hamilton
charged that the importers of the coun,
try are lobbying to have the ways and
means committee make the duties In the
new bill as low as possible. Mr.. Hamal-
ton spoke earnestly as he pleaded for
high protective tariff, and was warmly
applauded as he continued.
Mr.. Hastings, of Delaware, criticised
Mr. Hamilton's remark as tending to mis-
lead, probably unintentionally the con-
yention as to the sense or the resolutions.
MIR. Hastings argued that the words
in the resolution should be made as low
as possible did not mean that American
industries should receive full protectlon:
Mr.. Hamilton replied to Mr. Hastings ana
objected to the resolution being maze 10
represent the sense of the association, on
the question of the tariff. Mr. Hamilton
prophesied that the competition or Japan
and other oriental countries, would ruin
the United States unless their goods
are barred out.
low as possible in the resolution, be
stricken out. In the course OF MS re-
marks. Mr.. Hamilton referred to Mr..
Hastings business-iron plates-and Mr..
Hastings reported that he did not want
any higher protection in his business
ba ba1 a UOicpd the wishes OF
all those in his business when ne salo
that the present duty was high enough.
Mr.. Heber Clarke replying for the
committee, stated that the resolutions
were prepared with the idea of meeting
the wishes of all as far as between ex-
treme high protection and low protection:
Mr.. Clarke explained that the word
adequate was intended to mean duty
which would be protect, for instance, IL
one article wants 10 per cent. protection
and another 100 per cent. then the asso-
citation asked for these duties and so ad-
equate protection would be anofded each
of these industries.
Mr.. Tompkins, Of North Carolina, ar
gued for duty between the extreme
protectionists and the free traders and
favored the resolutions.
@. F. Hanson, of Macon, Ca member
of the committee, argued at length in IA
vor of the resolution. Mr.. Hanson con-
tended that a moderate tariff with fair
protection should be asked for.
Mr. Solomon, of Newark, N. j., regis
| tered himself againts the words ''as low
as possible"
An amendment striking out the words
"as low as possible" and substituting
| the words Shall be as low as consistent
with" was offered. On vote the
amendment was agreed to by vote of
rs to 81.
On motion the words "rates of duty
were changed to read that dulles shall
be as" etc. The resolutions were then
adopted unanimously.
1t was agreed to send copy of the
resolutions as passed to each member OF
this and the next congress.
The following resolution introduced
from the committee on resolutions was
agreed to after some debate:
1.-THE senate of the United States
is hereby urgently requested to enact
such a law as will allow distillers to bot
tie distilled spirits in bonds, so that the
restrictions now placed upon our manu-
facturers which prevents the expectation
of distilled spirits in bottles and cases in
bond may be removed, thereby largely
increasing our export trade to all parts
of the world, particularly In Central and
South America and Mexico, and affording
our manufacturers opportunity for sue
cessfully competing with foreign compet-
itors, particularly Canadian distillers,
who now enjoy this privilege to the detri-
ment of home producers"