ufactures has doubled since 1888. The value of our exports of manufactures has doubled since 1898. Of the value of the property represented, manufactures ranks third among the great activities of the United States, agriculture being first and the railroads being second, but in the number of persons employed agriculture is the only interest which leads manufactures. Manufactures are far ahead of agriculture in the value of the products. The money invested in manufactures represents an eighth of the value of all the real and personal property in the country. The United States manufactures 35 per cent of all the manufactured products of the world. The value of the farm property of the United States increased from $7,908,000,000 in 1860 to $20,524,000,000 in 1900, and it is about $25,000,000,000 in 1908. SCHEDULE G-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND PROVISIONS. BEEF CATTLE. [Paragraph 218.] W. S. WILLIAMSON, LONDON, ENGLAND, WRITES IN ADVOCACY OF REMOVAL OF DUTY FROM BEEF CATTLE. Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE, LONDON, November 22, 1908. Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington. MY DEAR SIR: As an American, I protest against duty upon cattle. Import upon beef cattle should be removed. Canada, Central and South American cattle are not up to the high standard of American breeds, and they can not compete with the high-grade beef which those who have the price can afford to buy and enjoy. However, the cheaper grades of beef from foreign countries could be sent into New York and New Orleans and the poor people could enjoy a beefsteak or a roast once in a while. At the present price of beef it is prohibitive to the poor people. The present price of beef on the hoof is about 2 cents per pound in Nicaragua, 3 cents in Honduras, 4 cents in Costa Rica. There are, in the mountains of Nicaragua, thousands of fairly good beef to be had, but they can't be shipped to New York or New Orleans at the present import tax. The present revenue to the Government is nil on import of cattle from Central America. If the tax was taken off, cheaper meat could be had by the poor people. I hope that you will do us the honor to investigate this sad condition of affairs and remedy the evil. Hoping that I may have the pleasure of meeting you on my return home. Yours, very sincerely, W. S. WILLIAMSON, (Formerly of Cayuga County, N. Y.) THE UNITED BUTCHERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ASKS THAT DUTY BE REMOVED FROM LIVE STOCK. TROY, N. Y., November 16, 1908. Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The attitude of the market men of the United States on prevailing tariff on live cattle and live stock to be used for food is best expressed in the following preamble and resolutions adopted at the New York State Convention of Master Butchers, held at Utica, N. Y., June 8-10, 1908, and also at the national convention of the same body held at Cleveland, Ohio, August 11-13, 1908: "Whereas the great scarcity of live cattle, attributed to financial conditions, depriving the greater portion of the people of a sufficient supply of meats; and Whereas such scarcity has been the means of the enormous advance in the price of meats; and "Whereas such scarcity is reputed to be owing to the demand for meats being greater than the supply; and "Whereas our National Government exacts a tariff on live stock, shutting out our outside sources of supply: Therefore, be it "Resolved, That we, the United Master Butchers of America, in convention assembled, expert in the knowledge of the conditions and the remedies to apply, demand in the name of the great American consuming public that the Federal Government take immediate steps to have the duty on all live stock removed; and it is further "Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolution be sent to the President of these United States, and in addition that they be given greatest publicity." Having been delegated by both of these associations to present our views on this subject to your honorable body, and being unable to appear at your scheduled hearing (under Schedule G), owing to limited notice, I take this method of presenting the sentiments of the body of business men best qualified by reason of the nature of their business to judge of the merits of the case. Very respectfully, yours, [SEAL.] D. J. HALEY, Secretary United Master Butchers' Association of America. FOOD PRODUCTS. STATEMENT OF LOUIS J. SCARAMELLI, OF P. PASTENE & CO., 48 HARRISON STREET, NEW YORK CITY. THURSDAY, November 19, 1908. Mr. SCARAMELLI. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, as a representative of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of New York, I have here a long memorial, which I am not going to read, owing to lack of time, but I am going to put this memorial on record, and I should like that this honorable committee would read it at their leisure, for you will find some interesting arguments concerning the importation of Italian products. In addition to this memorial, I want to make a few remarks to this honorable committee concerning a few articles, not as a representative of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, but as vice-president of P. Pastene & Co., of New York and Boston. Shall speak for the importers of New York City; but what is more interesting to me, I want to speak in behalf of the United States consumers. The first article I want to talk about is macaroni. P. Pastene & Co., of New York City and Boston, import 1,500,000 boxes of macaroni a year from |