Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-22
DUTY ON IMPORTED HIDES.
CONTINUED from paee o.

Is founded upon illogical ground
from the present view point of American
people with reference to ~nonnopolies'
Mr.. Warren. Let me prompt tho sena-
tor from Montana by saying that the
sole leather the Central Leather Trust
led me TO remember that there
IS tho American Hide and Leather Trust
composed of a hundred
companies, according to their own
that are ensa ged in producing
of the lighter hides, which do NOT
enter into this dltiahle line.
Mr.. Carter. Certainly. Now. Mr.. Pres
ident. If tho demend for free hides comes
from those who desire to still further this
which now controls two-thirds
of the output. there must be sof1e very
persuasive but undisclosed argument 10
warrant any support for that conten-
ton. WHY would it not, in other words.
bc beneficial to the people at large. TO the
leather trade, to the farmers. and the
shoemakers to have some competition
with the Central Leather company in
tanning the feathers?
Mr.. Page. Mr.. President. | want to
thank the senator for calling my atten-
ton to this matter, I had forgotten
about It. J aid not know I had the proof
right at hand. but I have. Anybody who
knows anything about the tanning bust
ness knows that you turn your stock
over In sole leather only about twice a
year. 1t may bc done uftener that that,
but that Is about the rule. Let me say
there are S242, 5000 invested In tanner
les at this time, and the statistics show
that tho annual output Is 1882. 10000; the
annual output and the amount Invested
are practically the same. 1t Is turned
over only once a year. I have before me
the statement Of the United states
Leather company for February q. 1863.
Among their assets are Hides and leath-
er on hand and in process of tanning,
$40, go. $685.
Mr.. President. I can assure you beyond
n poradvcntiro that the output of that
company Is not more than double the
amount Of hides and leather on hand,
but II I were to be asked my opinion as
on expert-and ! know something about
It, although not a tanner-1 should say
the probabilities are E 10 ! that tho out
nut Of the tannery was not more than
double tho amount Of their hides on hand
and in process of tanning.
But Let us suppoc- they turn stocks
over three t'mes 2 year. and that instead
Of aninC soo.Nh.l-o. let us call It 10000. 400
per year. would that BE- fair I think
so. And now lct us SEQ how near they
como to being n trust.
The American Hide and Leather COM
pany produce about sl6.cN.noo annually
that Is the other corporation 70 which
the senator from wyoming refrrred-and
# I do not forget It. 7 Will take It Ut
when I get through with the United
States Leather company.
Next IN Importance comes the Phster
& Voscl Leather company, to which
have referred, n which produces about
slS,cN,oNo annually.
Mr.. Dixon. sole feathers or uppers?
MIR. Page. All kinds. 7 can not separ.
ute them. The Swifts. at their Lawrence
and other tanneries. are said to tar
100000 worth annually. I know some
thing about that matter. and ! rhoult
say this was not an overestimate. Al
these estimates are given 20 me- by q
man who ought TO estimate quite nccur
ately.
The American Oak Leather company
who make entirely sole leather, are SAID
to tan from eight 10 ten million dollars
worth annually.
England e Walton. of Philadelphia
there may be some one here who know.
about that nrm-are said to make abou
100000 worth of leather annually. an.
Il is, | believe, all sole leather.
J. x. Mosser Is said to be one Of III,
Swift's tanners, and is said TO make from
six 10 eight million dollars worth o
leather annually. all sole leather.
Leas & McVitty make from 1--WE to ST,
million dollars worth annually, all sol
The Fred RuepinE Leather company. O
Fond du Lac, Wis, are said to max
three to four million dollars worth o
leather annually, but l think II Is lergel,
calfskins.
Deford & Co., of Baltimore, and per
maps the senators from Maryland can rel
rs about them, are said to produce thre
20 four million dollars worth lea'he
ann"ually-al, sole leather. ] am inform
ed.
Nr. President, there is not a particle o
doubt but het the United States Lcathe
company is not a monopoly. is not
trust in the sense that we general
speak Of trusts.
Tho United States Leather company or
gantzed a few years ago to take posses
sion Of q goodly number Of Pennsylvani
.anneries. The tanneries OF themselve.
or Mt least many Of them, were not yer
valuable properties, though of co,rrs,
valuable. Some Of them were good. br
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