The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
TARIFF MEASURES
CAUSED DSCORD
Julian Sonntag Thought
Manufacturers Not Al
ways Fair.
MessrS. Wheeler and Cornwall
in the Role of Peace.
makers.
Some Tariff Recomm end ations TO Be
Made to the Ways and Means
Committee.

4huIoudy Dy the larlu convention TO COLI
slider all propositions for fixing new duty
rates on importations held a third ses-
sion yesterday morning in the Chamber
OF Commerce hall. 1t was the liveliest
session yet held, and at one time the SUBJ
ject of a duty on salsoda and other aka
line substances evoked few burning CON-
ments from the chairman, Julian SOM
tag.
The discussion was precipitated by E.
Griswold of the Griswold Company. who
spoke in behalf of the chemical dealers.
= He began with a request that the follow
ing increases be recommended on the arti-
cles named, all being forms of sodium:
Alum, from 4-1O to 6-1O cents per pound
eaustlc soda, from half cent TO l cent: soda
ash, from one-fourth to one-half cent; bicar-
Donate OF soda, from one-half TO l cent
He also asked that there be a complete
restoration of the figures of the Mckinley
bill for the following:
Sulphur-Elowers, sublimed, refined, roll
aud ground; whiting, Paris white, borates,
borax and boracic acids; and also sulphuric,
muriatic and nitric acids.
Then it was that Chairman Sonntag in
troduced the alkaline element into the
discussion. He inquired:
Mr.: Griswold, has it not been the prac-
whenever there happened to be no com pc
tition, to raise the price very sharply If
my memory serve me accurately | have
personally known of the price being
doomed $50 per cent
Mr.. Griswold responded with some
warmth:
I'D like to know of any body who does
not put up prices when an opportunity
offers. 1t is the practice OF all manuiac-
tCrers and dealers"
Then Mr. Sonntag called General Chip.
man to the chair and took the floor him
self
81 would like TO say here" he asserted,
"tnat the California and Giant Powder
companies use in the neighborhood of
800 tons OF sulphur month. All this is
imported from Sicily and Japan Now, l
know Tor fact that when a short supply
was imminent temporarily the prices have
been raised in twenty -four hours from
81 20 and 81 % to 81 go and 81 IS"
John Mheeler remarked that duty was
not asked Tor on crude sulphur, but only
on the refined varieties.
General Chapman also added that under
the Mckinley bill crude sulphur was on
the free list.
This did not thoroughly satisfy NJ.
Sonntag. He was aware that crude suI-
phur was on the free list, but was aware
that before the Ways and Means Com
mlGtee at Washington an effort was
shortly to be made to have duty placed
upon it. He believed the committee
should take some action against this
AS regards the sal soda proposition Mr.
Sonntag said the class of manufacturers
whom he represented would be satisfied
with tie figures of the Mckinley bill.
The Nc hinley bill won't suit the man
utacturers OF sal soda at all" answered
Mr.. Griswold, emphatically. at will have
10 be changed or We will have 10 go out of
business"
The Mckinley act, however suited
both Mr.. Wheeler, representing the Stauf-
Ter Chemical Works, and Mr. Harker of
the Horstman Company, and a little later,
to Mr.. Griswold's evident chagrin, a reso-
luton was duly adopted binuing the COM
mlttee to recon- mend the Mckinley rates
on all the articles named, crude ulphur
to be free.
10 the lum bermen was accorded the
honor OF the first hearing of the session.
Mr.. HerrIck presented proposed sched-
uie OF tariff rates on the different classes
OF timber, with the explanation that it
was what the lumbermen committee had
agreed upon.
The schedule provided for a 20 rer cent
ad yalorem duty on all kinds Of log or
plle lumber, telegraph poles, etc. For
merchantaole" rough lum Der, 50 per
thousand feet, board measure, was sug-
gesteo. Various rates were also proposed
II.
Jun Der ana ornamental or cabinet tim Der.
Inc Following was proposed as free list:
Woods, namely Spanish cedar. lipnum vitaa
Iancewood, ebony, box grAnadilla mahoeanv
rosewood, satlnwood and all forms of CABINET
wood IN the log, rough or hewn. hanboo . -
rattan unman ufactured; briarroot or hriar
wood and similar wood pnmanufacfured or
not further manufactured than cut into blocks
SultaD!e Tor the articles into which thew are
intended TO be converted; bamboo reeds and
sticks OF partridge, HARDWOOD, pimepto orange
myrtle and other woods not especially n9o,
Vlded Tor IN this act, in the rough or moi
further manufactured than cut into leuptbs
suitable for sticks for umbrellas, parasois
sunshades, whips or walkng-canes, and In
dian malacca JOINTS not further manufactured
than cut into suitable lengths for the mann
features into which they are intended to be
converted.
The committee did not adopt the seized.
ale formally a. a whole, but no objections
were offered. Mr.. Herrick was authorized
by motion to prepare the lumber part of
the committees report.
Inc coal question followed. Several
dealers spoke, among them P. B. Corn
wall; a member of the committee.
mere ls some talk OF a reciprocity
treaty as regards coal between Canada and
tne ohlteo states" he said, but against
ali other countries we should by rights
have duty Of so cents a ton on bitumin-
Gus coal and 70 cents on anthracite
When the China coalfeds are developed
even these rates will not protect us'
Alter some discussion these provisions
were put in the form of motion bv Mr.
Cornwall and adopted, the ton being con-
sidered as long ton, or 224O pounds. The
anthracite coal was also expected to CON
tain over 80 per cent of carbon.
On fax, hemp, jute, and their manufac-
lures, burlaps and grain bags the com.
mittee agreed to recommend the figures
Of the Mckinley bill.
The Mckinley schedule will also be
recommended for wines and brandiss
The Mckinley rates of 2 cents a Mound
Tor table grapes were likewise agreed to.
The Mckinley tariff of 81 cents Mound
for cured or dried grapes, raisins and cur
rants will be recon mended for restora-
ton.
A duty of cents pound will be recon-
mended on desiccated cocoanut Pine
apples and tilberts, it was concluded.
should be made dutiable.
The mem bers of the committee then
agreed that General Chapman should be
accorded the task of preparing its report,
| aud adjournment was taken till 9 A. NJ. to-
May. The com mittee will report to the
general conference an hour later.
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Iibrarv Accumulation,