The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-09
TARIFF HEARINGS.
rue ways md Means Committee De.
N"te Another Day To Mnnufncturcrs.

9Shington, ID. c., Jan. S.-The WAYS
ana means Committee to-day heard rep
resentatives of carthenwarc. glassware,
marble and stone industries.
u. w. walker, of Beaver Falls. Pa.
the nrst speaker, advocated n change in
the section of the present law relating
10 iltles faVoring n new classification.
with specific duties.
X. w. Leslie. of Philadelphia. advo-
Gated the retention of the present duty
on cement
l.. Arlington, of Alton. Ills, asked on
behalf of the glass blowers of Illinois
the restoration of the Mckinley rates on
bottles.
l.. a. Ageri, of Streator, Ills. a glass
blower, said that the American work
men mad been driven to the wall by the
present tariff law. Works had. been
closed, wages reduced and the hours of
work increased. Under the Mckinley
law the industry had prospered and at
me same time the cost of bottles was
reduced % per cent. Under present
conditions II was becoming more and
more difficult for the American glass
blowers to hold their own against the
cheap labor abroad. The old duty was
simply just and fair and injured no one.
The present duty had in no way bene-
rted the consumer and had almost
ruined the workmen. II was simply
taking from those who had little and
giving TO those who had much.
w. J. Smith, OF Pittsburg, spoke for
the workers In flint and lime glass
ware, the most important branch of the
glass industry. employing the greatest
number OF lnborers and having the
largest capital. He asked for protec-
ton on lime and flint products in order
that the Industry might live and en-
ployment be given the idle worl,men.
Bohemia, with the cheapest labor in the
world. was the greatest competitor
Germany. where the wages were only
about one-third of what they were here.
came next The industry needed stimu-
lation now more than ever before and
In his opinion the duties given should
exceed those in the Mckinley law
W. i. Doorfi!nger. of New York. rep
resenting the Cut Glass Manufacturers
Association. said q high tariff on cut
glass was necessary in order to compete
successfully with the ware produced by
cheap foreign labor
f. l.. Bodine of Philadelphia, n manu-
facturer OF cylinder window glass and
green and flint bottles. said that the
effect of the present law had been to
reduce wages, close manufactures and
bankrupt most of the domestic makers
The importation of foreign glass was un-
necessary. as the mills OF this country
were able TO supply the home demand,
and would do so IL the labor alone was
given the requisite protection. Under
THESE conditions ne thought III reaSona-
BILE. just and necessary TO have rates
not lower than those fixed in the Nc
Kinley law.
Samuel Burns. representing the win
dow glass makers of Pittsburg said that
those he represented required an addi-
tional tariff to compete with foreigners.
The effects of the Wilson bill had been
disastrous to the workmen and the
trade. the workmen being forced to ac-
cept q reduction Of from % to 2S per
cent
Representatives Of the potters of New
Jersey and East Liverpool o.. told prac-
tically the same story as the glass
blowers. and made the same appeal for
protection.
A. Rutland, of Vermont, marble quar-
lyman, asked for q duty on marble.