paragraph in addition, for the importers have instituted several suits against the Government in this connection. Yours, very truly, SANFORD NARROW FABRIC Co., UNION TOWELS AND CRASHES. THE LOWELL (MASS.) TEXTILE COMPANY ASKS FOR MARGIN BETWEEN ITS FINISHED PRODUCT AND YARNS. COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, LOWELL, MASS., December 9, 1908. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: Our business is the manufacture of union towels and crashes. Our raw material consists of medium-size cotton yarns and linen yarns from No. 7 to No. 25. There is a duty of 45 per cent on the linen yarns and a duty of 45 per cent on our finished goods. If this margin on union goods is in any way made less, it will be fatal to us. We are at present unable to compete with the foreign manufacturers on the all-linen goods, the duty on which is 50 per cent. In order to protect what business we have we ask for a margin of 5 per cent to 10 per cent on the union goods, and in order to endeavor to get business in the all-linen field we ask for a difference of at least 20 per cent between the duty on linen yarns and the manufactured product. These changes would put us on a fair competitive basis with the foreign manufacturers. Very respectfully, THE LOWELL TEXTILE CO., Treasurer. WEBBINGS AND LACES. THE ANSONIA (CONN.) O. & C. COMPANY URGES RETENTION OF PRESENT DUTIES ON THESE AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. Hon. EBENEZER J. HILL, ANSONIA, CONN., December 19, 1908. Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: As manufacturers of elastic webbing, beltings, lamp wicks, boot, shoe, and corset lacings, elastic cords, tapes, etc., we desire briefly to state our position regarding any possible revision of the present tariff on these goods now covered by Schedule I, paragraph 320; also Schedule L, paragraph 389. Under the present tariff considerable quantities of the fine grades of goods are imported; consequently domestic production is confined chiefly to the coarse and cheaper grades. Labor is a very large factor in the cheaper grades, and our domestic labor is double, and in some operations treble, that of foreign countries. Any reduction in tariff would mean a corresponding reduction in wages or disaster to the industry here. There is no trust, combination, or price agreement of any kind between domestic manufacturers of any of these goods, and, owing to peculiar conditions, none is practical. Competition is keen and profits are small, running from 5 to 10 per cent, according to conditions. More specific information and detailed facts will be furnished if desired. We strongly advise that no change be made in the present tariff on any of the above-mentioned goods. Yours, truly, THE ANSONIA O. & C. Co., |