New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-02
COTTON TARIFF DEBATE
SILK MEN APPEAR ALSO.
Payne Denies Decision to Reduce
Metal and Lumber Schedules.

Today Drought
appeared in every hearing thus far conducted, the
growers and producers Of material asking an
increase OF the duty cotton without regard 10
the finished product while the manufacturers
pleaded for E higher tariff a continuance OF
The present tariff. and evinced desire 10 obtain
their material cheepIy possible. II vas
every man for himself to-day The growers OF
Sea Nsland cotton from Florida, Georgia ana
other Southern states pictured the decline OF their
Industry in voluminous arguments and statistics
and asked that they be protected against furrner
inlportations by removal OF Egyptian cotton nom
the free list and the imposition Of A speclHc duty
Of not less than 10 cents pound. Inc manu- manu-
facturers from both North and South asked 'lal
no change be made in the existing scheuUieS'
They made no adverse comments TO the co-rE1il1ee
on the Meas Of the growers but they did not hest
tate in private to say that duty on even egyptian
cotton was not TO their liking.
The appearance OF Representatives Clark ana
Lamar. Of Florida, among those VINO urseu O0
protection of raw cotton a soucre Of an1Ise-
r,ant TO the Republican members Of the commit
tee several Of whom took occasion TO po'n' ol-
the anna Inconsistency of the representatives
Who supported Democratic doctrines N Poh'Ca'
campaigns andNsought to Dc benenclalles u q ~
publican tariff during the off wears.
An interesting phase Ct the hearing was l-e e'i
dence presented by manufacturers from Do1"
tons Of the country. that the Southern cotton
mills were rapidly reaching such state or pToonc
-fvi-,- a. TO drive their New England competitors
from the market for the cheaper grades OF COTTON
Il vas admitted by several New England manu-
@acr11rars that tlev no longer competed WIN 'ie
Southern mills successfully, and several p-eal--
tons were made that within a few years the Ne"
England industries would have To tight Tor tAe4I
lives Al present they have the advantage OF nloTe
skilled la Dor longer experience. out Ils seems
likely TO be overcome by the better faculties ana
increasing efficiency Of the Southern mill owners
and workers.
no DECISION on SCHEDULES
=, =t+ contradiction 10 various reporSs decaT-
ing that the leaders Of the Ways and Means Com
nfttee had decided reduction Of certain scneo-
uIes notably iron. steel and Jumper ChalI man
PAYNE said to-day that neither he nor, "a far as
10 LDA7- a7v other member Of the COMMITTEES had
definitely determined his course on the new bill
So far as ! concerned he said. ! % no'
know how I will vote when the bill comes Up for
consideration in the committee The purpose OF
these hearings get all the evidence posslofe
on every schedule and the committee is TO consider
this evidence carefully before opinion is formed
I believe the best interests or the country can
BE- served by approaching these schedules with an
open mind and making decision ohiE dileI Oo'H
SIDES have heard
SILK and silk goods were taken up first az TO-DAY
hearing F. W. Chimney Of Manchester. conn.
president Of the SILK Association Of America SAID
that the importers and manufacturers were trying
- agree on A schedule Of duties silk goods,
which they intended TO present &c the committee
R A Leavtt. behalf OF the ribbon manutacf-
,,rers of New York asked that higher duties be
II the n,rea sed protection granted the RID
bon manufacturers would have % go ont o. bust
ness.
! sDeciec duty instead Of the present ad valorem
duty was asked for silk gloves by julius Kay
ser of New York: on artf ! silk by Charles A
F,rnot. Of Randolph Penn. and silk velvet by
Charles BlumenthaL OF shelton Conn
CLARK ARGUES FOR COTTON DUTY.
Representative Frank Clark. OF Florida. was the
first TO be heard cotton. He argued for pro-
tective duty Egyptian West lndian and other
long staUle cotton. He gave the views OF the sea
island cotton growers. and suggested that tariff
commission should have charge OF the tariff
y submit Mr., Chairman" said Nj Clark. with
out in any wise discussing or even infringing on
the relative virtues OF protective tariff and
tariff for revenue that the recent election. and
other elections preceding Il. have forever estao-
fisned as q part OF our system Of government the
indirect scheme Of taxationthe levy and collection
Of customs duties on articles imported into this
country from foreign lands This being true this
matter ought 10 be removed from the domain OF
partisan politics and hereafter treated as bust
ness proposition, and commission or other proper
tribunal created deal with it
F. z Lippett, Of Providence representing the
American Cotton Manufs cturers' Association,
asked that the duty on cotton cloth be retained
He said there existed free competition in the COT
ton trade there being no combination or trust ne
sav. information regarding cost Of production
The cotton industry IS practically an infant IN
alstrv at this time said Samuel Ross OF New
Bedford Mass secretary OF the international AS
ISOLATION of Mule Spirncrs- The manufacture OF
the cheaper class OF fabrics n the Soutn s an IN
49, Industry while the manufacture Of high grade
Goods in the North is an infant industry
Albert HILBERT secretary Of the United Textile
v,-rl,ars Of America asked that the tariff on man
,,rarr,,red cotton remain a present He said
80 nroductive power OF operators il America was
much greater than in England or GERMAN
UNDERWOOD CAUGHT IN TRAP
p = romnkins OF Charlotte y. C. represent
IT, ,r. American Cotton Manufacturers Associa-
ion asked for an increase in the duties on higher
,-,,es OF warns He described TO the committee
/ +,a commercial. tional and social develop
/ rnent OF the South. Representative ihGel" WOOD OF
. Afubarua. brought out these remarks by series
~. Questions and frequently affirmed the statements
- n. witness Discussing tie tariff system, MI
ganspkins said he believed so per cent Of the people
favored 4 tariff that would protect American indus
. tries
Free traders are mere theorists and Il the
Government was turned over 10 them they could
/ n,r r,u II said Mr.. TOmpkins And i you were
10 turn the government over To the stand patters
Won wouldn't have any government
DO you Sill say Amen inquired Chairman
Payne OF Nj. Underwood
p ! Miller. OF Charlotte y. G.. and G. Minot
Weld OF Roston asked for increase in the
rates on The Amer grades OF cotton yarns. George
7 Martin d manufacturer OF lace curtains at West
Nav-tor Mass asked for "A reduction in he duties
on netting Thomas j Diamond. OF NeUburg. y
Y asked for a new paragraph dealing with netting
for curtains with increased duties John Patterson
Of North Carolina asked that the duty on bleached
and coIored cotton damask retained and that
the tariff on rnercerzeG cotton damazk he IN
creased from % per cent
uon PARTISAN COMMISSION URGED.