Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-01

Washington, d. c., December 81
The hearings before the Ways and
Means Committee to-day covered wood
| and manufacturers of wood, and also
| pulp, paper and books. There were
| several large delegations present. The
forenoon was given to the lumber in
terests. c. w. Goodyear, of Buffalo,
| appeared as the representative of a
committee of twenty appointed by the
Iumbermen's convention, which met at
| Cincinnati, early in December. The
committee met yesterday and prepared
the outline of formal petition to the
Ways and Means Committee, which
Mr.. Goodyear said would be presented
later. Mr.. Goodyear said that the re-
suit OF the election had convinced them
that protection was to be the policy of
| the next administration, and the lum-
bermen now appeared to demand their
share in that policy. They appeared,
Mr.. Goodyear said as the representa-
tivesi of fully $1,000 100000 of capital
and 100000 lumbermen. This latter
number did not include those engaged
in retail lumber trade or in transpor-
tation of lumber He thought it per-
fectly fair to claim, considering all al
lied interests, that 100000 of our pop
ulation were dependent upon this in
dustry for their livelihood. 1t was the
leading industry in over thirty States.
In the past they had protection to u
certain extent. The present law prac-
| tically placed lumber on the free list.
| They did not come now, Mr. Goodyear
said, asking anything exorbitant. Sub
stantially what they asked was that
white pine, hemlock, bass wood and
sycamore be placed in the 81 class. He
could see no reason why the great sta
! pies he had mentioned should not be
| placed In the same class with spruce,
which for years had been in the 81
class. Mr.. Goodyear said that lumber
! men Of the country were largely re-
! sponsible tor the present condition OF
| affairs, and with a graceful tribute
to Senator Frye, Speaker Reed, Chair
| man Dingley and Mr.. Boutelle he an
nounced that 1t was through them that
| spruce, the great staple product OF
| Maine, had always previous to the
| present law, remained in the 81 class.
But" interposed Mr.. Dingley, smil-
ing, Maine is the Pine Tree State.'''
Without any pine" retorted Mr..
Goodyear, quickly.
'Who is responsible" asked Mr..
Dolliver, "for the dropping Of white
pine from the 81 class?"
THE lumbermen,' replied Mr.. Good
L..
the present tariff law has aroused
them. Their industry has gone into
decay and to-day is languishing form
foreign competition"
"If we should fix the duty on spruce
to 81" asked Mr.. Dingley, would you
be satisfied"
Mo- replied Mr.. Goodyear, two
dollars on spruce was right, and we
want 81 also on white pine"
Continuing, the speaker went eX-
haustively into the difference between
the conditions existing in Canada and
the United States to show the advan-
tages to lumbermen existing across the
border. Canada was much more lib
tral; it encouraged the lumbermen by
making terms which offered the most
enticing inducements. In the Domin-
ion the stumpage was about so cents
a thousand; in the United States it was
So In Canada this charge was not to
be paid until the lumber was cut and
ready for shipment.
In reply to questions Mr.. Goodyear
said what they asked was practically a
restoration of the duty of 1888; that is,
that white pine and lumbers placed
in the 81 class by the act of 1890 be re-
stored TO the 50 class.
"Do the lumbermen desire duty
on logs?" asked Mr.. Evans.
1--WE are not hear" replied Mr. Good
year, "to ask you to place tax on logs.
We do not ask it because some lumber
men in Michigan and other States
whose timber is exhausted are giving
large number of men employment by
importing logs for saving in their mills.
We consider this matter Of policy
rather than a tariff principle. We do
not want to antagonize interests which
employ American labor"
He said last year about 100000
900 feet of lumber was imported; the ex-
ports were valued at S27 600, 900, prin-
cipalIy from southern ports and the Pa
cific coast. The result of free trade in
luulDtI, it odlus Ieu Dctn a BltdL ir-l
duction in wages to lumbermen and
of the number Of days employed. The
former had been reduced 20 per cent
and the number of days 40 per cent.
Besides, Canada had made the United
States the dumping ground for cheap
and low grade lumber.
Mr.. Dingley called attention to the
fact that in 1890, the importation OF
lumber from Canada was valued at four
and a Guerter millions; in 1896, sixteen
and half millions that in the former
year the revenue received by the gov
ernment was two and a quarter mil
lions. while in 1896 it was but $4,000;
in other words. the government sur
rendered = 500 900 in revenue and gave
a market TO thirteen millions more Of
lumber Mr. Goodyear thanked Mr..
Mr.. Dingley for his statement.
"The mere presentation OF those
facts" said he. is presentation OF
our arguments"
In conclusion. Mr.. Goodyear stated
that the lumbermen believed that il
the protective idea was to be enforced
in regard to any industry none stood
on a frmer footing than they. He es-
timated that the schedule they asked
for would be but 20 per cent ad valor-
EN-, while the act of 80 averaged 50
per cent, and the act of '94 40 per cent
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