New-York tribune., 1908-11-12
FIRST TARIFF CHANGE
TO AMEND OIL SCHEDULE.
Hearing on Chemicals Completed
Beverages Nert on Last.
From rhs rnhun. Bureau. ]

From The Tr1bune Bureau
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE first definite change
to be made in the Dingley tariff bill was an
nounced to-day when Chairman Payne, at the
hearing of the Ways and Means Committee, as
sured NJ B. Snevely, OF New York. that the oils
schedule would be amended TO the satisfaction
OF the importers and manufac acturers OF olive OIL
and kindred commodities.
Mr.. Snevely represented the Oil Seeds Com
pany and other New York importers. and COM
planned that the shipment of various oils into
New York was often hampered by the present
tariff law, which provides that the examiner at
each port shall decide whether the oil is ft,
only for manufacturing or mechanical pur-
poses" This provision. Mr.. Snevely asserted,
often proved a hardship TO the importers, who
were sometimes required to keep their shipments
in bond until the question of their quality was
decided. a matter which frequently goes through
various courts He recommended that the
Treasury Department be empowered to enforce
the law and TO draft provision for the new
tariff law. which will specify the constituents
Of olive oil and thus enable the shipments to be
accepted or rejected without delay.
Mr. Snevely showed that # was more difficult
TO receive shipments at New York than at
Philadelphia or Boston and to the present law
he ascribed the fact that the consumption OF
these oils far outstrfps their production in this
the intention of the committee to redraft the
schedule in question and expressed the belief
that the change would ameliorate the present
conditions
The hearing to-day did not bring out any I'M
portant recommendations, most of those who
appeared desired merely minor changes in GER
tain schedules, asked the committee to make
no changes whatever. Among these latter was
Theodore Ricksecker, of New York, who. be-
half of the Manufacturing Perfumers Associa
ton, asked that the rates be left as at present.
DYE MAKERS ASK CHANGES.
Manufacturers interested in the production of
coal tar dyes and colors were first to be heard
by the committee to-day. Frederick SchoeI-
kopf and Isaac F. Stone, OF Buffalo, asked for an
increase of 10 per cent over the present ad
valorern rate Of 80 per cent. colors and dyes.
They also advocated the putting on the free list
of certain raw materials used by them. which
there is now a duty of 20 per cent They said
this duty and the higher cost OF labor here rem
dered it impossible to compete with the German
product. Representative Alexander. Of New
York, supported their view
Speaking, he said, for a majority of the dry
color manufacturers of the country, Arthur
Somers. of Brooklyn, said: The less the
committee does with the dry color schedule the
better pleased We will be. The conditions to-day
are practically the those which prevailed
when the Dingley tarin was framed
The Democratic members of the Ways and
Means Committee favoring an increase IN the
rate of duty and the Republican members as
sumfng ar attitude against protective rate
barytes listed in schedule a. of the tariff,
vas the unusual situation which developed at
to-day's hearing. Ex-Representative NJ. E.
Rhodes. A C. Nulson, s. NJ Evans, of North
NJ R1TFfa
spoke in favor of increasing the duty crude
barytes, and when Mr.. Evans took up the argu-
ment, speaking of the barytes deposits in North
D.. Carolina Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, the
Democratic members of the Ways and Means
Committee became interested.
Representative Pou. Of North Carolina.
Democrat, told Mr.. Evans that II he could show
that the mining OF barytes made unproflt
able because of the prevailing tariff he would
have the support os the minority members Of
the committee in the recommendation for in
crease in the duties. Despite the assertion by
Mt Rhodes that Missouri was carried in the
last. election for William H. Taft because of the
belief that higher protective tariff would be
enacted, the Republican members of the COM
mittee led by Chairman Payne and Repre-
sentatives Longworth ard Bouteli. seemed to
feel that no higher duty was necessary on
barytes.
The hearing on the proposed revision af-
fecting the schedule chemicals, oils and
paints completed al o'clock, and to-mor
row the hearing schedule H Of the tariff,
covering spirits wines and other beverages, will
begin.
The arguments presented to-day were in the
main technical and in favor of the retention of
the present rates of duty. The prevailing atti-
tude with regard to schedule "A" is eptomized
in the following words OF Eugene MerZ, paint
and color manufacturer of New York who sub
mitted a brief: 1T will be that the duty
AT present levied is but moderate and is neces-
sary TO equalize European and American
ditions and we respectfully submit that the
present rates OF duty on cur products should be
left undsturbed"
When James E. Davis Of Detroit speaking on
alcoholic perfumes and preparations for the
hair. teeth, mouth skin, said that his trade
stands for the things as they are" Chairman
Payne asked: Would you stand for a reduc-
tion?"
None whatever the quick rejoinder
Mr. Davis added that the manufacturers of
these articles have grievance" which he
seemed to think q good argument for protective
tariff
The committee has been required to make few
changes either higher or lower, in the rates Of
duty for articles coming under Schedule a.
but many suggestions nave been made Tor re-
vision OF the phrasng in certain paragraphs.
These suggestions worked out during the
recess of Congress by Major Herbert NJ. Lord,
q tariff expert and Thomas j. Doherty, as
sistant counsel OF the Treasury Department
under the direction OF the clerk of the commit
tee, William X. Payne. The tariff bill, which
will be presented to Congress at a special ses-
sion in March. probably will contain these sug-
gested changes. These changes, which will
make more clear the Interpretation OF the law
and be Of great assistance to the customs off,