The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-06-28
FOR THE BENEFIT OF FOREIGNERS.
$50" The Tarifr Really Works
Against the Interests of the
United states.
From the New York TImes

i
haWley's paper, the Hartford Couran
very little has been said about m
Mckinley tariff bill. The news column
OF the Coursnt, however, on Thursds
ias'' contained the following, which
not whoiy iorelgn to the subject {
tariff legislation:
"The Hartford carpet company
which employs about 800 hands at il
Ihompsonville mills, has issued notice
OF O reduction of 10 per cent. in wage,
Mr. George Roberts, secretary of In
company, said to a Courant represents
tive last night:
1.-The market has been gIutted TO
some time. the glut having been cause,
Dy an oVerprOduction. Our dividend
nave been steadily decreasing, and WI
iouhd That we were making little or ne
money for our stock holders. The sit
uation was such that we were compel
ed TO DO one OF three things-shut dow
entirely, run on shortened time. or re.
duce expenses. We felt that the flares
course 10 pursue was to make the re-
ouctlon: IL was 10 per cent cut, bu
III reaity II did not amount TO that
because at the same time we reduced
wages we Increased the hours of work
AS most of the employees are time
workers or piece workers, they arc
enabled to earn more daily If the hours
per day are increased"
This action was foresbadowed al
the annual meeting OF the compapy
when the directors declared but ? ne,
cent. for the half year, where In old
times they paid 10 to IL per cent. ever,
six months"
Ii the American manufacturers OF
carpets could sell their goods in foreign
countries they would not complain OF
over production and q "glulted" mar.
ket. But the absurd tariff duty on the
coarse and cheap woods used by them
substantially all of which they must
import-confines them to the home
market and forbids the sale OF theiI
carpets elsewhere. In 1873 tbey ex.
ported only $5,513 worth of goods and
IN the last fiscal year the value OF
american carpets sold abroad as only
$4 1897.
The president of this Hartford car
pet company, an organization that uses
1000, 900 pounds of wool In a wear. il
Mr.. John l.. Houston, q republican and
protectionist, who said, in December,
1881, III an Interview that was widely
published:
"The tariff on carpet woods is a tariff
simply for revenue and not at all for
protection. We can not buy carpet
WOODS I'D this country at any price only
In very limited amounts. Over 95 per
cent OF the raw material used by the
Hartford carpet company is imported. =.
We have to go to South America, Rus.
sia, Egypt, SYRIA and the east generally
for our woods. They are not grown
here at all save only In some of the ter
rltories OF the west, and there not to
any extent worth mentioning. Since
we cannot get this wool In the United
States L see no harm to anybody in
removing the duties on this class of
woods, for the government does moi
need the revenue. They protect no one
and they do of course, handicap the
carpet manufacturers in competing
with foreign products. The removal
OF these duties would widen our mar.
kets and without doubt tend 10 increase
our exports of all kinds.
cat present the carpet market In this
country is glutted. Over production
has compelled us to shorten working
time to five days a week.
That interview was brought out by
President Cleveland's message on the
tariff. We are not fully informed as to
Mr.. Houston's course since that time,
but we presume that he was one of the
carpet manufacturers who contributed
considerable sum of money TO be used
In the blocks Of five campaign for the
election of Mr.. Harrison and in behalf
of party that had declared its inten.
ton to raise the duties on his raw
material and thus still further to harass
the industry In which he was engaged,
The Hartford Times now says:
president Houston has realized the
dangers of the situation. He has been
active at Washington this winter urging
the lowering OF duties to figures which
shall allow the great carpet manufac.
tories of this country to live and to pay
their employees living wages. In price
the stock of his great company has
been.reduced from $500 to $97 share.
He has warned his party friends
against their oppressive policy. But
his warnings have not been needed.
Like some other carpet makers, Mr..
Houston has for some years been beg.
ging for justice and sensible legislation,
and when his appeals and arguments
have had no effect he has meekly sub.
mitted and has continued to work aud
spend his money in support of the very
policy that is diametrIcally opposed to
his interests, the interests Of his en-
ployes, and the welfare of the great
industry with which he is connected.
Ii the Hartford company's dividends
steadily decrease, and If the wages of
ts employees must be cut down, under
The operations OF the present tariff what
would be the effect on this industry OF
.he new tariff law proposed by Mr..
and Mr.. Dingley and their
assistants, law by which the duties
On carpet wool would be increased at
east 40 per cent. for one grade and 60
per cent, for the other, to say nothing
Of certain obscure provisions that must
enlarge even this taxi Would such an
increase OF duties enable Mr.. Houston
10 cell carpets abroad2 II he can cell
none abroad now, on account OF the
present duty, how many yards could he
sell in South America or elsewhere If
me duty should be greater by 40 or 60
per cent?
The duty on carpet wool is tax i'm.
posed on American manufacturers and
consumers for the benefit and
protection OF foreign manufacturers OF
carpets. The English carpet makers
,an ask for no legislation In this coun-
.ry more favorable to their interests
han that which is proposed in the Nc
hinley bill with respect TO woods of the
bird class. They could afford TO pay
for the passage OF such q
)ill-s measure that oppresses the car
,et maker here by raising the duty Oh
v ools, that, as the American protective
ariff league admits, "could never be
Produced in this country except at
Ost for protection which would re-