Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-10
Leads Underwood to Be-
Iieve in Competition.
Various Witnesses Differ in
Opinion on Existing Schedules.
Iron and Steel industries VIII, To.
day, Present Their Cases.


tee, Democratic leader of the House
at the final hearing on the earthen-
ware and glassware schedule, today.
Mr.. Underwood had been hearing
arguments aimed at securing a lower
ing of the tariff of 80 and so per cent
to 30 and 50 per cent, ad valorem on
china, earthenware, stone and crock
cry pare, including clock cases, statues
stems, lamps and a host of similar
articles taxed at the higher rate in
Sections 80 and "a of Schedule "B' of
the Payne ldrieh tariff law
1T looks to me-" Mr. Underwood
continued, las if Schedules 80 and 81
are, more competitive than most of the
paragraphs we have to deal with
That is my judgment subject, to
reservation if any information is
brought out that might develop to the
contrary
This view was radically divergent
from tbs Presentation of the import
ers' case by NJ. S. Pitcairn of New
York, whose protest against The "Ex-
orbitance of the present tariff and
portrayal Of the details of the bust
ness of bringing in English and 9TH
er eafthernwarc products, led To
sharp colleagues with Reps. Payne of
New York and Longworth of Ohio MIR
Pitcairn said that under the present
tariff earthenware importations are
steadily going down. Mr. Payne sug-
gested that if the witnesses state
mehts were true, the importers would
&c oct of business in 80 days. Mr.. Pit
cairn cited what he said We're actual
~ NJ
them.
DO YOU doubt the integrity of those
statements9. shouted the witness. Mr..
Payne persisted and the witness said
he coulu produce the entries frem the
treasury. Mir. Payne replied that even
the treasury department could not
produce miracles"
Mr. Pitcairn said that 90 per cent. of
earthenware imported is British. "Elimi-
nate the English earthenware,' he con-
dended, "and you will have no eompe-
titien in earthenware in this country
He suggested a 35 and 80 per cent. ad
valorem on these products and changes
in the classification in the TWO sections
involved and in the administrative part
of the bill. Mr.. Pitcairn said he had
heard of under-vaIuatioh at New York,
but knew nothing of them, that he had
no knowledge of any association of
French importers and that the import
ers had to sell their goods here at 81
per cent. higher prices than American
products.
Several other importers of other prod
ucts urged lower tariffs, while retention
of the present rates vas the slogan of
representatives of American manufac-
>turers.
j. N Jeenan of Cleveland, president
of an association of window glass work
ers, pleaded for the present tariff pro-
lection on window glass to guard against
the Belgian producers. He told of con-
ditions among Belgian labor, citing con-
tracts that Belgian working men have
to sign. Some of the committee were dis
posed to believe he had been sent to
Washington by the National Window
Glass Association-the employers-but he
said he came at the instance of his
workingmen's organization.
1.-The association didn't pay your ex-
penses?" he was asked, Absolutely not,
he replied.
He said the tariff protection should be
at least little more than to represent
the difference in the cost of labor, as
the American window glass WORKERS,
though working under better conditions
than abroad, still had wages that were
too low. 1.-THE skilled workers." he said,
average sl5 a week for the whole year
and the unskilled workmen $40 IA week
The witness was warned by Dem
ocratic members not TO accept too
freely the statements that greater inn
portations of foreign products would
lessen American wages. He replied
that it was a vital matter to his or
ganization and that if the tariff was
made sufficient to enable them to
maintain their organization they would
look after the wage question.
You promise that, do your asked
Mr.. Kitchin. Yes, well do that
The witness added that The only
way we can get anything from an
American manufactures is to either
strike or convince the manufacturer
that we are able to get what we ask
He said the window glass workers had
no complaint against the present
tariff.
A charge that a Photographic trust
exists in this country was made III
the testimony of William o. and G.
c. Gennert of New York city, who
contended that the Eastman Kodak
Co controlled seven eishths of the
business in every branch of the in
dustry in this country. w. o. Cen
merit said that independent companies
here could not successfully compete
with the Eastman Co.
"Would the removal of the 40 per
cent. duty open the American market
to the foreign commerce." asked Rep.
Harrison of New York
at would enable us to compete re-
nlied the witness. The profits of the
Eastman Co, are so enormous that it
would hardly be possible to state the
point at which it could not afford to
sell a camera at a profit,
The witness said that putting
cameras on the free list would benefit
everybody.
| Henry b. Graves of Geneva, N. T.,
wanted the duty on lenses retained as
at present. Representative Palmer re-
| minded Mr.. Graves that the Ameri-
! can Optical Co. paid really 200 per
| cent profit on its actual investment.
| MIR. Graves disagreed. saying that he
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