New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-25
GLASS MEN IN TANGLE
1SK FLAT TARIFF KATE.
4rgumcnfs Fail to Impress " ays
and Means Committee.
From The Tribune Bureau

washington Nov 24-"The testimony thus tar
presented to the Ways and Means Committee SHOWS
that no increase in the tariff viii help the idpoiel
that no decrease In the tariff will benefit the uiu-
mate consumer. So far | can see, only one class
can hone TO derive any benefit from revision OF
the tariff and that is the manufacturer Repre-
sentative Boutelle. of Illinois, made TINS aS7et 'i
W. L. Kann. of Pittsburg. representing 'he -
dependent glass companies, at the hearing on the
glass schedules before she Ways and Means com
rnittee. and summed up what seemed TO be me gen
eral impression left on that body by those VINO Hdu
testified to-day
The manufacturers with the exception OF TWO
who are also importers, asked that fiat rate o.
from 22la TO c5 cents be placed on glass instead ~
the graduated duty in effect, which varies
from three-quarters Of q cent on the shlahet s'He
to IS cents square foot. ". L. clause. OF rus
burg president OF the Pittsburg Plate GLASS Com
pany: Ethan Allen Hitchcock. formerly secretary
of the Interior: W. L. Kahn. and \. l." '"U'A"e''
president OF the American Glass Workers Assecia-
ton urged the fat tariff rate. which would nav
the effect of increasing the price or an si''"'iV'
sizes without affecting the price o. 'he '"' So
Each OF these witnesses. with the exception OF MI
Hitchcock who read 8 brief and was allowed 10
retire came in for careful questioning AT the hands
of the committee. and in many instances 'ne" 81"
swers seemed unsatisfactory to the dueSUo''e'S
rrbA,. anneared anxious TO evade many inquiries,
but even their extreme care did not prevent some
admissions which likely 10 be considered pe-
fors the fat rate Is granted by the committee The
main arguments advanced by the manufacturers
were that the labor cost was greater mere IMAM III
connecting countries: that all foreign countries
were in a combination to dump their surplus
into the United States; that the freight rave from
Antwerp 70 chicago was less than from Pittsburg
to Chicago: that the foreign factories MADE more
than 20 per cent profit. while the Americans were
not realizing anything on their investments ana
that # was necessary to increase the rate on small
glass in order that the glass worker might obtain
employment.
Mr. Clause was the first witness to undergo cross
examination Representative Bourke Cochran got
from him an admission that the difference IN the
cost of production between this country and the
competing countries about is cents, ana tnat
he desired tariff rate of 221z cents. Mr.
Cochran then asked him what he proposed
to- do with the Az cents. The question re-
manned practically unanswered. Under MT.
Cockran's examination, Mr.. Kann admitted that
the cost Of the smaller sized glass would be raised
to the consumer in proportion to the increased
tariff, and also that the eleven independent COM
panies which he represented had attempted to
make a uniform price. and were prevented by I'M
portatons from abroad. Representative Gaines, OF
West Virginia. discovered from the testimony that
the price on ordinary bureau would increase
about so 10 the consumer il the tariff were
raised. Representative Clark, on hearing from Mr..
kann that the glass industry has been losing one
for nine years, asked Where do all the multi
milIionaires come from?'
Mr.. Faulkner probably received the worst Cruel
ling the day. He made the assertion that the
American workingmen received double the pay of
the foreigner Representative Cochran elected the
fact that while the American glassworker makes
s720 for six months work and the foreign glass
worker gets the same amount for years work
the American cannot get more than six months
work a year. that In the end he IS no better off
He then asked MIR. Faulkner how the tariff had
benefited the American slassworker, and was told
that the tariff had not gone to the laborer.
Where has 1t gomez" asked Mr.. Cochran.
Most of 1t has gone into window glass blow
ing machine, think" replied Mr.. Faulkner
Preparatory the hearings the question Of
iron and steel tariff revision which to begin
tomorrow. informal conference was held to-
night OF those representatives Of steel and iron
companies who already have arrived IN this city
to appear before the committee. It IS said that
they will advocate either q reduction or an
increase OF the tariff steel products, but VIII
leave II TO the committee. after having all the
facts in its possession. decide whether the
tariff needs to be revised.