The sun., 1908-11-29
Observation-Disclosures TOO.
VIEW KIND or PLEA BEFORE
TARIFF MAKERS b
Mr.. Payne Is with THOSE VINO Argue for
Free Hides and Says He Always Was
Demand for Free Trade IN Works
Of Art More Than Fifty Years Old.


= of Art More Than FIFTY Years Old
WAsnINGToN. Nov. 2s.-New note
we're struck br the pleaders In the tari
hearing to-day Tanners and shoe manu-
hcturers in asxlng for the abolition @
,be duty on hides conceded that leathe
and shoes could 60 on the FREQ list ais
xithout damage TO American industries
On the contrary, most OF them affirme
that free trade In their business wouh
extend their markets and improve tn
quality Of shoes and cheaper them Il
making these presentments the beeI
tnlst was particular object OF attack
being charged, with exercising mo
popoly in hides. II was argued that thi
was only possible by the aid Of the tariff
About one hundred and twenty OF tn
leather and shoe men signed an address
10 the Ways and Means Committee aslsinl
that hides he transferred to the free lis
in arranging the. new tariif schedules
The signers represented interests In al
PARTS of the country. Their speakerl
seemed to make headway with the com
mittee, appeasihg both sides when the,
expressed willingness to have the tarif
taken of their own products as we'll al
from the raw material.
Mr. Payne. chairman Of the committee
committed himself to their side when h,
interrupted one speaker to say he wa.
occupying too much time and then adding
Il suppose all the newspapers will say
now that wouldn't listen to your argu.
ment for free hides, but as a matter ci
fact | always opposed the duty on hides
Free entry on all works of art was de-
maded by the American Free Art Lea que.
Widely known men were there to adyo-
cate their principles, among them Bryan
Lathrop of Chicago, president of the Free
Art League; Robert W. de Forest, presi-
dent of the Municipal Art Commission
d New York. and members of institutes,
art museums. schools of fine arts and
men Of letters. .f. -.
Briefly this is what they wanted: The
admission free Of duty Of original works
Of art. including paintings and sculptures
and objects Of art of an ornamental char
scter or Of educational value that have
heen produced for more than fifty years.
Their request was in the name Of educa-
lion.
The big delegation Of leather men filled
to oyerfowin ing the audience room OF the
committee. The tanners and manu-
facturers had agreed at meeting at the
New Willard Hotel last night to pool their
issues in asking for free hides and sub
hitting TO W whatever re e1uetion was thought
fair on leather.
In favor Of free hides the argument
to-day was that the principle OF protec-
lion did not apply to them. The tariff
Of Is er cent. does not, 10 was said, pro-
teCt stock raisers. because stock is not
killed for hides alone. the quantity avail
able being regulated by the consumption
of reef Again, the domestic production
II hides fell aoper cent. below the demand,
and the tariff on the large importation
f1ed the Price Of hides beyond their
natural or reasonable value.
II was pointed out that hides were on
he free list for twenty-five years prior
10 the enactment OF the Dingley tariff
ill., and the duty cropt into the act with
OUT attracting attention. This law, il
vas affirmed. had virtually killed the ex-
rort leather business in this country, and
with free hides it was believed the export
. trade would be started once more.
Some OF the leather men died hard on
the proposition put up to them by the
committee Of granting the concession of
free leather in exchange for free hides
h. NJ. Hill OF Cleveland, Ohio. represent
ing thirty tanneries in the middle West.
was strong for free hides, but could not
zee his way clear to acknowledge that
free leather would also be a just dis
rensation. 1t was proper. in his judg-
ment, that he should have an opportunity
to extend trade into foreign markets and
at the same time have protection that
would give him profit in meeting Cana
dian competition In American markets. |
This dialogue followed between him and |
Nr. Cochran of the committee:
II you had free hides then you could |
compete in foreign markets?"
Yes, foreign markets would be a
cinch."
Having cinch then In foreign markets
against the Canadians and all others.
wouldn't you have q bigger cinch at
home without any protection?'
No. | think We ought to have pro-
lection
The various associations represented
by spokesmen at the hearing were the
National Association Of Tanners, for
which its president, Fred Vogel, Jr.,
appeared; the National Boot and Shoe
ilhuuldctuTeTb aSSOClauOH auu tHo
National Wholesalers Association. for
which John J. Harmon spoke. and the
New England Shoe and Leather Asso-
cation, on whose behalf Charles II.
Jones OF Boston presented plea. Edward
Alexander Of New York represented
the New York Leather Betting Asso-
cation
Each of these spokesmen agreed that
free hides was a desirable thing They
varied in their views about the adjust
ment OF the leather and shoe schedule.
All OF them expressed O willingness to
have reduction Of the leather duty. MIR.
Jones said 1t was the sentiment largely
Of the trade that it would be a good thing
TO abolish the tariff on hides. leather and
leather goods. In case they had free
hldes and free leather he was for free
shoes also. The labor cost Of making
lhe cost in Europe. Some years ago
the labor cost was less in this country.
, Mr Payne read a telegram from A. f.
Little d Co. Of Lynn. Mass, manufac-
,a:ets of specia: 5r and OF shoe which
Is widely known, saying that boots and
:aoes should be put on the free list.
, VT. Jones gave the exports OF heavy
esther and kids at S22 600 900. The
Trusts imported the hides and exported
NE finished product II the duty were
removed from hides they would be able
10 export shoes instead OF leather. He
s4ld the duty was not protection nor
eSenue producer but was In reality
,Sounty, to the packers. Under this law
'"re compelled to buy hides OF the
packers who were in control OF the market,
shd these packers had established tan
nArles on laraa scaIe ao that independent I