Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-13

the presentation of some papers on the glass
interests of the country by MIR, Charles w
Brcckunier, of Wheeling, West Virginia.
Mr.. Brockunier appeared and read the
following paper:
GLASSWARE.
Cut, Engraved, Etched, Decorated, Oh
Painted, in ANY Manner-Thin Blown
Ware and Fancy Glassware, Such a:
Craquelle, Optical, Twisted Ribbed, Ven
etian; Meaning to Include All Ware
Upon Which a Considerable Part of the
Value is Made by Skillfui Handwork.
The rate of duty is forty per cent. adva'
loren, we ask to have it increased to sixty
per cent advalorem. The reason for asking
an increased duty of twenty per cent. is
the great difference in wages paid abroad
and here. The cost of labor in articles in
this schedule is fully ninety per cent. OF
cost of production. From the best inform
alton we are able to obtain the wages paid
glass cutters and all other workmen en-
gae ed in this kind of glass in England are
fifty per cent. less than in this country.
In Belgium, Germany, Bohemia, wages are
about seventy.fve per cent. less.
The manufacture OF cut glassware in this
country has largely decreased since the in
cidental protection afforded by the premi-
um on gold ceased, and the importation
has constantly and largely increased. The
entire production in this country does not
now equal the capacity of single furnace.
As cut and decorated glassware is very
costly it should be classed as a luxury
We therefore think the duty should be cor
respondingly high.
Mr.. Brockunier, when he had read the
above, exhibited TO the Commission mag
nifciently cut fruit bowl and pitcher,
which he said had been part of the exhib-
it Of his firm at Philadelphia in 1876.
''The cost of cutting this bowl, said he,
1900 diamonds. Besides the price of cut
ting, the finish, the power, the stone and
such utensils as are requisite, ninety per
cent. of the cost of producing such an ar.
ticle is incurred on account of the labor.
NJ. Garland-You ask not for anything
but an ad valorem duty. then? You do not
ask for specific duty, that is, by the
piece?
No, sir"
Judge Ambler-W What is heselling price
OF such an article?
we should add on fifty per cent. We
would do this to cover possibilities, such as
breakage."
To Col. Kenner-This work is done by a
stone very valuable, that is imported from
Scotland. Some of the work is done by an
iron instrument. 1t would cost to equip
such shop as we have to do this work
81, coo or 5000. Some of this work is done
that is, the choice pieces) by the day 1t
would take man three or four days to cut
this pitcher and four or five to cut the
bowl In the fifty per cent, advance / re
ferred to, include, of course, clerk hire,
insurance, power, &c.
CHEAP BOHEMIAN LABOR.
Here" said Mr.. Brockunier, exhibiting
a prism OF glass some three inches in
length, sis prism of glass from Bohemia
set down in New York at three and q half
cents. Why, We could not bore the holes
through which the string passes for that
figure. This glass is manufactured in the
mountains of Bohemia largely by child Ia
Dor. These prism are used largely in this
country and American manufacturers can
not hope to compete for their trade, unless
we can receive that protection that we re-
quire at the hands of Congress.
To Judge Ambler-It would cost US 10
cents TO cut that. The bowl / showed you
was made from soda lime glass. There is at
present forty per cent. duty on cut ware
and we would like to have it raised to sixty
per cent, both on decorated and cut ware.
Decorators get from $500 to $500 per day
in this country, and in Germany and Bel
GUM 60 to rs and so cents day.
To Col. Boteler-No, we are not in receipt
of general reports from the Consuls in for
eign countries relative to glass manufac-
ture and labor statistics. understand that
Mr.. Weeks is engaged upon a work on
the subject of industries generally. Have
not seen il.
Mr.. Brockunier in concluding his re-
marks, alluded to the fact that French
glass manufacturer had had made up a
special schedule of rates to govern his salss
in America. ~ -
A member-"Do you know thatf'
"Well, sir, q very reputable Boton inn
porter in whom have the utmost conf
dence, gave me the information"
Col Boteler-"Did not your firm take the
highest hunors at the Centennial Exhibl-
ton in this country
"Well, can't say hat it did. We and
the Central works of this city, received high
honors. At the Paris Exposition in 1867 an
American firm took the highest honors
against all corners for excellence Of manu-
facture of certain articles.
OPAL WARE, cHrMNEys, ETC.
Mr. James Gillinder, of Philade. phia, ap-
peared before the Commission and read the
following paper:
STUDENT AND OTHER CHIMSEYs.
Porcelain Shades, Globes, &C., Admitted
Under Present Tariff as Porcelain and
Bohemian Glass, and Paying q Duty
of 10 Per Cent Advalorem.
Under this duty it is impossible for our
manufacturers to make these goods 50 as TO
sell them at as low price as the imported
goods are sold at under the existing tariff
The cost Of making is very near ali in che
labor, and at the present low price of la
Dor in Germany and BELGIUM, where most
OF these goods are made, it is possible for
fhe manpfacturers of those countries In
pay inland carriage, ocean freight and cost
OF package and sell them, including duty.
at price equal to the cost of labor aIon
in this country. The actual price paid for
blowing chimneys is Is cents per dozen,