Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-18
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faTr5aee -B1iIders5 Associations


 The Proceedings of the ConventAon -n,scus.ton In Regard to Appren- xycaahtp-ElectAOn Of OmceFs - For. .vr~v Preservation DIscussed-NIemor1- nIa to CoEsuIs-The Tariff Quesfion- Other Matters of Interest. s5 . Ss sss=lli
 The Carriage Builders convention was called to order yesterday morning ct 10:45 o'clock in Carlls Opera House by the presi- dent and heregular business of the conyen- ton proceeded. President McLear took the chair and after rehearsing the history of the association and touching on the appropriate ness of holding the convention second time in New Haven, (which is acknowledged to be the center of American carriage industry, he called the meeting to order and said the convention was now ready for the transac- tion of business. szassssssrs asapssszs
 Reading of reports was next in order. The secretary and treasurer's report by Frank Fl. Hooker, of this city, showed that there was in the treasury October 10, 1882, $l,6o9.s6. Honorary members paid in dues $500, and active members $275. The receipts from yearly dues were $2, 3so and other sources S1o7. 50, making total of $4, 972,3 There was paid out, according to the report of the executive committee, $3, S89 52, leaving a balance of $1, ,O82 84 as cash in hand.
 The executive committee, through R. M. Silver, chairman, reported that about 57 act i've and 50 honorary members have 1oIned the association since the last report of thls committee, making the total membership at l this time upward of 600. The general quiet that has prevailed throughout the bus1ness l world has had it's influence upon the carriage | trade but it has been less d1sastrous tnan | with many other manufacturing industries. l Therecord of failures shows but one to about every 200 houses engaged Tn the Dusi, ness-a percentage much below the genera average, even in the most prosperous times
 The foreign trade in carriages and wagoni l shows c marked increase. At the close oi the fiscal year July l, 1883, the exports oi carriages for the year from the port of New York were valued at $370. 160 and carriage goods to the value of $534, ,606, total O | S904, 766. The exports from other ports ad vanced the total to upward of $1,OOO, 900 1 The importance of this trade is fur ther shown by the fact that finished f carriages and parts thereof had beer shipped to upward of fifty ports of entry l Of the countries, Australia received the larg | est shipment, British Africa and West lndie ] next in the order named, and it is gratltylni l to know that the value of carriages and ma terials shipped to Great Britain alone va | nearly two-thirds the value of the total lm 1 ports from all countries in our line duriDi the year.
 The committee on apprenticeship, consist | ing of William D. Rodgers of Philadelphia Chauncey Thomas of Boston and John w ! Button of New York, made an elaborate re port. In response to the numerous circular they had sent out asking for informa tion, only twelve replies were re l ceiyed, one of these being from thi city The committee in their report say
 'sThe manufacturer of low grades, wh l largely employs machinery in doing worl which his neighbor does by skilled han. 1 labor, believes in many instances that hl wants may be supplied without the aid the apprentice system. This position naturally affects his neighbor, who canno | understand why he should train up workmel | for the benefit of those who ignore appren ticea, and he ceases to care for the future o l the trade lest someone should reap advan tases to which he is entitled. This may seer a short sighted view to take of the case, but is one that is threatening more and nor l to seriously interfere with the trade 9 | large. It can only be corrected by pubh opinion which the constant agitation of tn l subject by your committee may help to ere ate. The builder of medium and high grade 1 of carriages must be aware that this 1ndlfeI ! ence as to where the skilled labor of the fu l ture is to come from is lowering the statu | and importance of the trade. We learn ths in many States the old statutes governing th relations between master and apprentice stl remain, but that they have become, in tn majority of States, obsolete.
 The report was discussed at considerabl length and finally it was voted on motion ( MT. Fierstone, of Ohio, that the committee continued and draft plan for apprentice ship.
 | Secretary Hooker read the invitations ( the T. M 0. A; the Quinnipiac club, N. I Sperry, president; the Mercantile clul Charles Kimberly, secretary; the Your Mems Institute, T. Atwater Barnes. pres dent, inviting the association to accept the hospitality. These invitations were a cepted and vote of thanks was passed.
 A committee was appointed to select of cers for the ensuing year and the conventio then adjourned for dinner.
 AFTERNOON SESSION.