Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-10

NoSAIi5(OA, Jdludiy = ne T1uuSe
Committee on Ways and Means reach
ed the iron and steel schedule to-day.
The first speaker before the committee
was Representative Draper, of Massa-
chusetts. In behalf of the machinery
manufacturers of New England he ad-
vocated the restoration Of the McKin-
ley rates.
w. H. Alexander, of the Grant
Smelling Company, of Omaha, spoke
for lower rates on lead ore, asking
a provision that the lead in all metals
containing lead ore be dutiable at
three-fourths of a cent a pound. The
importation of lead ore was necessary
for smelling, he held, and under the
erroneous Interpretation of the pres
ent law it paid as high rates as . and
512 cents pound. Duties of IA cents
on lead bullion and 1& cents on pig
lead were asked. American capital
was invested in Mexico and British
Columbia for producing the ores.
John d. Davis, of California asked
for a duty of / cent a pound on lead
ores. California could produce all the
lead ores needed by American smelt-
ers and had begun to supply the de-
mand under the Mckinley law, but
the business had stagnated under the
Wilson law The product he represent
ed contained from 80 to 60 per cent
of lead and 80 per cent of silver.
Dwight A. Jones, of New York, rep
resenting the St Joseph Lead Com
pany, of Missouri, spoke for protec-
tiOn which would enable Americans to
conserve their lead supply and prevent
the abandonment of mines. The bond
ing system enabled the Mexican ores to
affect the American market injurious
ly. Under the Wilson law they con-
trolled the market
Representative Hermann, of Ore
gon, recommended a duty of 10 cents
pound on nickel, in behalf of his
constituents. He recalled that Con-
gress had passed a resolution authoriZ-
ing the secretary of the navy to con-
tract for the purchase of $1,000,000 OF
nickel for armor plate on the assump-
tiOn that it could not be produced in
the United States. Since that time
ores had been discovered in various
parts of the United States; in Nevada,
bearing Is per cent; in Jackson county
North Carolina, and Fremont county,
Colo. bearing from II to "a per cent.
and Saline county, Ark, in Washing
ton and Oregon, where, in his county,
there was a mountain of the ore. The
Oregon producers claimed TO be able to
produce nickel at cents a pound
cheaper than Canadians.
Representative Turner, of Georgia,
suggested that if Americans could do
that it would be necessary to offer
bounty to Canadians to compete.
To this Mr.. Hermann replied that
as Americans got into the market the
Canadians combined to drive them
out Freight rates also favored the
Canadian product.
The subject of pig iron was next taken
up. VIM. a. InSham. of Philadelphia, for
the Eastern Pig Iron Association. COM
posed of the smelters east of the Alleghe-
nies. asked a restoration of the duty on
the Mckinley rate of $6.72 a ton (present
rate 80.
"If we raise the duty on pig iron we
must on bars" suggested Mr. Dalzell.
"In other words a raise all along the
line" remarked Chairman Dngley.
Raises where they are necessary.
Since less has been imported under the
Wilson law than Mckinley law, how has
it hurt you?" Mr.. Payne asked.
1T hes not hurt us, but it will when
business revives for l know how cheap
England can produce it,
Mr. McMiuin declared that the Tenn
essee Coal and Iron Company had eX-
ported 10000 tons TO Great Britain in the
past four or five months and practically
controlled the English price.
Mr. Steele asked him if the Tennessee
company favored free pig iron, to which
Mr. McMnlin replied negatively.
Mr. Ingham explained that the Tenn
essee Coal Company was disposng of its
surplus. J. NJ y. Sinner of the same as
sociation. stated that the present price
of the pig iron in the United States was
lower than in England. the result of home
competition.
Mr.. McMillin inquired how duty would
help the industry unless the sme'ters
combined TO put up prices.
The witness replied that whenever the
American prices were raised by reason Of
good business. history showed that Eng
lish prices had fallen.
r. r. Smith. a representative of the
Canned Goods Association, of Baltimore,
protested against any increase in tin plate
duties on the ground that they would
decrease the governments revenue and
enable home manufacturers to raise
prices. The three Baltimore tin plate
mills. he said. had been closed under the
Wilson law. but the witness thought from
other causes than that law. For a year
past American tin plate had been from
Il 10 % cents per hundred pounds cheaper
than foregn plate delivered at American
se0portS.
J. G. BatJelle president Of the Pioua.
Ohio. rolling mill company. in behalf Of
the sheet iron and sheet steel makers,
asked tariff on taggers sheets and lighter
guages which would give the home market
TO American producers.
REPRESENTATIVE Morse. of lssachusetts.
made statement in b5half of tack manu-
facturers. who. in his district. employed
100 men before the Wilson law. under
which the Germans had captured the
American market.
\ change from an ad valorem to a spe'
cifc duty was asked by him.
Representative Simpkns Of Massachu-
setts. spoke on the same question. asking
also that nails u inches and shorter be
included in the schedule with tacks.
Another member of the Eastern Associa-
ton. J. c. Thropp OF Everett, Pa, ad-