Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-13

mined to bring before the United
States senate their complaint that
the keen competition Of foreign
manufacturers is iniuring the ho-
siery industry in this country,
the National Association OF Ho-
siery and National Association of
Underwear Manufacturers In an
nuai convention here today ap-
pointed committee to 90 to
Washington to asitate higher
tariff on hosiery.
Washington, D. c. May H. = When
the consideration of the tariff bill was
resumed in the senate today, Senator
Simmons offered an amendment to
the window glass schedule, reducing
the rates below those suggested by
Cummins in his amendment to the
same paragraph yesterday. He ad.
dressed the senate at length upon the
window glass industry to demonstrate
that glass manufacturers could pros
per without duties much below he
provided in the pending measure,
Seeks Tobacco Tariff Reduction.
Pleading for an amendment to the
tariff bill to permit the producer of
tobacco to sell hand twist tobacco
without the payment of the duty of
six cents per pound, Senator Paynter
of Kentucky today laid before the sen
ate the history of the tobacco indus
try In this country. He declared that
the tobacco growers believe they are
In the grasp Of a conscienceless mo-
nopoiy.' He gave the history of the
so-called tobacco trust He adverted
to the tobacco troubles in Kentucky
and expressed the hope that the enact
ment Of the proposed law would re-
move the causes which have provoked
these troubles.
Committee Amendments Upheld.
Washington, May 12.-Substantial
progress was made in consideration CT
the tariff bill yesterday, the amend
ments OF the committee on finance be-
ing upheld, by the senate by sub
stantial majority.
The feature of the days session was
the general discussion concerning the
great disparity between the wholesale
and retail prices of commodities. The
Republican senators declared this diff
ference was too great as to demon.
strate that the duty levied by the pro-
tective tariff had a small effect on the
price paid by the consumer.
This feature of the discussion was
precipitated by Senator Scott, himself
a glass manufacturer. On his desk
were several pieces of glassware
which he used to emphasize his posi-
tion on the tariff
Here" he said, "is half gallon
pitcher we sell for ninety cents a
dozen. 1t sells at retail for about 40
cents piece.
Tumblers which sold for $3.50 per
dozen when he first went into the
glass business now sell at IL cents a
dozen, he said. Goblets that once
commanded $4,000 a dozen now sell
for 25 cents a dozen.
II we keep on we will soon begin
paying people to carry this glassware
away" he added.
Protection Policy Upheld.
Hale took advantage of Scott's ex
hibition to make point in suppor
OF the protective policy as a whole
He said the present debate would d,
much to convince the people the pol
Icy of protection has no relation /:
high retail prices prevailing in this
country.
Flint cited an instance Of set 0
Haviland china which cost, after al
the import duties and other expenses
were paid, $10.S9, yet the retailer II
this country got $50 for it, Anothe
article that cost Al cents to impor
sold at retail for $3.50.
Smoot cited the case of razor, tn
manufacturers wholesale price o.
which was 1895 per dozen, which soil
for 50 each to consumers. Gloves, II
said, manufactured for $40 per doz
en-, sold for So per pair or S24 per doz
en-. These high prices, he said, ha
nothing to do with the protective ta;
iff, because compared with the reta
prices the tariff change was small.
Retailers Defended.
McLaurin defended the retail dea
ers against the charge of extortior
saying the retailers would lose thei
trade If they undertook to charge to
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