Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-09
WANT PROTECTION
For Earthenware, Glassware, Marble and Stone Industries-Present Tariff Works
 @ Hardship On Labor.

Washington, Jan. S.--The ways and means committee today heard represent atives of the earthenware, glassware, marble and stone industries.
 F. w. Walker, of Beaver Falls, Penn, the first speaker, advocated a change in the section of the present law relating to tiles, favoring a new classification, with sepcific duties.
 R. w. Leslie, of Philadelphia, advocated the retention of the present duty on ce- ment.
 l.. Arlington, of Altoona, H., asked, on behalf of the glassblowers of Illinois, the restoration of the Mckinley rates on bottles.
 D. A. Eagard, of Streator, H., a glass blower, said that the American workmen had been driven to the wall by the pres ent tariff law. Works had been closed, wages reduced and the hours of work in- creased Under the Mckinley law the in- dustry had prospeTed, and at the same time the cost of bottles was reduced 20 per cent. Under present conditions it was becoming more and more difficult for the American glassblowers 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 benefited the consumer and had almost ruined the workmen. It
 
 little and giving to those who had much.
 w. J. Smith, of Pittsburg, spoke for the workers in flint and lime glassware, the : most important branch of the glass in- dustry, employing the greatest number Of laborers and having the largest capital. He asked for protection on lime and flint products in order that the industry might live and employment be given the idle workmen. Bohemia, with the cheapest labor in the world, was the greatest com petitor. Germany, where the wages were only about one-third of what they were here, came next. The industry needed stimulation now more than ever before and in his opinion the duties given should exceed those in the Mckinley law.
 w. F. Dorflinger, of New York, repre- senting the cut glass manufacturers as- sociation, said high tariff on cut glass was necessary in order to compete suc- cessfuly with the ware produced by cheap foreign labor.
 F. l.. Bodine. of Philadelphia, a man. ufacturer of cylinder window glass and green and flint bottles. said that the effect of the present law had been to reduce wages, close factories and bankrupt most of the domestic makers. The importa- tion of foreign glass was unnecessary, as the mills of this country were able to supply the home demand and would do so if the labor alone was given the requis- fte protection. Under these conditions he thought it reasonable, just and necessary to have rates not lower than those fixed in the Mckinley law.
 Samuel Burns, representing the window glass makers of Pttsburg, said that those he represented required an additional tariff to compete with foreigners. The eff fects of the Wilson bill had been disas- trous to the workman and the trade. the workmen being forced to accept a re- duction of from 22,to 2S per cent.
 Representatives of the potters of New Jersey and East Liverpool, O., told prac- tically the same story as the glass blow CTS, and made the same appeal for pro- tection.
 : A Rutland, vt.. marble quarrynan asked for a duty on marble.
 MT. D. M. Stewart, of Chattanooga, Tenn, a manufacturer of lava gas tips, advocated specific duty of 50 cents per gross on importations of lava tips.
 The committee adjourned until tomor- row, when those interested in Iron, steel and lead ores win be heard,