The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-30
PARTY WILL NOT
PLAY FAVORITES
Pledges Will Be Carried Out in
Matter of Tariff
Revision.
MANY PROTESTS ARE MADE
Boot and Shoe Dealers Plead
for Retention OF
Present Duties.
MANY PROTESTS ARE MADE

Washington. January CAN un-
successful fight to have the House Com
mittec on Ways and Means retain the
valorem on boots and shoes occupied
most of to-days session. Chairman
Underwood, of the committee, fatty
told the gathering of representatives of
the wholesale and retail shoe industries
of the country that the tariff was now
prohibitive: that there was no revenue
and that retention of the present
rates was impossible Questions of the
committee indicated d sentiment favor
able to a big drop in those rates.
Numerous spokesman appeared for
the various branches OF the shoe bust
ness. national associations of the manu-
facturers, wholesalers and retailers.
and of the labor unions. all favoring
the present duties. NJ. Underwood
said the Democrats did not propose to
plav favorites as between industries
in the work of carrying out the party
pledge for revision downward that
he hoped there never would be a Dem
ocratic tariff so below the reasonably
competitive basis as 20 close down any
factory in the country. he and others
of the committee wanted to write such
rates az would stimulate reasonable
competition He suggested that the
final arbiter. the American people. at
the last election. had rendered a verdict
for tariff for revenue instead of for
protection" and that you cannot ex-
pect US to write. a protective tariff even
If only per cent.
Predicts Wage Reductions.
This foreshadowing of the Democra-
tic policy of the coming extra session of
Congress came about in the cxamina-
ton Off Franklin Nc El~aIn. of Boston
ton. head Of a large shoe manufactur-
ing company AIr. McElwain pro-
tested that a drop 20 per cent ad
valorem would mean the abolition OF
the manufacturers pronts. ana that
putting shoes on the free list gradually
would result in wage reductions. The
ultimate consumer he agreed. would
benefit by free shoes. but ~ would strike
a blow az an immense industry
Arc you willing. as witness under
oath" insisted Mr. Underwood. 10
state that ~ We put shoes on tho free
hsf. u j. going 20 wipe out American
competition with foreign shoes Mr..
NIcElwain hcsitatcd. and finally said
30 adding. however. that wOrkmen
would be forced 20 accept less wages
The committee was curious to know
whv tsriN was necessary when the
American manufacturers were selling
shoes IN cighty-sevcn countries ia
one instance az the very door or COM
petition
AR NicEivain said exports were no
criterion Of competitive conditions. and
''tha: you can sell . gold brick iu any
country. it's the salesman that turns
the trick.
There were numerous other witnesses
today and tonight. covering many
subjects from asbestos 90 aigrcttcs and
from diamonds 70 a variety % women .
"icwIcry trinkcts
What Undcrvood's Hat Cost
While James Marshal. representing
The fur felt hat industry. was arElinE
against the duty on raw material used
IN the fur felt hat industry an az
fcndant placed beside him brown felt
hat. o. was Mr.. Underwood Z. AMI inc
chairman asked the cc-t - prod lcins
that hat IN Italy. where % was made
Mr. Marshall said fhc hat could &c
manufactured IN ftaiy Tor about ~
cents. and that the duty amounted
20 about o. rcnfs Nr 7 ntcrH ood ana
the witness agreed that ihc hat cost
about - rctaued iu fhr nitcd states.
Marshall declared fhaf she utncfcnce
between the $40 represented by tho
cost 81 production and tho duty sbd
the selling price % g was absorbed ~
the retailer and the middle man.