The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-17
HIDES now
A NECESSITY, SAY
THE LEATHER MEN
Country Unable to Compete with
Foreign Manufacturers I'M
der The Present Duty.
ONLY WESTERN PACKERS
BENEFITED BY TARIFF
Resolutions adopted Demanding
of Congress That the Exactions
on Imports be Repealed.

NEW YORK, March 17.-one of the
first things done at the banquet of the
Hide and Leather Association of New
York after the dinner last night was
the adoption OF a resolution offered by
A. Augustus Healy, vice-president Of
the United States Leather Company,
demanding of Congress that hides be
placed on the free list. The resolution
follows:
Resolved. That the Hide and Leather
Associations Of New York and vicinity
unites with the other leather associations
and the boot aud shoe associations Of the
country in demanding relief of Congress
from the injury inflicted upon our industry
during the past ten years by the duty on
hides.
The United States produces but wo-thirds
of the number of hides required here for
consumption, and we are greatly hand
capped by the duty in competition witt
foreign nations for necessary supplies Of
raw material. Free hides are necessary for
the proper expansion of the leather aud
shoe industry, for the greater employment
OF labor and for the benefit OF the %consurn-
ing public. The duty only benefits tho graf
Chicago packers, who control the larger
part of the production of domestic heavy
hides. These packers rave recently entered
largely into the tanning of leather and the
Independent tannrs of the country, thus
deprived of domestic supply. are now at a
the duty from getting hides from ~foreiel
countries. The effect of the duty Is by les-
i~slatlon to give a moaopoly of the tanning
exclusion of those who have all their lives
been engaged IN the industry. We, there
fore, ask Congress. In Justice to all en-
manufacture of shoes. and IN the common
welfare. TO place hides upon the free list.
Practically all the large hide and
leather houses in New York were repre-
scented at the banquet, and there were
many visitors from other cities. Will
lam H. Heller, president of the asso
citation, presided, while the speakers In
cluded August H.. Vogel, of Milwaukee;
Charles H. Jones. of Boston, and Con
gresham A. p. Gardner, of Massachu.
sets. The speeches generally were ex
tended arguments for the abolition o
the duty on hides.
LOSS of Supremacy.
when the Dingley tariff act of 1879
became a law said Charles IL. Jones
of Boston, "the leather and shoe in
dustries of these United States wer,
without a successful rival among all tn,
manufacturing nations on the earth
Today both of them are limping aloni
in the third or fourth place, fairly de
feated in the contest for commercial
supremacy.
Both leather and shoes are bein
made today in several foreign countrie
cheaper than they can be made l
America, and, what Is still NOR
humiliating, they are being manufac
tured with American machinery and b.
methods and processes which have bee
originated and developed here. Yo'
know full well what has brought abou
this changed condition, but 1t is har
to make the public and those no
familiar with the course of our bust
ness believe that a tariff tax of Is pc
cent. on heavy hides could have beer
as it was, the controlling factor 1
such an industrial revolution"
A. H. Vogel, of Milwaukee, spoke i
a similar vein.
"In considering the question of FIRE
hides,'' he said. sit is well to state tina
the aim OF all Legislation should b
the greatest good for the greatest u
Der. II we apply this generally &C
cepted principle to the question of FIRE
hides I believe we have an impregnabl
position, and It only rests with tn
great leather industry representing a
investment of $400, 900, 900, and givin
employment to $50, 900 wage-earners.
acquaint the general public with tn
facts to win its case"
Opposed by Blaine.
A. Augustus Healy said the duty o
hides was never defensible. 1t wa
imposed because of the clamor from
Fo~xv - ~ far yyTaGtayn Gfnkaa T1
truth In regard TO the matter, he de
clared, was clearly set forth by Jane
G.. Blaine, when In 1890 the suggestio
was made that a duty be placed O
hides. Writing to Mr.. Mckinley til
Maine statesman said: 1T Is a gres
mistake to take hides from the FIRE
list, where they have been for SO mar
years. 1t is a slap in the a to tn
South Americans, with whom we al
trying to enlarge u trade"
Representative A. p. Gardner, I
Massachusetts,. said 1t was hts opinio
that when the new tariff bill goes
} the President there will he no adde
; duty on any article In which the leath'
men are interested. "I am a confesse
stand patter. but for the last four {
/. five a I and my colleagues from II
. leather and shoe districts have bee
) leaving no stone unturned to have Il
! duty on hides repealed.
l Now the country has declared fl
| a revision Of the tariff, and the mi
| jority of people believe 1t Is to be
l revision downward. It Is a serio,
] problem which c~onfronts the Republ
) can party. At any rate 1t Is a long ar
! arduous Journey that tariff bill w
/. have to take before It reaches u
President"