New-York tribune., 1908-12-17
WANTS DUTY ON YACHTS
Plea Made by Representative OF
american lShipbmIders.
1From Th. Trihune Pureau. J

Washington, Dec 1s-The feature Of the tarin
hearing to-day request that the new tarlH
provide for substantial duty on foreign ouli'
yachts brought to this country by American citi-
zens Judge /. z. Payson. counsel for the New
port News Shpbuildng and Drydock Company
speaking this company and American shlpou''u-
ing interests in general, presented the request
Five years ago in case brought by the CoIectoi
of the Port of New York against Frederick W.
Vanderbilt. owner of the Conqueror, the supreme
Court decided that foreign built ocean-golns yaC'S
were not duiable manufactures or lron uiiuoi
the Dingley tariff Since that time the art OF puI'o
ing ocean going steam yachts OF large SIZE mas
been practically dead In America. other WealthS
Americans, following the example OF MI Nanoel-
bilt have it was said. saved considerable sums OIL
money by ordering their steam yachts from BTU
ish yards, where the wages OF skllled laool dio
only about one-half high I'm the United States'
Judge Payson said the steel and wood materials
for yacht construction do not differ much IN price
here and the other side of the Atlantic, but the
cost of the skilled workmanship is considerably
greater here. Moreover, not only the yachts them
selves but their entire equipment and furnishing
of rich cabinet work. upholsterng, china and silver
ware and the uniforms Of their officers ana
men, are brought in free Of duty. although the
same articles are dutiabe at a high figure II pur-
chased by the owner of an American built vessel
These foreign built yachts do not receive an Amer
lean registry, but sail under certificate OF Amer
lean ownership and fly the American yacht ensign
so that they appear TO be, to all intents and pur-
an actual advantage, Judge Payson said. over
American built yachts. in that they are not sub
ject to the piiotage and inspection laws and are
not required to carry licensed officers. AS result,
not one large sea-going steam yacht of American
construction has been added TO the New York
Yacht fleet In several years The Vanderbilt yacht
North Star, George J. Goud's Atalanta and Joseph
Pulitzers Liberty, Judge Payson asserted are nota-
BILE examples of the determinations enforced by
American law against American shipbuding. for
all OF these craft foreign built and no fewer
than six large yachts have been procured from
British builders by New York men within the last
year. at an aggregate cost of from 100000 to
So 100000 1t was stated by Judge Payson to-day
that these loopholes in the tariff were deprivlng
five or ten thousand American workingmen of en-
ployment and that the government was losing a
large revenue what was luxury. Judge Pay
believes that the committee will report the leg
islation desired.
Edward Brush vice-president of the American
Smelling and Refining Company, testified regard
ing the lead schedule. He said that the duty on
lead is for the benefit Of the miner, but no lead
would be produced in this country if the tartn
taken off.
F. E. Hamilton. OF New York. behalf OF the
importing cigar and tobacco manufacturers filed a
brief asking for the reEdjustnent Of certain para
graphs of the tobacco schedule 1t asserts that the
changes sought would result in saving of $500
900 annually to tobacco consumers, would improve
the quality of the tobacco and increase the revenue
to the government
Colonel A B. Darlington and G. Mosley. Of Dan
ville Va. asked for more protection from the i'm
portation of Turkish tobacco.
Several witnesses favored protection for the lace
industry. o. T Zinckeisen, Of New York, appeared
in relation TO the duty on certain acids. and B. L.
Crouch of Corpus Christi, Tex, representing the
Texas Sheep and Geat Rsisers' Association asked
for a higher duty goatskins.
f. II. Gary, of the United States Steel Corpora
ton, will appear on Friday