New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
n. E. NILES ON TARIFF
ATTACKS. DINGLET Law.
SAYS 1t Fosters Trusts, but Fails to
Cite Eract Statistics.
TP~ Ths Tr.ou-s Bu7ssr-1

IFrc-a Trihrzs Ez-7ssc1
Washington. Dee. 5-The lonS-looked-.or test
nony OF H E Miles. secretary OF the National
Manufscture-s' Association. was heard b. ths
Ways and Means Committee to-day and proved
disappointment TO those who had expected that
NJ. Niles would face tie committee prepared 10
submit proof that number OF the more important
tariff schedules far TOO high and would show
II statistics that the labor cost on steel luI
Der, leather and other commodities does not jcstIY
the existing rates OF duty on these articles But
these statistics Forthcoming. and. although
NJ. Niles made strong arguments and showed him
set deep student OF general tartn conditions his
remarks were not specific enough TO make 3 deep
impression OF the committee, and II many In
stances he was badly tangled BY Representatives
Payne, Dalzeu. Gaines and Cochran, although ths
last named sought ~ al times 20 assist the Wiz
Nj Miles I'D not represent the Manufacturers
Association IN his Official capacity but appeared as
a consumer and a manufacturer Ct farm inple-
uents- he consistent. at least and declared
his willingness hsvs the duty removed from ais
own products. whether not such a course vas
pursued with regard 10 other schedules He spoke
also 8 employer OF lsboriag men and as al
independent and 'non-trustihed' manufacture. He
declared his belief in the Republican Platforms
tariff declaration in favor or a liberal allowances
for the difference in OF production at home and
abroad. the committee sought exact
statistics 10 the difference, he was unable 10
give them He began his statement by saying that
hen Congress passed the Dingley Law Il went into
the business up 10 its eyes and his main ar
guTuent g denunciation Of that measure and
OF the trusts. Mt. Miles the stand FIVE
hours and Vill Be heard again next Tuesday NJ
Niles said he addressed the COMMITTEES as one q
10000 consumers as one Of 80 900 1900
u<acturing consumers, employer who pays
half a million dollars annually IN wages and an
independent non-trustiied manufacturer.
a stone labelled bread is what he sad tbs
farmer gets through the DingIey tariff. He said
Standard oil Company benefited most from the duty
of. The Standards wage cost vas. he asserted.
8 per cent OF the price 10 the consumer and the
tariff offers protection Of se per OF the price
They charged the American consumer" he added,
from Is per 50 per cent more than the for
eiEn consumer
The tariff steel and its products he said.
were ali IN excess OF the wage cost Asserting
that there IS International price Of steel which
gives the American product 10 the foreign consumer
> per cent less than the price the home consumer
must pay. he said that the foreign steel
<acturers able 10 sell for less than the Arneri
manufacturer IN such neutral territory
Argentine South Africa. He declared that Is
per or the steel output is controlled by the
United States Steel Cooperation. Jones & LauEhn.
the Republic Iron and Steel Company, the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company and the LeckaSanna and
Pennsylvania steel companies On Mr.. DalzeIrs
suggestion he included the Cambria Steel Company.
He said that these and several others in a
commercial sense practically concern.
That is true far making one price is cCr-
cerned," suggested MI. Cochran, OF New York
Mr.. Miles recommended a maximum duty OF 3
per heavy steel products, and as a mini
mum duty. This reduction OF the schedule he
explained, would result in q material decrease in
the cost OF agricultural implements and wagons to
the farmer. and he advocated putting nails and
some machinery the free list. Free entry for
iron and scrap iron he said, permit sew
eraI New England factories which have been
forced 10 shut down 10 resume operations He
said later that the entire steel schedule for rolling
mill products should be reduced from Is 70 % per
cent.
Saying lie feared he might be taken for free
trader, in view Of his Recommendations Nj Miles
said: I'm against a free list
What for" asked Champ Clark. OF Missouri
Because ! want to see the government get
revenue and because I want trading proposition
whereby We can sell goods in foreign countries"
Replying TO Mr.. DaIzeIl, Mr.. Miles said he at
tended as a delegate convention held in the in
terest Of free trade, but # with the distinct
understanding that he was not In favor Of free
trade
asked Mr. Miles What was the difficulty you
and Mr.. Van Cleave, Mr.. Perry and your associates
had with the labor unions?'
NJ Miles denied that he had had any such trou-
bic
Colonel Martin Y Mulhau Of ST Louis came
forward and became involved in heated argument
With Mr. Clark Colonel Mulhan said that certain
labor leaders were trying to boycott M Van CIeaye
because he is a Republican and protectionst.
/ don't want any political speeches. replied NIr
Clark. warmly. u want know what the row
was about between Mr. Van Clesve and the labor
unions"
The brass workers wanted 10 per cent more
wages than being paid st Louis" replied
Colonel MuIhall. who continued heatedIy 10 defend
NJ. Fal Clesvs until Chairman Payne interferei.
Ex-Judge Samuel Il Cowan, OF Fort Worth.
Tex. representing the American Live Stock As
ISOLATION and the Texas Cattle Raisers' Associa-
ton, asked that the duty hides be retained
saying it lad not been shown that free hides
would cheaper the cost OF manufactured leather
articles the consumer. He asserted that the
former getting his share OF the benefits OF
the duty hides. and that it going 10
the packers. es had been asserted
Representative Boutell. Of Illinois. a
from &. II. Jones. Of Boston representing the
Shoe and Leather Association replying NJ.
Boutell's question what reduction would
suit il the retail prices OF s. 5 - and IS shoes
from free hides and free leather and with sTee
hides, leather shoes. Mr. Jones said there
would be IN each a reduction of - cents. with
the exception Of the price with hides leather
and shoes, in which there would be a reduction
OF 60 cents. With free hides and leather. he said.
the price would depend on trust control. he did
uot say what reduction would be made ii the
price OF s. shoes
OF packers to fix the price OF beef replied the
witness lie told what he knew about the packers
methods Of purchasing cattle and said they dbl not
fix the price Of cattle except when there was an
oversupply in the market
Mr. Cochran asked Mr.. Cowan Il the packers had
any interest in the tanning business
1--WE heard" replied the witness. that The
packers control the leather business"
SALVADOR CALM. PRESIDENT SAYS.
t,Ac President TTir,ieroa NJ Sal