New-York tribune., 1884-02-20
HORIZONTAL REDUCTION.
HOW PoTTERs AND GLAssMAKERs SEE 1T.

TON.
WASHINGTON. Feb. I9.-The Ways and Means
Committee sat five hours to-day, and the importers
of window glass well as the manufacturers OF
glass aud pottery were heard. Inc
session was unusually interesting one
There were several Interpretations of the testimony
by one OF two members of the committee, which
had to be corrected, and it seemed apparent that
attempts were making to put into the mouths of
the manufacturers contradictory statements. The
efforts may have resulted from inattention to, or
misapprehension of what was actually said.
Messrs. Willets and Moses of Trenton, N. J In
behalf of the pottery industry, gave weiShty rea-
sons and presented incOntrovertible facts and hg-
ures to show that the proposed reductions OF duty
will make it impossible for American pottery
manufacturers to continue i'll business without re-
ducing the wages of their hands 20 per cent; that
such a reduction of wages would cause great dis
tress even if it could be effected; that the proba-
BILE effect of the bill would be to give foreign man
ufacturers control of the American market and en-
able them to compel American consumers to pay
such prices as they may demand. AS Mr. Moses
put it: 1T will depend on this committee
whether Americans Englshmen shall control
the American market 1t was shown
that while the Staffordshire manufacturers
took advantage of the loophole IN the
new law Afforded by the Treasury decision respect
ing the operation OF SecVlon VI" ."N
American market all the goods they could make by
increasing their capacity and working night and
day from March to July, American consumers were
not benefited thereby" Mr.. Moses said that the
wages paid in the Trenton potteries are about 125
per cent higher thau the wages paid in the Eng
lish potteries of Staferdshre. He added: "One
member of the majority of this COMMITTEE
admits that the duties ought to be so
adjusted as to compensate the American industry
for the difference in wages between the two coun-
tries, and that is all we ask" II was shown that
the prices paid by American consumers are
lower now than at any previous period. Mr..
Willets submitted an itemized statement showing
that taking everything into account, the increase
of duties on pottery and earthenware by the last
tariff instead of being IS per cent, is actually
fraction less than per cent.
THE REDUCTION ON WINDOW GLASS.
Theodore w. Morris, of New-YOrk, an
importer of window glass, advocated
the Morrison bill in strong language. He declared
with some fippancy that the scale of wages IN the
United States is absurd" and that labor is too
well rewarded-all because of special legislation"
for the benefit of American manufacturers. These
assertions aroused Judge Kelley, and he took Mr..
Morris in hand at once. He drew graphic picture
of the condition of the laborng people of England
and Belgium, and asked the importer If he thought
the wages they received would be far basis for the
wages of American laboring men. Mr.. Morris re-
called the word absurd" but still insisted that
wages are too high and that the effect of reduc-
tion of duties would be 10 lower all wages. He
thought, however that a reduction of the duties
on glass would not make necessary cut in wages.
Importations would increase, but he did not think
prices would be lower.
Under the close questioning of Judge Kelley and |
Messrs Mckinley and Russell, Mr. Morris cut |
rather sorry figure, mainly because |
his theories and generalizatons did not to be
supported BY definite knowledge Mr.. Morris ex- |
nressed the opinion that the " lock k-out" of the
glass workers was caused by the determination OF
the manufacturers to compel the workmen to accept
reduced wages and he said that during the lockout
they had gone abroad for glass to fill their contracts
lie said that the workers had the active sympathy |
Of the 4b ne d mot NoT to s aid the
workers in holding out against their
employers. He had not r done on,S0 Soi M MTi
the committee with statistics from the census,
declared that he is in favor of free trade in glass,
and complained that American manufacturers
undersell the importers.
WAGES WILL BE REDUCED IN GLASS FACTORIES.
Edward l.. Day, of Kent Ohio, spoke for the man
ufacturers of window glass. He declared that any
reduction of duties would diminish home produc-
ton and reduce wages in every American glass
factory. He opposed it because he did not
want 10 see American girls graduated from
the high school of the cinder heap"
The cost of glass TO consumers mas
ed in the last ten years in 1873 the average price
was g. 10 cents and in 1888 IL was lilo cents
lie presented figures showing the average OF wages
the glass industry of the United States Is twice
as high as In Europe. -
Mr.. Hewitt tried 10 get from Mr.. Day an expla-
nation of the reason why glass makers require an
average protection of about 20 per cent, when the
iron masters can get along with 40 per cent,
the price of pound of iron being
about the same as the price of a
pound of glass Mr. Day thought the difference
might be due to the fact that the relative proper
tiOns of highly skilled and highly paid labor is
greater in the former than in the latter case Ihls
Gld not satisfy Mr.. Hewitt, but he remarked that
he would vote for no bill which would reduce the
wages of workingmen, except, perhaps, in some ex-
ceptlonal cases, -
j. NJ Leepe, of st. Louis, spoke in behalf of the
plate-glass industry and gave an account OF
It's establishment and growth in the United States.
Since then the average cost to consumers mas been
reduced 81 80 per foot to less than 81 foot.
Despite the efforts of foreign manufacturers and
importers to strange il, the industry has managed
10 maintain itself but it wOud not be strong enough
10 withstand the effects of the proposed bill. He
some curiosity to know whether any American con-
sumner had demanded reduction. He gave what
appeared 10 be fairly satisfactory reasons why the
duty on large sizes of plate-gass should be higher
relatively than the duty on small sizes.
Thomas g. Shearnan was anxious to make some
remarks as g buyer of glass; The majority OF the
committee, however, seemed TO think it best that
the representatives of the various industries should
first be heard, and MIR. Shearnan, who had squared
hn9seh for speech, sat down, with the emphatic
marx Il am not fool"
The wool-growers will be heard tomorrow
KEOGH NOT TO BE A MARSHAL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUSpI
WASHINGTON Feb. 19.-The Senate Judiciary