The record-union., 1897-01-01
The Great Industry Going to Decay Under
the Present Tariff Laws.
Suffering as Never Before From For
eign Competition.
Representatives of the Lumber Inter-
ests Appear Before the House Ways
What They Consider Their Due in
the Framing of the New Tariff Bill.

the Framing of the New Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31-The two
industries woods and manufactures of
wood and pulp, papers and books, We're
the subjects of the hearing to-day by
the Committee on Ways and Means.
The hearing was opened on behalf of
the lumber interests by c. d. Goodyear
of Buffalo, who had been designated for
the purpose by the Cincinnati Lumber
Convention, and who was accompanied
by two other representatives of that in
dustry.
Mr.. Goodyear said that recent events
convinced the lumber people that the
protective idea would prevail, at least
until the assembling Of new Congress.
Assuming that protection to American
labor and industries would be the policy
of the incoming administration, the
lumber people were present to demand
what was due them. There was in
vested in this industry over $3.50, ,0O0,-
900. 1t was one of the most important
industries deserving consideration at
the hands of the committee. There were
at least 100000 persons directly en-
gagged in it, and altogether there were
100000 people receiving their liveli-
hood from this great and important in
dustry.
He said that the lumbermen were not
asking anything exorbitant nor beyond
what was reasonable. What they
asked was substantially, that white
pine, hemlock, Eastwood and sycamore
be placed on the same footing as spruce,
which was now protected by duty of
81 per thousand, while the others have
had only a protection 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 thousand, while white pine, hem
lock, sycamore and all other woods
were protected only to the extent of 81
The Chairman Oingley of Maine) re-
marked that Maine was a pine tree
State.
Yes" Mr.. Goodyear replied, "a pine
tree State without any pine, but with a
lot Of spruce, # which a new crop can
be raised every thirty years"
Dolliver CR) of Iowa asked whose
fault it was that other lumber had not
received the same protection as spruce.
1T was the fault of the lumber men
themselves" said Mr.. Goodyear. Until
1872 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 pro-
tective idea, and they failed to accom-
plish what they asked for Now the lum-
Der men of this country are aroused, and
they have learned Of the important fea-
lures Of the Tariff Act better than they
did before. They have found out that
under free trade, as it is under the Will
son Act the industry has gone into de-
cay, and that to-day they are suffering
from foreign competition to an extent
that they never suffered before
The failures among lumber men have
been larger than in any other large and
leading industry. 1t amounts to almost
paralysis in some sections of the coun-
try. In the State of Michigan and in
lumber have fallen off more than 40 per
cent. since the free trade tariff bill has
been in operation"
In reply to Mr.. Russell of Connecti-
cut, Mr.. Goodyear said that he would
not tax logs. All of the logs entering
here came from Canada Their hand
Eng and milling gave employment to a
vast number of laborers, and the cost
of bringing the logs to the United States
and the risk involved amounted to a
protection itself. Many mills and a
large amount of labor depended on this
supply. and the lumber men did not
want to damage this branch of the in
dustry. Canada was also sending all
of her cheap lumber here, to the detri-
ment of our institutions
The Chairman remarked on the ques-
ton Of revenue from lumber that be-
tween 1890 and 1895 the importation
of lumber had increased, while the rev.
enue had fallen from 81, ,000, 900 to S712,-
600 I'VE surrendered" he added, ISL
oo0,0O0 iii revenue. and gave the Cana
dams the privilege of importing $13,-
OC0,0oO worth of lumber here without
any advantage to this Government"
Il thank the Chairman very much"
Mr.. Goodyear replied, for the state
ment he has made. I deem that state
ment only necessary to sustain my ar
gument, which is that the Government
has not only under the present tariff
lost a large amount of revenue, but that
the law has also melted competition
against us in one of the greatest indus
tries of the country"
The Act of 1890 he said. gave lum-
Der an average protection of so per
cent, and that of 1884 an average of
~ per cent The lumber men were now
asking 81 per 1000, an average Of
about 70 per cent, and a lower average
than had been given in any tariff bill
in the past thirty years They asked
this and thought that the business
1t.
Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota inquired
whether 1t was true that there existed
a combination or trust among the lum-
Der men.
Mr.. Goodyear-There is no such a
thing in existence in the United States.
and is not possible.
l. c. Enochs of Jacksonville. Miss.
in behalf of southern lumber.
and asked why it should be discrimi-
mated against in favor of cotton, to-
hac and t'Yrn1,pfai iy, 1a,x,s