New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-06
THE WELSHMEN GLOOMY.
POOR OUTLOOK FOR THEIR TIN PIATE IN.
DCSTRY
LIKE TO HELP THEM OFT
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TnIRrNRi

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBuNRa
Washington May 3.-The proposition Of the Free
Traders In Congress TO repeal the duty on tin plate and
restore the American market 10 foreigners will carry
Joy to the Welsh manufacturers. According 70 letter
recently received the State Department from Consul
Howard, Of Cardiff, the British tn-plae industry is In
u most depl0rable condition, and the outlook for the
future Is gloomy In the extreme. Consul Howard in
closed a copy of letter addressed by J. H. Rogers,
who is large manufacturer and also chairman Of the
Welsh TfuPate Makers Association 10 the general
secretary of the TnPlate Workers Union of LaneIly.
Some extracts from this letter will be OF great interest
Among other things. Mr.. Rogers writes:
/ write not as chairman Of the association but as one
who wishes to minimize far as possible the distress
and pryaon which fear come to those employed
In the finishing departments OF the tlnplae trade owing
to the determination OF the manufacturers
of various countries that they will be dependent
upon this country for their supply OF tin plates.
will into details at the present but
simply point ont how the pigron steel-rai machinery
other trades have left this country SO far supplying
the requirements OF those countries which consume
Of tin plates and there is no reason why tin
plates should not follow the natural law. AS far
the men employed in the mills concerned feel no
anxiety II black plates other countries to be
coated. think they will be largely in the future
mill men will have to make them. and do not believe
that machinery be constructed to reduce their
labor; an1 II plates largely IN America it viii I've
great hardship Tor them TO there. In the hnsh
ing apartments fear, the cesc far different Where
or how the tnmen and washmen % obtain work Is
matter Of grave anxiety TO me- no having knowl
edge Of machinery and OF the timing Of black plates and
the ingenuity Of American seriously doubt
that shortly the work will be done automatically without
either tlmcn washmcn We shall have edopt such
machinery and all the economical or we
shall not even be able to hold own IN such markets
India. Australia and China II appears to me that
best chance Of retailing neutral markets is for men
md
manufacture OF tin plates in every way they II Is
unpleasant for us to have to eypend money on new
machinery and it is equally distressing more So for
nel to find their means OF earning comfortable livelihood
leaving them
Consul Howard also transmitted copy Of an inter
view with MIR. Rogers published In Cardiff news
paper. in which he said I'm reply 10 questions:
What do you think would be the best course TO adopt
under the circumstances
Ny opinion that the best plan for oil concerned both
the employers and the workmcn, would be 70 look the
straight in the face; but admit that the coating
process will inevitably leave this country TO large en-
tent We must, however le very thankful that there is
every prospect that for long while to come we shall have
the making Of the st"el and the blnck plate.
Do the Americans manufacture black plate to any large
extent now?
They make little black plate but think it Will be
very long before the mnufactu Of black plate Will
to any large extent be transferred to America.
II has been said Mr.. Rogers that the tnplate Industry
would be firmly established IN N" United states few
years hence the iron and steel industry
That is and IL is very long ago that remember
Mr.. Mcnclaus. u the Dowlas Iron Works. saying tia,
America would never make iron steel sufficient
her requirements. Thot th- general opinion At the
among the and steel makers but to-day we see
Americans making practically the whole That they re-
quire.
DO you think that the Mckinney tarn Will eventually be
repealcdl
don't think that there's the smallest chance OF the duty
being taken Of plates even the Democratic or Free
Trade party have view it, imposition with con-
siderable amount The best thing that 30
to Try TO keep the manufacturing Of black plate for
long period aud during that time TO encourage
markets for tin plates that when the Americans
viii be able make their black plate ~ well a,
coating it, our mills Will be independent Of
them.