Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
DOESN'T NEED TARIFF
Harvester Trust Declared Able
to Stand Alone.
TESTIMONY OF A WITNESS
Assertion to the Ways and Means
Committee.
EFFECT OF IMPROVED METHODS
Plea Made for Reduction of Duty
on Automobiles and Auto
mobile Parts
EFFECT OF IMPROVED METHODS

u
| sentinS the International Harvester Com
pany, yesterday told the ways and means
committee. engaged in considering tariff
revision, that the company which he
represented is so we'll intrenched in the
| agricultural implement business that it
does not need the tariff ana that it is
immaterial to it how the tariff IL changed.
He did not deny that the International
Harvester Company manufactures over
so per cent of the harvesters, mowers
| and reapers made In this country.
Can you manufacture cheaper than
| the English and French manufacturers? pr
| asked Representative Crumpacker of In
diana.
Il think we can. from the fact that We
can sell our goods in their countries.
We have improved methods in all lines
Of manufacture in this country, which
benefit us in the manufacture of our
goods
you haven't suffered any as a result
| OF the tariff on steel and iron ore?' in
Quired Judge Crumpacker.
81 can't see how the tariff can be held
responsible for the huctuation in the
prices of steel and iron. It is due to the
| demand and supply"
French Discrimination.
The witness said that the American
| manufacturers Of agricultural implements
are obliged to pay the maximum tariff in
France, while British manufacturers en-
joy the benefits of the minimum tariff.
He also said that the export business OF
the company he represented nets better
prices than the domestic business does.
Mr.. Metcalf disagreed with the testi-
mony of III. F.. Miles of the National As
ISOLATION of Manufacturers and the COM
plants Of several manufacturers of agri-
cultural implements that the cost of the
materials entering into the manufacture
of their products has increased. The
witness declared that the prices of these
raw materials had steadily decreased.
Representative Crumpaeker championed
the cause Of the smaller manufacturers
of agricultural implements. claiming that
these small producers cannot compete
with the International Harvester Com
pany for the foreign business.
He said the amount of their business
did not justify their making use Of the
drawback provision OF the tariff.
Mr.. Metcalf declared himself in favor
of taking of the tariff on farming i'm
PIGMENTS, claiming that this would open
up the American market to the foreign
manufacturers and the American manu-
facturer could thereby increase his ex-
port trade, the business being put on an
equal basis. He made this suggestion
| with the proviso that " any foreign
country does not give America the bene-
mt OF its lowest tariff a duty Of % per
cent should be imposed on the aericuI-
| tural implements from that country.
Representative Mckinley Of California
filed communication from q grower of
hops declaring that an increase Of SO per
cent in the duty on hops will not reduce
the amount OF revenue which the gov
eminent secures from the present impor-
tation Of hops.
Coal Interests Want Protection.
To- tive
speaking in the interest Of the coal mining
| interests OF Wyoming, asked that the
duty on coal be kept where 1t is, claiming
that the Rocky mountain miners could
! not compete with the Canadian coal pro-
ducers without reducing wages il the
tariff is reduced.
]. Crawford Lyon Of Baltimore. Nd.
| asked that the specific duty be taken OF
OF linoleum and oilcloth
e. B. Pike Of Pike, n H., representins
twenty manufacturers Of grinding wheels
and braces, asked that crushed corundum
be brought in free. 1t news pays a duty
or go q ton.
n. P. Worth Of Coatesville. Pa q s,ee,
| manufacturer, asked for free scrap iron.
the duty now being 81 q ton. He also de-
sired reduction in the duty on iron ore.
Lower Duty on Automobiles.
W. c. Durant Of Flint, Mich, asked that
the duty on automobiles be reduced from
10 to 20 per cent and that the duty of As
per cent on automobile parts be reduced
80 per cent. He claimed that the demand
of other manufacturers for 45 per cent
duty was not for the benefit of American
labor, but was because Of ''extravasant
| management and enormous profits" He
| asserted that in q 81 400 machine the cost
Of labor is 800 and that other manufac-
turers had really asked for a duty of 60
per cent on the finished product for the
sake of labor.
He avoided answering questions con-
corning the accuracy of a statement Of
his attorney early in the week that his
company was going to build a plant In
Europe.
E. c. Gregg of Newbury. n. Y, asked
that the duty of per cent OH cars and
| tracks for handling cane In cane fields.
imported into the Philippines be removed
| for American manufacturers and in
creased to % per cent to foreigners.
II. K. McLea OF New York argued for
readjustment OF the cotton schedules.
claiming that they should be simplified.
He declared that il any changes are made
| in the rates of duty on cotton goods they
o6,,o1 lxy