The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-03

the general use Of bags on the Pacific
coast for shipping all kinds of farm pro
ducts, even grain. The Wilson bill, as i
passed the house, gave Is per cent pro
lection on the jute schedule. but the sen
ate had struck out the duty and lef
bags on the free list. Under that Law
the home market, which had taken 4;
per cent OF its goods from the home
mills. was given over to the manufacture
ers of Calcutta and Dundee, particular
ly the former, who were running theil
mills night and day. The industry on the
Pacific coast had been stricken down
and there was 300 idle looms in Oak
land, while in New York, New Jersey
and Massachusetts,. mills had also beer
closed. Under the operation of the pres.
ent law. horse blankets, plaids carriage
robes, tarpaulin and print cloths were
entered free Of duty and came into com
petition with American products. partic.
ularly cottons. They were entered by
the virtue of the designation. ''othel
materials in the jute and hemp schedule
of the Wilson bill, although the Ameri-
can manufacturers had protested against
such a construction of the law. Many
of the goods entered free were dyed sc
that the American dyers were also rob-
bed by the system.
The cost of making burlaps in the
United States was 46-100 cents pound
while the Calcutta make could be placed
in the American market at San Francis
co or New York at cost of $500 cents
pound.
JAPANESE COMPETITION.
Mr.. Rutherford also pointed out the
Japanese competition was entering the
market. One big jute mill had trans
ferred its machinery to Japan to get the
benefit of cheap labor. One japanese
capitalist had endeavored to effect deal
by which Mr.. Rutherford's mill would be
transferred 10 Japan, guaranteeing that
laborers could be secured at II cents per
day Of thirteen hours, and coal at sc
cents ton. 1t had been found that
foreigners could not own mills in Japan,
however, and the project had been aban-
doned. Rates for water. insurance and
taxes were much higher in the United
States, as well as labor, than in other
countries so that the American manu-
facturerS were at disadvantage. Two
hundred educated young men had left
California in the past two years for the
Central American states to grow coffee
and many others had gone to Alaska be-
cause no employment was to be found
at home.
THE NECESSARY RATE.
In reply to a question from Chairman
Dingley. Mr.. Rutherford said that the
Mckinley bill rate of is cents a pound
on burlaps was as little as the industry
could live on.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Evans
of Kentucky, whether iute was colored
to counterfeit hemp, the witness said il
was not done in California but he pre-
dicted that fax and hemp in the course
oil twenty-five years would be grown
profitably on the coast With sufficient
duty on the Manufactured article he
would be glad to see eight or ten dol
lar ton on the raw jute.
Chairman Dingley incidentally stated
that the government has received 81, 000,-
600 on burlaps and $500, 900 on bags per
year under the Mckinley bill, all Of
which had been thrown away by the
Wilson bill.
AN INDIGNANT IMPORTER.
The next witness, Mr.. Crawford Lyon
OF Baltimore. characterized Mr.. Ruther-
ford as an "alarmist' and declared that
his statements regarding free entries of
goods were absolutely untrue. Mr. Ly-
on is an importer and he came armed
with load OF samples, declaring that
only three varieties Of the many he eX-
hibited were entered free. His plea was
for lower duties on oil cloths and linole-
ums, as the law, he declared, restricts
impcrtations and lavishly protects man
ufacturers. The witness declared that
American manufacturers could make
these goods cheaper than they could be
made abroad, by reason of more eff
Gent machinery and that any requests
for an advance Of tariffs should be look
ed on with suspicion 1t would give
the four close corporations controlling
the American market, ne asserted, an
opportunity which they never had neg
lected, tn squeeze the public.
Chairman Dingley stated that under
the Wilson law importationS of linoleum
mad Increased so per cent and revenues
decreased 80 per cent
Mr.. Combs of Kentucky did not think
a duty of $25 ton on hemp sufficient.
In 1885 $1,000 tons was produced in two
states; in 1889, under a duty of SIS, Ii 900
tons were produced. and last year but
1000 tons.
Mr.. Johnson of North Dakota inter-
rupted to say that the northwest had
free jute and manila on the
theory that there was no substitute for
them so cheap for binding Irvine
Mr.. Combs said that he did not claim
that protective duty on jute. MANILA
and hemp would not slightly raise the
cost. But on protective basis this was
10 be expected. The farmers would get
this back, il the protective theory was
10 be placed in operation, in an increased
price for their wool.
The price of binding Irvine, Mr.. john
son said. in 1885 was % cents; in 1857
10 certs, and last year cents.
Congressman Van Horn OF Missouri.
said that if a fair duty were placed on
hemp. Missouri, the finest hemp-produc-
Eg stale in the country, would go back
o its production. The hemp industry in
Missouri was destroyed. With duty II
would become the second agricultural
production In the state.
J. y. Bemis of Boston. a burlap manu- |
aeturer. argued that there was no jute |
industry in this country worthy OF pro-
ection. as but ; per cent Of the jute was |
grown here after twenty-five years Of |
protection. Representing the buriap bag |
ting industry. he asked duty OF 30 per |
'enr on imported bags, and free raw ma |
eria.
f. r. Biiddle, OF New York. an inpor- |
er OF jute fabrics. submitted a brief. !
lie commented on samples Of cloth adj /
ni..ed free as burlaps az San Francisco |
by Mr.. Rutherford. which. he |
declared. would not be admitted at New /
fork and which were not. in his opinion. |
,urlaps at all. He advised that the treas
Iry department be advised Of this clear |
vasiOn az San Francisco.
Charles E. Pearce of 81. Louis, repre-
entins the manufacturers Of cotton bag
ing and cordage. asked for a restoration |
{ the duty on these products In the act /
Z $50, with reduction of abou; - per
eut. He said he had been one OF those
Eho had been forced TO suspend the
ranufacture OF hemp when ju;e was
faced on the free list by the act OF 1880
fe also made interesting statements in