The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-01

WASHINGTON, Dec. si.--The hear
Ihgs before the ways and means commits
tee to-day covered wood and manutac-
lures OF wood, and also pulp, paper and
books. There were several large dele
cations present. The forenoon was
given to the lumber interests. c. w.
Goodyear, Of Buffalo, appeared as the
representative of Q committee Of twenty
appointed by the lumbermen's cOnven-
tIon, which met at Cincinnati early in
December. The committee met yester-
day and prepared the outline of formal
petition to the ways and means commit
tee, which 8fr. Goodyear said would be
presented later. Mr.. Goodyear said that
the result OF the election had convinced
them that protection was 10 be the policy
Of the next administration and the lum-
betmen now appeared to demand their
share in that policy. They appeared
Mr.. Goodyear said, as the representa-
tIVes OF fully 81, ,O0O, ,OOO. 600 NJ capital COO,
900 lumbeFRleR This latter numher did
not include those engaged In retail lum-
ber trade or in transportation OF lum-
her. He thought 1t perfectly fair 70
claim considering all allied interests that
100000 OF our population were depend
ent upon this industry for their llVell-
Hood, It was the leading industry IN
over thirty states. In the past they had
protection to a certain extent,
The present law practically placed
iunIher on the free list, They did mol
come now, Mr.. Goodyear said, asking
ANYTHING exOrbitant. Substantially
what they asked was that white pine
henIoclS. bass wood and sycamore be
placed in the 81 class. He could see nc
reason why the great staples he had
mentioned should not be placed in the
same GLASS with spruce, which for years
had been In the 81 class, Mr.. Goodyear
said that lumber men Of the country
were largely responsible for the present
condition OF affairs and with a graceful
tribute to Senator Frye, Speaker Reed
Chairman DinGley and Mr. Boutelle, he
announced that 1t was through them
that spruce. the great staple product OF
Maine, had always previous "a the pres
ert law, remained in the $2 class.
But" interposed Mr.. Dlngley, smil-
ing, "MaIne is the pine tree state"
without any pine" retorted Mr.
Goodyear. quickly
who Is responsible" asked Mr.. Dol
liver, "for tile dropping Of white rplne
from the 81 class?'
"The lumbermeu," replied Mr.. Good
year, emphatlcnllv. "but the result oil
the present tariff law has aroused them.
Their Industry has gone into decay and
to-day Is langutshlng from foreign COM
.II We should Ak the duty on spruce at
ST." asked Mr. Ding9ey would you be
satishcd?" ...
"No," replied Mr.. Goodyear "s2 on
spruce was right and we wnnt 81 also on
white pine,
Continuing, the speaker went ex-
haustiyely into the differences between
the conditions in Canada and the United
states to show the advantages to lum-
bermsn existing across the border. Cam
ada was much more liberal: It eneour-
aged the lumbermen by making terms
which offered the most entlclng induce
ments. In the dominion the stumpage
was but so cents thousand; In the
United States It was 81. In Canlda this
charge was not to be paid until the lum-
ber was cut and rendy for shipment.
In reply to questions Mr. Goodyear
said what they asked was practically q
restoration OF the duty OF 1885, tnat Is,
tbnf whlle nine and the lumbers placed
in the 81 class by the act OF 1871 pe re-
stored to the 81 class.
"Do the lu1nbermen desire a duty on
logs?" asked Mr. Evans
"NWe are not here" replied Mr.. Good
year. ITO ask you TO place u tax on logs.
We do not ask 1t because some lumber
men In Michigan and other states whose
timber Is exhausted are giving large
number OF men employment by Import
lng logs for saving in their mills. We
consider this a matter OF policy rather
than OF tariff principle. We do not want
10 antagonlZe interests which employ
American labor" -.
He said TINT last year about SOOOOO,OOU
feet OF lumber were Imported; the eX-
Dorts were valued Mt $g7O0O,000, princI-
pally from southern ports and the Pa
ciiic const. The reault Of free trade IN
lumber. he said. had been n great reduce
tion of wages to lumbermen and OF the
number OF days employed. The former
mad been reduced 20 per cent, 1Ni the
number OF days 10 per cent. Besides Ca
naiin had made the United states the
dumping ground for cheap and low grade
lumber.
startling Figures.
Mr.. Dtngiey called attention to the fact
that in 1880, the importation of lumber
from Canada was valued at four aud a
quarter millions; in 1896, sixteen and a
halc millions: that In the former year
the revenue received by the government
was two and quarter millions, while IN
1895 Il was but $7l9O0O, IN other words
the government surrendered, 81. 800 600 IN
revenue and gave market 10 ld,O00.OOu
Inor,1 az lumber. Mr. Goodyear thanked
MFR. Dlngley for his statement.
'The inerc statement OF these facts"
he said. us presentation OF our nrgu-
ments
IN conclGaloh Mr.. Goodyear stalled tnat
the lhnibcrmen believed that II the pro-.
tbctlVe idea was TO be enforced IN regard
10 any Industry none stood on a tirmer
f5otinr than they. He estimated that
ibS schedule they asked for would be but
20 nor cent ad Valoreri while the act Of
40 avornRed-6O per cent, and the act OF
'0I. 20 per cent, so that what they asked
for wad below the average taritt for thlr-
tsyHherc Is nm lmpresslnii" gliggested
Mr.. TnWncy, OF Mlnnespta. 'thNt there "
a trust to control the output or the price
OF lumber What do y1n say to that2"
'rhcrc exists 10 such institution" ue-
clarod MIR Goodyear "a lumber trust
~ nat pdsslhla. There may be IRON
trusts aud other tru4ts, bit 4 Eould be
M irnpogsibic t6 form 4 lumber trust as
10 combine al tir people 1t the United
States In d lIurt uSolnSt themselves"
Judge Pagc MQitls Il ConRreHsinlr-
N,1ssl fr,ii, Duluth, Mlun,, way called