The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-30
KILLED BY THE TARIFF.
THE MCKINLEY BILL DESTROYING OR.
ANGE HAT INDUSTRIES.
Where Business Once Was Large 4. !. Vow
Rapidly Falling Away--whiIe Foreign
Hat Industries Are in a Proportionately
Rapid Increase.

Rapid Increase.
A special from Orange, N. j., says: In
the Oranges and vicinity there ar. over
thirty hat factories, and large proper
ton OF the mechanics OF this CITY and
surrounding townships depends entirely
for livelihood upon the different
branches OF the manufacture OF soft fun
hats.
For years this business has been recog-
nized as the backbone of Oranges pros
/ perity, and the large number OF neat and
comforta Bile homes of the mechanics, and
the thriving condition OF all trades in
the city in the past have been directly
due to the prosperity of this one indus
4 try.
Since the introduction OF higher tariff
under the Mckinley act, however, this
has all been changed and the thirty fac
tories or more in this district have not,
for nearly two years, had enough work to
keep in employment one-fifth OF the
30, 900 men and women who have depend
ed upon the hat shops for their liveli-
hood.
The present season especially is the
/ dullest which has ever been known in
the hat industry, and this despite tho
agricultural prosperity.
/ 1t is to the farmers that the majority
OF the hats made in Oregon are shipped,
or were shipped, in former years. This
year the factory drummers report that
the Western farmers are wearing import
ed hats.
Under the working OF the Mckinley
law the foreign hat manufacturers trade
Is increasing, and, the homs industry,
taxed exor bitantiy on the raw materials
imported fer hat manufacture, is decrsas-
Ing and dying out. Men who formerly
were able to earn excellent wages at diff
ferent branches OF hatmaking have in
many instances been obliged to engage
in other pursuits to make a living Tor
their families.
The reports of the Orange Hat Finish
ers' Association show that from May to
November, 1891, $50 men in this one
branch Of the industry left the business
because of the difficulty of finding en-
ployment at their trade.
Many OF the proprietors of the largest
factories in the Orange district are Demo-
Gratis, as are Il majority OF the hands, and
they are loud in their denunciation of
the tariff bill and an adm n stration
which has so nearly killed their business.
Under the existence OF the present tariff
laws American matters have gone abroad
with American machinery and introduced
II together with American methods of
making hats, and the product is handled
by the American jobber at lower rate
than the raw material and labor can be
procured for in this country.
The Mckinley act made the duty on
manufactured hats IS per cent, and on
the component articles used in their
manufacture the duties are: On furs for
matters use, 20 per cent, and on silk and
satin Innings, sweatbands, silk trim
mings, etc, the duty ranges from 80 to 50
per cent.
The foreign manufacturer pays but So
per cent on h manufactured hats in
bringing them TO America ready to place
On the market, whereas the American
manufacturer now pays 50 per cent on his
MATERIAL, and must, after paying this
duty on a necessarily importei article.
paw ! he cost OF labor entailed in manu-
tactare in mis- factory.
the duty on sweat feathers, cut fur
and trimmings was increased by the Nc
Kinley bill with the intention o. es;ab-
fishing factories for the manufacture of
these goods in this country. Two or
three such factor .es have been esta bills ned
out their products are inferior, ana have
only succeeded in rectifying to an ms g
lificant degree the cisaGvan;a yes uun r
which the American halter has been
placed.
Perhaps in no part OF the country have
The direct results OF this law, which pro-
aibits the American workingman from
,ntering into successful com 1ctltioa
With the foreign manufacturer, been felt
acutely as in Orange.
Out of about three thousand mec han'cs
here are barely thousand who nav
employment, and there is no prospect OF
nything better in store for them IN the
hear future. In few nat shops owned
~ Republicans cheap grade of hat is
being turned out in quantities of about
,ne-third the capacity of the factory
when on full time.
The wages have been so reduced during
he last year that with some the question
d how to live is only solved from day to
lay. In localities where two years ago
he houses were occupied by a thrifty
:lass OF mechanics ITO let" signs now
stare one in the face in all directions.