Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-09
MAKING KNIT FABRICS.
AN INDUSTRY BUILT UP BY THE
M'KiNLGY GILL.

MkiNlcY Blll.
It's Condition Year Ago-The Change
That Has Already Taken Place Under
valuations No Longer Exist-How the
Poor Man Is Benefited.
Free-trade and Free-trade Journals are
persistent in their utterances that the
Mckinley tariff will destroy American
textile industries. If they can furnish
no better evidence than that furnished
by the knit underwear mills, then let US
hear no mere about the disastrous effects
of measure the benefcent effects OF
which are SO clearly apparent. Contrast
the present condition of the knit goods
interest with that Of year ago. The
ensctlnent of the Mckinley tariff was
then in sight, vet its influence upon the
future of tbs industry WAS already visl-
ble. Manufacturers saw that the adj
illustrative act would correct many of
the worst abuses from which they had
suffered so long, and that with the tariff
bill passed. immediate relief from under
valuations would follow. a year ago not
more than 60 per cent. os the present Gu
pacity for turning oct underwear was in
operation. At Cohcea, Amsterdam, Lit
tie Falls, Hudson City. and at various
other PAGES in this and other states.
much machinery had been idle for three
or more years, especially those mills that
were equipped to make ribbed cotton
underwear. This was due solely TO the
competition Of great quantities Of inn
ported goods that were undervalued.
And from the sane cause the knitters of
fancy cotton hosiery in Philadelphia be-
came insolvent.
With the Mckinley tariff in operation
the first reappraisemeuts by the board Of
appraisers demonstrated that the ilnpor-
tations of knit fabrics Of every descrip-
ton would be decreased, for though inn
porters had advanced their foreign cost
the increase was not enough. 1t is I'M
necessary to go into details as it is suffi-
Gent to know that through the operation
of the Mckinley tariff an unparalleled
degree of activity has been infused into
the knit goods industry.
The cry of the Free-traders has been
and is that the poor mans wages have
been decreased and the cost of his
clothing has been increa sed. What are
she facts? The poor mans cotton shirts
and drawers, not costing in excess of
one dollar and fifty cents per dozen. pay
50 per cent. ad valorem, the same as be-
fore the Mckinley bill OH the solicit
tude for the poor man and how it has
been used to put eagles in the pockets of
these importers that have expressed so
much sympathy for the wage earnerl
No one doubts. and in fact it has been
demonstrated by the operations Of the
Mckinley tariff. that former importa-
tons were invoiced and classified as
costing poor mems prices. the duties paid
proportionately, but out of the customs,
such goods were invariably sold at rich
mems profits, though at less prices than
similar goods made in this country were
sold at That's how the interests of the
poor man have been protected by inn
porters.
Under the old tariff wool and merino
underwear paid ten cents, twelve cents,
eighteen cents twenty. four eents and
thirty-fve cents per pound, and IS and
10 per cent. al valorem, ana so general
we're the undervaluations tb,t il il not
strainino the trntb IN ,n,ka rho vtata-
ment that not moro than if as much ne
80 ner cent of the duties vere collected
that sucb innovations should have naiJ
This method of do;n, bnsinas. u,.s bo.
canse of the sol;citnde for tba noor man
With the merchandise released from the
customs denartment for snelliny ..,,oor
mems goods" the yol,tnnlx ortboyranhv
was emnloved and II invariablv pro.
dnced ..imnorters' Interest ana tha
goods were sold at rich mems nrof;ts
The Mckinley thrift and tine ad,niuis-
trative net have rectified tbes.. undar-
valuations: vet if there has been anv
difference in nrices FIR American goods
thpv ara nor recognizable Inv consr,nero
if ut the prices now current better goods
are not now obtainable than ever before
This feature is due to the oneration Of
the Mckinley thrift and the increased
production that that measure has etin,n.
lated
Tn, dailv and weekly renorta of the
innroved trade in underwear and hosiery
are the hest evidence Of the beneficial in.
gneuce of the Mckinley tariff on this in.
dustry. Besides the records of the mills
that were rnnning fnlI ana have heen
IF tho ,nocbina,.v ,nd ,ra no,,, r,,n,,in,,