Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-03-27
Washington Man Says shingle Mills
Need Protection.
FORDNEY's ADDRESS NOTABLE
Michigan Lumberman Pleads for
Tariff on Rougher Grades.
ROWLAND FOR FREE LUMBER
Ohio Representative Says Best Lum-
her is shipped and Americans
Have to Buy Seconds
and CuIIs.


WASHINGTON. March 2s.-The monot-
ony OF the tariff debate in the house Of
representatives, was relieved for a time
today by clash between Messrs Fordney
OF Michigan and Byrd of Mississippi,
which came near ending in blows. Mr..
Fordney had been making an exhaustive
discussion of the lumber schedule. when
he was interrupted by the Mlssissippian,
who insisted that the lumber manufac-
turers OF which Mr.. Fordney was one,
were In trust. Mr.. Fordney per-
emptorily denied the statement and said
that Mr.. Byrd didn't know a thing
about it,"
The Mississippi member made move
toward Mr. Fordney and was in the act
OF removing his coat. when some of his
democratic colleagues took hold of him.
Later il developed that the incident grew
out OF a misunderstanding and both men
made mutual explanations and apologized.
Mr.. Fordney made notable speech on
the subject OF lumber and pleaded for bet
terter protection on that product in the
rough. Dlametrically opposed to him was
Mr.. Rowland of Ohio. who wanted the
product placed on the free list.
Others who spoke were Messrs. Pou OF
North Carolina and Macon of Arkansas.
both of whom arraigned the Payne bill
for not accomplishing what It was claimed
II would do, while Mr.. Humphrey of WASH
ington pleaded or a tariff on shingles and
lumber sufficiently high to enable the lum-
ber and shngle manufacturers OF his state
to compete with those OF British CO.
umia employing cheap oriental labor.
Humphrey for Duty on Shingles.
When the tariff bill was laid before the
house today Mr.. Humphrey of Washington
took Issue with some statements made by
Mr. Payne in his opening speech regarding
the number OF orientals engaged in
the lumber mirfls OF British Co
lumbia. Mr.. Payne he said thought
there were fewer orientsls working
IN such mills there than in the state
of Washington. That statement was err
roneous. he SAID. He declared that over 50
per cent Of the men engaged IN the lumber
and shingle mills Of British Columbia were
orieatals and were paid lower wages than
American m'u laborers and that therefore
the cost OF production was less. Out OF the
- $50 men employed in the shlngle mills OF
Washington MIR, Humphrey said. there
we're but forty-one orlentals He also said
that OF the 10000 men employed in the
lumber and shmgle Industry in that state
there were but 1900 orientals.
MIR. Humphrey, in pleading for an in
creased duty on shingles, warned the re-
publicans that they could not escape thelr
responsibility insofar as the problem OF
oriental labor was concerned.
Now" he said, I'VE have an opportu.
nifty to see whether or not We are gonl
back on what we have said about protect.
ing the labor of this country from the ruin
GUS competition of foreign countries"
Near Fight ON Floor.
Through a misunderstanding Representa-
tive Byrd Of Mississippi and Representative
Fordncy OF Michigan almost came to blows
on The floor Of the house while the latter
was making a speech on the tariff.
Mr. Byrd asked Mr. Fordney II it wer,
not true that a combination existed amonl
the retail dealers OF Michigan to which
Mr.. Fordney's firm. which Is operating II
that state was a party. Mr.. Byrd added
that he knew whereof he spoke when h'
charged the existence OF such combna
tion.
THE gentleman does not know thlni
about IT," shouted Mr.. Fordney.
Immediately Mr.. Byrd made his way to
ward Mr Fordney. but several democrati,
members stopped him.
MIR. Fordney apologized TO the house I'll
added. however. that Mr. Byrd could no
say that his firm was a member Of tn
Lumber trust,
MIR, Byrd then explained that it was no
hts fRtentou to make such a charge ant
the Incident was closed.
Mr. Fordney who is a member of tn
ways and means committee and an avowe
blgh protectonist, discussed at length tn
lumber schedule.
Ia response 10 various questions regard
ing the Canadian competition in lumbe
Mr.. Fordney declared high and low-grad
Canadian lumber were met with their re
spectlve grades in the United States. Dut
OF high grades, he said, was not neede
as much as on the low grade, and this wa
desired In order to compete with the for
eign production. He denied that lumbe
from the southern states was going int
Canada in any considerable quantity excep
long leaf yellow pine.
VIII Not Anect Southern Lumber.
MIR. Fordney admitted In response to
question by Bartlett OF Georgia tina
whether the duty on lumber was increased
lowered or removed. southern lumber coul
not be carried into the territory north O
the Ohio river I'm competition with Canada
lumber because Of prohibitiVe freight rates
Mr.. Fordney declared there had been
marked downward tendency IN the pric
ot lumber the last two years and that
the duty on lumber should be taken off hi
lumber manufacturing company would clos
It's sawmill, throwing 800 employees out O
work and keeping the mill idle until bette
times.
Mr.. Fordney provoked applause when h
said hides were put on the free list of IN
Payne bill against his earnest protest
Mr.. Fordney spoke OF determinations Q
Canadar against American eitiezns and tha
IN connection mentioned the maximum an
minimum features OF the bill, and he sal
"by the heavens above me, contend "
have right TO strike back when sh
strikes us.'
sreaker.
Speaking IN favor Of placing lumber o