New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-09
100 100 100 100

II was remarked in our last annual report that the
ports Of raw SILK from japan, under the stimulus OF high
prices had risen from average OF 1900 bales to
90 600 in SIG The silks OF Japan have as rule, won
high esteem during the past year. and, IN several III
stances have preferred 10 the European product
Compared with those which took place in France the
failures among our silk manufacturers Jt impOr
tsnt In September, Messrs A Soellac Sons, OF Pater
son, went into bankruptcy In December, the emDlr
easements Of the Dale Manufacturing Company forced
them TO an assignment. The failure OF
mer & Co.. occurred during the year. Notwith-
standing the depression of the silk business, and inc
general duness Of the times. by which workmen IN all
trades have found wages and the opportunity OF EN-
ployment diminished there have been several strikes in
Fortunately yet neither the e1igcnces OF conpe-
ton the demands for cheap goods have driven the
silk manuiactnreTs OF TINS country mo te piacuce OF
deceptive They originally obtained their home
market rather by the excellence than by tho mere cheap
ness OF their goods ana Dy similar means lhey nope 10
retain favor That such the actual sentiment OF our man
ufacturers very clearly brought out IN recent meet
ings OF the sewing SIX ana IWlst trade hed az our OF
nee. The question was squarey presented whether IN
profitable u mgt not 90 best 10 meet e market win
Inferior and adulterated goods. This alternative was
deliberately and unanimously rejected, and IL de-
termined TO adhere TO the established standards OF
strength and unquesOned purity By which the servings
and twist OF our silk mills have won reputation.
II VIII be admitted by ali VINO nave gwen attention
TO the subject that the practise Of differentiation Of
voices cannot be wholly suppressed under al al vaOrCm
system OF duties Under these circumstances II is the
belief OF many who have examined tue sub
iect, that specific duties offer the only available
remedy to prevent this class OF frauds upon the revenue
There are however, targe classes 81 SILK goods, and
those especially III when the VALUATION invoices
has been chiefly practsed In Whch the weight bears
certain approximately uniform relations 10 value. To
facilitate the consideration OF this branch Of tug sub
iect suggestions for specific duties included IN the
scheme drawn up and presented TO the subcommittee
on the Tariff under date Of January 8. This scheme
constructed on basis OF reduction rom the present
silk goods OF more than SOOoOOc ana ID TO
be regarded as concession 10 the prevalent, though
mistaken belief that the duties upon silk Imports are
disprOpOrtionately high.
one thing cerain-the systematic differentiation OF
foreign market values has grown to such proportions
under the ad valOrem SYSTEM 10 call loudly for
sort OF change The complaint comes from American
merchants every importing city, trOm Boston and
Philadel phia, from Chicago Cincinnati and Baltimore
1t is alone the legitimate importing business OF New
York merchants that has suffered serious lOss-t is
matter In which the mercantile interest OF the whole
country is concerned Now that the evils that result