The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-01
LUMBERMEN AND THE DUTIES.
A RATE OF 81 PER 1000 FEET ASK
ED ON IMPORTS.


in the Industry and at Least Co.,
900 Persons Engaged in 1.-THE
Lumbermen Want other Woods
Placed on the Same Basis as
Spruce-Lively Tilt Over the Duty
ON News and Book Paper.
Washington, Dec. S1.-The two indus
tries, woods and manufactures of wood,
and pulp. papers and books. were the sub
jects of the hearing to-day by the COM
mittee on ways and means. The hearing
was opened on behalf of the lumber in
terests by c. D. Goodyear of Buffalo, who
had been designated for the purpose by
the Cincinnati Lumber Convention, and
who was accompanied by other represent
tatives of that industry.
Mr. Goodyear said that recent events
convinced the lumber men that no protee-
tive idea would prevail, at least until the
assembling of a new congress.
Assuming that protection to American
labor and industries would be the policy
of the incoming administration the lum-
Der people were here to demand what was
due them. There was invested in this in
dustry over SO, 900 600.
1t was one of the most important in
dustries deserving consideration at the
hands of the committee. There were at
least 100000 persons directly engaged in
it, and altogether there were 5000 900 peo-
Pile receiving their livelihood from this
great and important industry.
He said that the lumbermen were not
asking anything exorbitant nor beyond
what was reasonable. What they asked
was, substantially, that white pine hem
lock, bass wood and sycamore be placed
on the same footing as spruce which was
now protected by a duty of 81 per thou
sand, while the others had only protec-
ton of 81.
Under all tariff legislation. he said
spruce had remained under the 81 clause
Under this protection the product of
Maine, represented by those in congress
who looked after her welfare, had never
failed to have protection to the extent of
81 a thousand feet, while white pine, hem
lock, sycamore and all the other woods
were protected only to the extent of 81.
The chairman (NIr. Dingley of Maine)
remarked that Maine was a pine tree
state.
Yes" Mr. Goodyear replied, "a pine
tree state, without any pine, but with a
lot of spruce, of which a new crop can
be raised every thirty years"
MIR. Dolliver, rep, of Iowa, asked whose
fault it was that other lumber had not
| received the same protection as spruce.
1T was the fault of the lumbermen
themselves" said Mr.. Goodyear until
1892 they never seemed to have awak-
ened from their lethargy. They came
here at that time, but the sentiment at
that time was directed against the FRO
tective idea, and they failed to accom-
plish what they asked for. Now the lum-
bermen of this country are aroused, ana
they have learned of the important feat
ures of the tariff act better than they did
before. They have found out that under
free trade, as it exists under Cle Wilson
act, their industry has gone into decay.
and that to-day they are suffering from
| competition to an extent that they never
| suffered before. The failures among Ium-
herman have been larger than in any
! other large and leading industry. it
| amounts to almost paralysis in some sec
! tons of the country. IN the state of
| Michigan and in the northwest generally
| the pay rolls for lumber have fallen IF
| more than 40 per cent. since the free
trade tariff bill has been in operation.
The Chairman-Do you ask to have the
duty of 81 placed on all kinds of lumber?
Mr.. Goodyear-Not at all. But we ask
that the duty of 81 be applied to all kinds
| of lumber.
| Canada was the great competitor in
woods. The conditions prevailing there
were much more liberal. Here the gov
eminent demand 50 per thousand on Its
stumpage, against 80 cents in Canada La
Dor in Canada was less and here the Ium-
bermen paid over 100000 annually in
taxes on their lands, while the Canadians
paid no tax al all.
In his opinion the present rate on rail-
road ties, telegraph and telephone poles
and fence rails should be continued.
The chairman remarked on the question
from
and 1896 the importation of lumber had in
creased, while the revenue had fallen from
over 81, 100000 to $712,00O
1--WE surrendered" he added, "$1 300 900
in revenue and gave the Canadians the
privilege of importing $13, 600 worth of
lumber here without any advantage to this
government"
II thank the chairman very much" Mr..
Goodyear replied, for the statement he
has made. 1 deem that statement only
necessary to sustain my argument, which
is, that the government has not only, un-
til the present law lost a large amount
of revenue, but that the law has also in
cited competition against us in one of the
greatest industries of the country"
The act of 1890, he said, gave lumber an
average protection of so per cent, and
that of 1894 an average of 80 per cent
The lumbermen were now asking 81 per
thousand, average of about 20 per
cent, and a lower average than had been
given in any tariff bill in the past thirty
years. They asked this and thought their
business warranted it.
Mr. Tawney of Minnesota inquired
whether it was true that there existed a
combination or trust among the lumbe-
men.
MIR. Goodyear-There is not such a thing
in existence in the United States and it is
not possible.
/. c. Enochs of Jackson. Miss, appeared !
on behalf of southern lumber industry,
and asked why it should be Disseminated |
against in favor of cotton, tobacco and |
mountain dew"
T. B. Walker Of Minneapolis said that |
the lumber interests asked for duty suf- |
fcent to protect the capital invested and |
the labor employed.
John Norris, a newspaper manager of |
New York, advocated putting paper on the
free list. lie says the newspapers of the
United States were now at the mercy Of
a combine of paper mills to keep up the
price of newspapers, for the proprietors
of the larger papers were able to and
did build mills of their own. But com