The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-08
Interesting Talks with British Manu-
facturers on the Condition of Trade.
All Industries Have Been Affected to Some Ex-
tent BY the Mckinley Act, but the Makers
of Metal Goods Have Suffered Most.
Tin.Plate Men Advised 10 Sell Low So as
to Discourage lis Manufacture Here.
Some Free-Trade Arguments Knocked Ont by
Consul.General New-Americen Working
men Benefited Most by the New Tariff Law.
TRADE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
How 1t Has Been Affected by the Operations
of the Mckinley Tariff Law.

TRADE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
How 1t Has Been Affected by the Operations
of the Mckinley Tariff Law.
LONDON, Sept. 7.-Continuing the efforts
which the Associated Press made in Ger
many last month to ascertain thefeeling of
foreign manufacturers in regard to the Nc
Kinley tariff law, Investigations of simi-
lar character have been made throughout
Great Britain. While the exports to Amer
lea from certain places show a marked fall
ing oft. yet the totals for January. Febru-
airy and March, this year, the last three
months for which figures are obtainable.
show an increase over the figures of tine
same months last year. These months may
be regarded as the best ones for COMPARE
son since the bill went into effect. In 1890.
during these months, the rush to get goods
into America before the bill became q law
had not vet begun, and this year the same
months form q period when the rush, with
the exception of tln-plate. was over. and
when business may be supposed to have
been in q more normal condition than at
any time since the passage of the bill.
The total value of declared exports for
the iirst quarter of 1891 from the consular
district of Great Britain and Ireland
amounted to over SiG000O00. against S45,-
SIS ia during the same quarter of last year.
Among the cities embraced in this district
are Belfast, Birmingham. Bradford. Bris-
toll, Cardiff. Cork. Dublin, Dundee. Dun
fermline, Glasgow, Hudderstield, Hull.
Leeds. Leith, Liverpool, London, Manches-
ter. Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth.
Sheffield. Southampton and Tunstall. Lon.
don, where articles OF every conceivable
description are declared, leads the list with
a record of So, $50, 600. which is nearly
S2,000.000 less than in January. February
and March, 1890.
Interviews with several leading manu-
facturers and exporters show that the
metal trade Is the one principally affected
in the Liverpool district, and the tin-plate
trade particularly. There is complete stag
nation III this industry at present. Ameri-
can buyers. to anticipate the working of
the new tariff as far as practicable. i'm
ported during the six months prior 10 July
/, when the new rate went into effect, more
than enough tin-plate to supply years
demand. The big manufacturers here are
all hopeful that there will be q change in
the law after the next presidential elec-
ton. One of the leading tin-plate men
said we were making tiDplat in fact. but
questioned our being able to make 1t profit
able.
- OEe of the largest Liverpool exporters.
who has recently been in America to Judge
for himself. expresses his opinion in this
wise: The increased duty has caused
stagnation in the tln-plate trade. but as
we had sufficient force in sight to get
twelve months stock landed before July l,
can afford TO wait this year, and do
little or nothing else."
TRYING TO DISCOURAGE AMERICANS.
TRADE is now at stand-still with the
South Wales works. he continued, land
the Liverpool exporters are doing nothing
except in tin-plate for oil-cans. etc. The
duty does not affect this branch of the
trade except on the right side. IL the Nc
Kinley bill is sustained after the coming
election, the English trade must be I'M
paired, but for the present the safe and
only policy to be pursued by both masters
and men is 10 keep the prices as low as pos
slble in order to discourage manufacturers
in America As TO the cost ] cannot say,
although we are very anxious TO know
what they find the cost of production to be-"
The representatives of other largo export
ing firms expressed similars views. One OF
them added: I'VE need not he afraid of
being permanently affected. The new tar
lit was introduced by Mckinley with the
object OF creating and stimulating an in
dustry they do not possess to any great ex-
tent. His idea was that by making the
duty what IL is now he would enable
American manufacturers to establish works
which could protitably produce tln-plates
and so gradually drive the British importer
out of the market But it has been ascer-
tanned by deputatiOn who went out there
to inquire that they cannot possibly do
this unless they put on such prices for their
manufacture as would DO burdensome to
their customers"
Welsh makers interviewed at Cardiff ad-
init that the time must come when Amer
leans Will make their own plates, but they
declare that they fear no Immediate at
tempt. Prices at Cardiff have greatly de-
creased, and are now barely remunerative,
but the demand Is the same as ever, all the
works being In full operation. Ii is also
claimed that the demand from America is
Just as constant as before the introduction
of the tariff. Therefore the Welshmen say
that. SO far the Mckinley act has not
affected the tin-plate trade, though it's IN
direct effect has been to cause prices to de-
crease. Prices, however. are not much
lower than prevailed before the tariff was
heard of, and the Welshmen think that,
should the time come when Americans
make their own tin-plates. the Welsh man.
ufacturers are confident of their ability to
hold their own against them, no matter
how high protective tariff they may i'm
pose.
Among the iron manufacturers at Glas-
gov William jacks n Co. and Ii. l.. Selig
man were interviewed. They said the iron
manufacturers of Scotland are at present
" LOuuOu anu
not export much iron, but the principal
cause of the limited expectation lies in the
very large increase in the manufacture of
pig-lron In Amerlca-a manufacture which
last year surpassed the production of Great
Britain. great deal of steel scrap for re-
melting went 10 America but they say the
Mckinley tariff has killed this trade. No
other kind of steel has been exported from
Glasgow 10 the States for years.
VIEWS OF TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS.
Among the textile manufacturers. Tenn
pleton IL Co., Cleland, Campbell a. Co.,
Rule 81 Greenless. John Knox, Higgins Il
Il. Pritchard and Rutherford Bros. were
seen. There was a unanimity of opinion
among them that it is too soon vet to con-
clude what shall be the full effect of the
tariff upon wooden goods. So far as the
trade has gone. they say, the tariff looks as
If 1t were quite prohibitive. Certainly the
trade In the lower qualities will cease
Hlgh-class WOODEN goods W ill always be eN-
ported, as well-to-do Americans Will insist
on having them. A great trade was done
in Oxford and zephyr sbrtings This
trade with America began seven years ago.
but the Americans during that period have
learned TO manufacture them and the in
creased tariff has therefore hit the Glasgow
manufacturers IN these goods very heavily.
They will. therefore. have to find out
novelties in order to induce exports
America used 10 import yarns to make
these shirtinRs, but the tariff has also
killed this trade between Glasgow and
America. In cotton handkerchieis of the
lower quality. the tariff will iniure the