The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-09-15

This table shows decline in prices in all
cases varying from 2S cents per yard 20 II. z
cents per yard.
THE senator then pointed out that cot
ton velvets and corduroys had sold very
high previous to 1879, that Americans
then attempted to manufacture them,
when foreign manufacturers at once re-
duced the price so low as to drive the
Americans out of the market, and that,
though the prices have since been raised
and are a little higher than when the Nc
Kinley bill passed, they are not yet so high
as in 1857. He presented the proofs and
continued]:
Bearing upon the question as to whether
an increase has taken place in the price of
table cutlery, will state, upon the au-
thoSity of Charles S. Landers, of Landers,
Frary & Clarke, of New Britain, Conn.,,
large table cutlery manufacturers, that
the prices on the entire line of goods manu-
featured by them are at least ~ per cent
lower now than they were in October,
1890, and that no advance has taken place
since that time. will print Mr.. Landers'
letter in The Record.
In regard to the price of pocket cutlery
have received letter from Mr.. w. +.
Rockwell, of Miller Brothers Cutlery
company which contains the following
st.tement:
AS to prices on American pocket cut
lery, many patterns have not been adj
vanced at all. Several styles that have
been sold below actual cost have been ad-
vanced SO they now pay small profit.
1.-THE average advances do not exceed 10
per cent. to the jobbing trade. The mar
gin of profit between the jobber and con-
sumner was sufficient, so there was no rea-
son or necessity of advancing the price to
the consumer, and it has not been done.
1.-The wages of pocket cutlery workers
have been advanced from 5per cent to 2s
per cent. in the different operations. One
Of the oldest foremen in the country esti-
mates that the advances which have beef
made in wages, together with the more
steady work given the men, will furnish
them at least an average of 20 per cent.
more annual income.
"Many of the factories have more than
doubled their capacity in buildings and
machinery, and all of them show increased
production. The gain in output of course
reduces incidental expenses.
1.-The fact that the value of the pocket
cutlery imported last year, with the duty
added, so closely approximates the amount
made here shows the conditions Of compe-
tition pretty accurately adjusted"
1.-THE senator here analysed the oft quoted
Statistics of Mr.. j. Schoenhof and others in
regard to the greater efficiency and conse-
quently greater cheapness Of American
labor, showed their glaring fallacies, dem
cnstrated that wages in many lines are u
per cent. higher in America than in Eng
land and continually:
The rule that should apply in fixing the
rates of protective duties is that they
should in all cases equal the difference be-
tween the cost of production and distribu-
ton, under normal conditions, of the arti-
Gle in question in our own and in that
competing country where the cost of pro-
duction is lowest. This was the rule which
was followed in the preparation of the act
of 1890
Protective duties levied in this manner
have but one purpose and can have but one
etfect-that is, to protect America labor
and to maintain the existing high level OF
wages and earnings of American workmen.
When such duties are removed or reduced
, below the protective point labor receives
the full force of the blow.
This rule for fixing rates should only ap-
ply, however, to articles in the production
Of which the United States has equal nat
,lral advantages with other countries. AS
a p-otectionist / believe that the United
States cannot afford. having in view the