Evening star., 1908-12-06
WANTS THE DUTY RETAINED
S. II. COWAN BEFORE THE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
c. 81. Jones Says Trust Would Con-
troll Prices With Free
Hides and Leather.

The House ways and means committee
yesterday held the first tariff hearing sup
Elementary to the original program. For
mer Judge Samuel H. Cowan of Fort
| Worth, Tex, representing the American
| Live Stock and the Texas Cattle Raisersf
Associations. asked that the duty be re-
tained on cattle hides, claiming that 1t had
not been shown that free hides would
cheaper the cost of manufactured leather
| articles to the ultimate consumer Until
| that could be shown, said the witness.
| there should be no reduction in the duty
on hides. He claimed that the farmer was
| getting his share of the benefits of the
duty obtained from hides. and that 1t was
not going to the packers, as had been
asserted.
Views Of c. H. Jones.
Representative Boutell Of Illinois read
letter from c. H. Jones of Boston, repre-
senting the Shoe and Leather Associa-
ton, replying to Mr. Boutell's question as
to what reduction would result in the
retail prices Of 81. $50 and SO shoes with
free hides and leather. and with free
hides, leather and shoes.
Mr.. Jones said there would in each case
be a reduction Of % cents with free hides.
leather and shoes With free hides and
leather, he said the price would depend
on trust control. He did not say what
reduction would be made in the price OF
s. shoes.
The Beef Trust.
Champ Clark of Missouri asked Judge
Cowan If he knew Of the beef trust
Most of the people believe there Is a
combination Of the packers to fix the
price of beef replied the witness. He
told what he knew about the packers
methods of purchasing cattle, and said
that they did not fix the price OF cattle
except when there was an oversupply III
| the market
Bourke Cochran of New York asked
Judge Cowan if the packers had any III
terest in the tanning business:
I've heard" replied the witness, thal
the packers control the leather business:
Herbert E. Miles, chairman Of the tarin
committee Of the National Association OF
Manufacturers, followed Judge Cowan be-
fore the committee.
Claims to Speak as Consumer.
Although he is chairman OF the tarlH
committee of the National Association OIL
Manufacturers. Mr.. Miles of Racine, WIS,
a manufa cturer of agricultural 1mple-
ments, wagons and carriages, made IL
plain that he was not appearing 1or the
Manufacturers Association. He claimed
to address the committee as one oI o. oo,-
600, 900 consumers, as one OF 1oo,OO 10
175OOO manufacturing consumers, as al
employer who pays 100000 annually IN
wages and as an Independent non-trus.i-
fed manufacturer. "A stone lapeieu a.
bread" is what he said the farmer is
given through the Dingley tariff
Mr. Miles said the Standard OIL Com
pany benefited most from the duty on
oil The Standards wage cost IS per
cent of the price to the consumer ana
the tariff offers a protection OF w per
cent of the price They charged tne
American consumer" he added. from 30
per cent to 6J per cent more than the for
eign consumer.
The tariff rates on steel and its PRODUCTS
he said are all in excess OF the wage
cost He claimed that there Is an inter
natiOna! price on steel which gives the
American product to the foreign consumer
at a price % per cent less than the price
which the home consumer must pay. He
contended that the foreign steel manu-
facturers are able to sell for less than
the American manufacturer In such neu-
trail territory as Argentine or South Al
rica He declared that 90 per cent or
the steel output is controlled by the
United States Steel Company, Jones &
Laughlin, the Republic Iron and Steel
Company, the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company and the IIackawanna and Penn
SNlVanld Sleel companies
On Mr. Dalzelrs suggestion he also in
cluded the Cambria Steel Company. He
said these and several others are IN
commercial sense practically one con-
Germ.
'.That is true as far as making one
price is concerned" suggested Mr.. Cock
ran of New York.
Wants Steel Duties Cut.
Mr.. Miles recommended a maximum
ofo
and as a minimum noSduty. This reduc-
ton of the schedule, he claimed, would
result in a material reduction in the
| cost of agricultural implements and
wagons to the farmer, and he advocated
| putting nails and some machinery on the
free list. Free entry for iron ore and
scrap iron, he said. would permit several
| New England factories which have been
| forced to shut down to resume opera
| tions. He admitted later that the entire
| steel schedule for rolling mill products
could be reduced from 10 to 20 per cent.
Saving he feared he might be taken
| for a free trader in view Of his recon-
mendations. Mr.. Miles said, I'm against
free list
What for?' asked Champ clark OF
| Missouri
| Because | want to see the government
get revenue. and because l want trad
| ing proposition whereby We can sell goods
In foreign countries Replying to Mr.
Dalzell Mr.. Miles admitted lie attended
as a delegate at a convention held In the
interest of free trade, but it was with
the distinct understanding that he was
not in favor of free trade.
A Little Excitement Caused.
Quite a little excitement was caused
when Mr.. Clark asked MIR. Miles. What
was the difficulty you and Mr.. Van
Cleave. Mr.. Perry and your associates
| had with the labor unions?'
Mr.. Miles denied that he had had any
| such troubles
| Col Martin n. Mulhall of St Louis
came forward and became involved In
| a heated argument with Mr.. Clark. Col.
| Mulhall claimed that certain labor lead
! ers were trying to boycott Mr. Van
Cleave because he Is a republican and a
| protectionist.
! Il don't want any political speeches. y
replied Mr. Clark warmly, Il want TO
| know what the row was about between
| Mr. Van CleaVe and the labor unions?'
| THE brass workers wanted 10 per cent
more wages than was being paid in ST.