Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-14
THE MILLS BILL AND GLASS.
A Flint Glass Worker Gives the High Tariff
Men a Sockdolsgsr.

A Flint Glass Worker Gives the High Tariff
Men a Sockdolsgsr.
PTTTsBURG, June 13.-If the high tariff
party lie expecting any aid from the work
ers in glass it is time they were doing con-
siderable missionary work among them.
It is apparent that the party is going to
have some difficulty in convincing these
men of brain and Drawn that it is to their
interest to pour bouuties into the treas
uries of the trusts and pay heavy tribute
on the absolute necessities of life at the
same time.
John 7. Cahill, of this city, Secretary Of
Local Union No. 6, Of the American Flint
Glass Workers Union, is the author OF q
neat handbook entitled ''Business Guide
and Directory of the Glass Factories of the
United States and Canada" The work
is laden with statistics in the compilation
of which Mr.. Cahill became acquainted
with the glass trade. When asked
about the tariff he said: 81 believe
that the flint glass, window glass and
green bottle glass industries could all
survive if the duty on their products were
removed entirely. / believe too that re-
moval of the duties would not decrese
wages one penny. The tariff is positive
detriment to the glass workers, for while
il does not affect their wages in the least
it compels them to pay heavy tributes on
the clothes they wear and the food they
eat. The Mills bill does does not decrease
the so-called protection On any glass but /
favor it because il lessons the cost Of many
articles glass workers are compelled to
buy. Look at our industries. In the
pressed branch of the flint glass trade We
can manufacture cheaper here than any
where in the world. The same is true OF
the chimney branch. One man in the pre-
scription branch can, with American IA
cilities, turn out third more work than
o man in any other country. The general
castor work is the only branch that might
De affected by tariff and that includes but
about 40 workers in the United States
and Canada.
"If tariff regulates wages. why is it that
the flint glassworkers of England get as
high wages as our workers, and the work
ers in protected Germany and France get
about half what free trade England's
workers get. The fact Is, tariff has moth
ing to do with it. Eugland has the best
flint glass union in the world, carrying a
treasury of $3.50, 900, and that is why the
workers there get good wages. Oar people
are exporting everywhere now. In the
tableware line two-thirds Of the glass used
in the world is manufactured here. The
tubler mandatory at Rochester, Pa, is
sending its tumblers all over the globe.
Whithall, Tatam & Co., Of New Jersey,
have the largest flint glass prescription
works in the United States, and they pay
the highest wages; yet their wares go into
nearly every port where there is ademand
for them.
Here is an interesting fact. In the
last window glass lockout, which lasted
eight months, four or five years ago, the
manufacturers formed a syndicate and
ordered lot of window glass from across
the water to supply their customers. When
it came they could not afford to pay the
duty. They tried to have the government
issue rebate to them, but / guess that
glass is still lying in the custom houses.
Take another case. In 1888 there was an
increase of from / to cent per pound in
the duty on green bottle glass, and yet
almost Immediately after the increase there
came lockout of eight months to obtain
reduction of from Is to 20 per cent. in
wages.
"I have talked with flint glass manufac-
turers, and they invariably care nothing
for the tariff unless it be to get free ma.
terials, such as are used for coloriDg and
hux. They say they can manufacture
here cheaper than anywhere in the world,
and if they could get the free raw mate
rails they could manufacture still more
cheaply. Such being the fact, see what a
grand opportunity for the development OF
trusts and monopolies is presented by the
high tariff. The average duty on flint
glass articles is As per cent. and win
dow glass SO per cent. Some looking
glass runs to sc cents per square foot, and
on some the dnty exceeds the intrinsic
value of the glass. The duty on green
bottle glass runs from one to three cents
per pound. You sse there is abundant
margin. Another thing is that those who
claim tariff regulates the glassworkers'
wages, have never satisfactorily explained
the difference in wages paid in the East
and West. The difference is so great that
manufacturers and workmen of the West
concede to the East 10 per cent. less wages
in all their calculations. No, sir the Mills