Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-18
TARIFF EXPERTS ARE HEARD

tCOnllnue0 from FIRST rage
who appeared before the committee pre-
cedcd Mr.. Carnegie by several days. He
declared that the independent steel manu-
facturers require tariff protection and said
that II tho duty on steel should be re-
moved, the United United States steel
corporation, of whose board Of directors
he is chairman. would secure a monopoly
OF the market. The cost of labor would be
reduced. he said. II the tariff on steel was
taken off entirely. In the course Of his
testimony Judge Gary declared I'm favor Of
government control of manufacturers to
prevent them from charging a price which
would give them more than a fair return
on their Investments.
Mr.. Schwab. who was formerly president
OF the steel corporation. was one of the
most earnest advocates for protection for
tho steel industry to appear before the
committee. His replies to the questions
Of members of the committee were replete
with figures and arguments. lie declared
that the Ressemer process OF steel manu-
facture will. within five years, he SUPER
seeded by the open hearth process, which,
he predicted. viii in turn, be abandoned for
the electric system Of manufacture being
developed In Germany.
The agitation Cor free lumber by those
in sympathy vita the movement for the
conservation of the forests of the country
resulted ~ q strolg appeal from the lum-
Der interests of the south and the north
west. REPRESENTATIVE Champ Clark Of
Missouri. tho minority leader Of the house.
submitted the lumber magnates to severe
cross-examinati7ns and these hearings
were among the most interesting. T.. d.
Walker and Edward Hines, two of the
largest lumber dealers la the northwest
argued for the retention OF the present
duty on lumber, claiming that the United
states cannot compete with Canada in
facilities for cheap transportation or CHEAP
labor. 4 number of southern lumbermen
also asked for protection, contending that
the cost Of production has increased.
PRpcr Trust on Grill.
A severe arraignmcnt OF the so-called
Paper trust by John Norris, representing
the American Newspaper Publishers asso-
citation. and a defense of the international
Paper company. by Chester w. Lyman, as
sistant to the president OF the company,
offered one of tbo sensations of the hear
ings. The ways and means omm ittee,
while taking the lSeenest' interest in the
testimony. was predisposed to depend upon
the report OF tile special committee which
conducted hearing on wood pulp and print
paper last year for the Information upon
which To has its conclusions regarding the
paper and pulp schedule.
The proposition to have the values oil
articles upon which an al valorem duty
Is imposed determined by the wholesale
prices I'm this country as well as the cost
at the placeIof production, was first dis
cussed at the hearing given the pottery IN.
tcrests. This method of collecting tho
duties would permit the appraisers to cal
upon witnesses in this country for informa'
ton, which, under the present method Of
collecting ad vaIoIcm duties is not posi-
bic. The plan was advanced as a means
for preventing under valuations, OF which
there has been complaint wherever at
valorem duties have been imSosed. Severa
cases OF undervaluJtion were presented tC
the committee by the pottery manufac
turers, who favored an Increase In tho
duties on the better grades Of china. Thu
importers advanced arguments for a reduc