Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-28

NV ASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-Repre-
w sentatives of labor appeared be-
fore the ways and means COM
mittee of the house today to advocate
the maintenance of duty on tin.
John Williams, an official of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers, asked that the
duty on tin plates be maintained and
the system of drawback in exported tin
articles be abolished. The reduction of
the duty he said, would demoralize the
American industry.
AS Mr.. Williams was about to leave
the stand Chairman Payne read a let
ter, under the seal of the United Sons
of Vulcan of Pittsburg, protesting
about Williams appearing before the
committee to. represent tin workers.
The Sletter gave as a reason the fact
that he had advocated Bryan's election.
Denounces Rival Union
This led Mr., Williams to denounce
the rival union.
But you are ip the employ of manu-
facturers?" asked Mr.. Payne.
Positively not, sir" was the reply.
Tariff reform so radical as to exceed
that urged by the Democrats was ad-
vocated by Jesse F. Horton of the New
York Tariff Reform club.
j. H. Mutt, employed by the Western
Bar Iron association, controlling plants
in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri
asked that the same differentials be-
tween steel and iron bars be observed.
and the duties be placed high enough
to protect small establishments.
John w. Walton of Cleveland, deal
er, importer and consumer of wire
rope, asked the duty ON that article
be reduced.
When Nelson Lyon, secretary treas
urer of company manufacturing wire
articles in Tarrytown, N. Y, took the
stand to ask for a removal of the tariff
on pig iron, Representative Griggs in
quired:
Are you making any money!"
"A little, but not much" was the re-
sponse.
He claimed if the entire tariff had
been removed from pig iron during the
last year American manufacturers
would have received $153,000,000 more
than they received for the product in
1904. In that year, he added, a profit
was made, for the steel trust does not
produce unless it produces at profit"
Reduction in Cost Small
Mr. Lyon said the removal of the
duty on pig iron would mean a reduc-
tton in cost of $500 on his output of
wire articles amounting to $4,000 a
year.
How much would that reduce the
price of egg beaters to the consumers,
for no family Is complete without an
egg beater?" queried Mr.. Cochran.
well, they are very cheap now,"
replied Mr.. Lyon.
afTyo1Id xyo,, radt1oo xrO1.t. ,Nrioac "a q
ton?" insisted Mr.. Cochran.
Il hope to be able to do So" replied
Mr.. Lyon.
In an attack on the steel trust, Mr..
Lyon said that during the panic last
fall "our great President Roosevelt,
who rules our land in righteousness,
allowed the steel trust to turn 70 per
cent of their employees out to starve.'
He said the president encouraged this
Corporation to absorb its competitor,
the Tennessee Coal and Iron company.
1--WE are also told" continued Mr..
Lyon, president Roosevelt promised
this trust immunity from prosecution,
so they came out boldly and told us
they would not reduce their price of
production. Why our great president
is following the Standard Oil company
to prevent its shipping oil few cents
cheaper than it's competitor, and let's
this steel trust go scot free, while
SIeallng from lHe puDllC through lHe
robber trust from one to two million
dollars year, is beyond my compre-
hension.''
Wants Specific Duty
Representative Vreeland of New
York on behalf of a constituent.
George w. Kern, who manufactures
razors, asked for a specific duty on
razors. The present duty averages so
per cent, ad valorem, but Mr.. Vree-
land argued a higher duty is neces-
sary if the industry is to become profit
able in the United States.
S. S. Erland of Philadelphia asked
for an increase of 10 per cent in the
duty on ball bearings.
Dwight Divine of New York desired
the tariff on pocket knives be retained.
Increased duty on small sizes of
chains and a reduction on large sizes
was the request of H. f. Mattern of
Lebanon, Pa, and Thomas T. Wood
house of T enton, N. ].
Representative Longworth indicated
he was against unnecessary protection.
"The total imports of chains equal
only $4,000 a year." he said. 'You
manufacture in this country $5,0OO000
lContinued IN PaRo TvaOl