New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
PROTECTION IN THE SOUTH.
THE SENTIMENT RAPIDLY GROWING IN
STRENGTH.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MR. BoATNER's APPOINTMENT
TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
GRATIFYING SIGNS OF THE

TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
GRATIFYING SIGNS OF THE
CHANGE IN OPINION.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEI
Washington Jan. 1.-THE appointment Of Mr.
Boatner. OF Louisiana, to the vacancy in the Com
mittee Ways and Means caused by the death
| of Judge Crisp of Georgia. just as well as
generous recognition Of the growth and steadily in
creasing strength Of Protection sentiment In the
Southern States. Although that sentiment has
made rapid growth and developed much strength In
Georgia. Judge Turner. who represents that State
! In the Ways and Means Committee. is as radical
and extreme tariff reformer' as II Is possible
for any man to be who falls short Of being an out
and-out free-trader. II, is thorough believer In
and ardent advocate Of the admission into the coun
try duty free Of all so-called raw Materials in
GLIDING wool. lumber, coal. SALT fax, hemp. sugar
etc. although he has never advocated the abolition
OF the high duty rice, which is largely produced
| in his own State He is also a firm believer In and
warm supporter Of the ad vaorem system Of duties
The late Judge Crisp. although he was somewhat
more moderate In his views the tariff than Judge
Turner yet agreed with him in the main. n he
favored incidental protection it In
theory than In fact
Mr.. McMlin. OF Tennessee and General Wheeler
OF Alabama. both represent States In which the
doctrine Of Protection has taken root and made
rapid growth In the last few years but both OF
them cling as tenaciousy to their old free-trade
theories and views as though there had been no
change In Industrial conditions In their respective
States during the last ten fifteen years.
Mr.. McLaurin. OF South Carolina and Mr. Cobb
Of Missouri. the other Democratic members of the
committee until the appointment of Mr. Boatner)
are more moderate and at the same time more pro-
gressivc In their Views the tariff than either
Judge Turner. Mr. McMillin or General Wheeler.
MR.. BOATNER's VIEWS.
Mr.. Boatner Is incidental protectionist." as
he said in conversation with Tribune correspondent
recently. Mr. Boatner Is opposed to the admission
into the United States OF duty Of so-called
materials which be produced In this country
He was. therefore. opposed in the Lid Congress to
the removal OF the duties wool. lumber. salt
coal. flax. hemp and other products Of the farm the
forest and the mine which entered into competition
with like products OF the United States. Louisiana
has always demanded. and has uniformly received
except In lS9i-adequate duties sugar and rice
to protect her own producers In the Of 1890 the
sugar industry Of Louisiana cared for and until
the legislation ct 1894 1t enjoyed the benefit OF
provision which greatly stimulated and increased
Its development and prosperity. In years the
lumber industry Of the State has become an i'm
portant one and It in a fourishing condition
when the action Of Congress in 1894 bllghed IT, and
according TO information recently received by Mr.
Boatner 1t IL now in exceedingly precarous con-
dition The umbermen of Louisiana appeal as
strongly for the restoration OF the duties on LUMBER
as 10 those Of any other State in the Union. and
their appeals reinforced by the demands Of the
lumhermen OF Arkansas. Mississippi Alabama
Georgia. North Carolina and other States, who not
only find Northern markets overstocked with Ca
madam free lumber, but their local markets
invaded from both Canada and the States further
North
Everybody who was present at the public hearings
OF the Committee on Ways and Means which closed
Monday all ho have tba
those hearings in The Tribune must have had their
attention arrested by the number OF requests which
came from the Southern States for increased rates
OF duty on various agricultural and other products
and manufactures. The necessity of adequate pro-
lection for the and rice industries OF the South
has been impressed on Congress ever since the close
OF the war by Southern producers. and in recent
marble. cotton manufacturing and several other in,
dustrics Tnis year still other Southern industries
in some cases Increase Of duties ard in 't other
iist 10 the proposed dutiable list.
PLEAS FOR SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES.
West Virginia. well as Mississippi Louisiana
and other Southern States demands the restoration
Of the duties on lumber. and strong statements were
made by duly accredited and authorized representa-
tives OF the Southern lumber industry An exceed
ingly earnest plea was made in behalf OF the grow
ers OF longstape cotton In the Mississippi Valley
for the imposition OF a duty on Egyptian cotton
that the heavy and steadily increasing importatons
OF Egyptian cotton had injurousy affected domestic
growers. many of whom had been unable to stand
the unequal competition. and duty OF 3 cents
pound, which would be equivalent to s22 50 a bale.
In behalf of the Florida fruit-growers Representa-
tive Sparkman OF that State. asked for the impo-
the free list. and for an increase OF the duties
oranges lemons and lines to the rates advocated
by the fruit growers OF California. The producers
OF bituminous coal from the Southern mines. as
well from those OF Pennsylvania. were strongly
represented before the COMMITTEES by men who ad-
same demand was made by the lead producers of
Missouri. as well by those OF States further
Gated ed the restoration Of hemp and tow to the
dutiabe list. with the same duties as were imposed
Both the Carolinas represented before the
committee. strong argument in behalf OF an
South carolina representative OF that industry, and
Representative Linney, OF North Carolina. made an
appeal in Sena 81 ad neT S n
aeement offered by the law OF 1899 ana killed as
dead nit on dead dog ny the eSslati tbo od
n the Northern and Western States and Terri
tories demand the restoration OF wool 10 the dutia
The foregoing imperfect list OF Southern industries
which claim share in the benefits OF protecton
viii serve 10 indicate in measure the number
VII ard wide distribution OF those industries
II viii be noted that every southern state. Win
three or four exceptions. was directly represented
-, hobaif ~ one or more industries and even those
States were Indirectly represented , -. -
another gratifying change was observed by per. |
uh carefuilv listened to all the hearings and
ho have read some OF the written statements ana
submitted In many Pa aI5s 81 pocynot
pn N he advocated for the benefit OF Louisiana OF
Georgia or Mississippi or any other sns.e re
ana ,ppuad nv the industries OF another state or
oroun Of states This change Is an exceedingly
encouraging one
THE WEATHER REPORT.