The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-30
AoAsE IN POINT.

A Furniture Manufacturer Gives OoneAu'
siys Reasons Why His Firm VIII Not Ask
to Have n Duty removed.
The following was written to the
American Cabinet Maker and UphOlsienT
in reply to a request to the furniture
trade to sign a petition to Congress
asking the removal Of the duty on Ger
man looking.glass plates. The writer
will be readily recognized by Wheeling
readers Of the INTsIIIeENcER:
Your circular and petition to Con-
gress relating to placing German LOOK
ing-glass plates upon the free hst mas
been received. Since you ask an ex-
preston of our views on this question,
We must say that while as genera
thing your course upon questions al
fecting the interests OF the furniture
trade meets our hearty approval, YET
upon this question, in our humble opln'
ion, you are wrong.
First, because we consider the polcy
of protection the correct and proper
Second, because this particular de-
mand appears to be part Of q well de-
fined plan to attack the policy OF pro,
lection in detail and to weaken ana
overthrow 1t.
Third, because we believe in reci-
procity, which we understand to mean
the making OF no concession or reduc-
ton in the present rate OF duty on any
article now subject to duty without
there being some corresponding CON
cession on the part OF the country IRON
which such article Is exported, and we
do not think it wise to take the duty on
German looking glass plates without
any regard to the possibility OF getting
some concession from Germany IN re-
turn.
Fourth, because experience has shown
that the foreign manufacturers are al
ready to put their prices to the very
highest point to which they can hope
to control the trade, and the same
holds true OF the jobbers on this side Of
the ocean. and we do not believe that II
German looking-glass plates were plac-
ed on the free list that the cost to Us
would be reduced by the amount Of
the duty now collected; but even II 1t
should turn out that We were mistaken
in this regard, our goods would be SOLD
for Just so much less.
The present duty on 24x30 German
looking-glass plate is so cents. For the
sake OF argument, we will suppose that
it is possible that we would be able to
buy a 24x3O plate at so cents less than
at present If the duty were taken OF,
and that in consequence we could and
would sell the article in which such
plate is used at so cents less than be-
fore. Now, does anyone believe that
the furniture dealer in such q case
would at once reduce the price say
from $25 to $24 so? We don't think he
would, therefore we fail to see how the
masses are to be benefited.
The export OF the furniture product
OF the United States to the Pan-Ameri-
can countries does not in our opinion
depend on our ability to sell a chamber
suit with 24x30 plate for fifty cents
less than we now can sell it, but upon
other conditions and circumstances.
One is that we must manufacture goods
which in style, finish and quality will
conform to the notions, requirements
and surroundings Of the people whose
trade we desire, instead OF trying to sell
them goods which happen to suit our
fancy but which they do not want. An
other is the lack Of rapid and direct
communication with and transporta-
ton to such countries. To obtain these
we must follow the example OF other
countries, that is, induce capital to
supply the necessary facilities by grant
ing subsidies.
The fluctuations in the price OF Ger
YooY Iaasiop Y1asa nj in thu mat iE
ample proof that the amount Of duty
paid does not regulate the price, but
that it depends upon other influences
and conditions and that one of the
most potent influences tending to pre-
vent the price of plates from going to
any figure the jobbers choose to name
was the fact that owing to the wise and
benefcent policy Of protection we had
gradually developed the making Of
plate glass in this country to very con-
siderable proportions, and it is due to
that fact that we are granted some con-
cessions by foreign manufacturers and
home jobbers, VINO would ask nothing
better than the adoption of policy
that would enable them to crush out
the efforts to manufacture looking
glass plates in this country and then
put up the price as they pleased.
The making of plate glass in this
country is still in its infancy. but there
is no reason todoubt thatif the present
policy of protection is continued the
time Is not far distant when all the
looking glass plates used in this country
will be made upon our own soil, and
that competition among our home man
ufactnrers, improved methods and les
aened cost of manufacture and the ma
tural laws Of supply and demand will
enable us to buy our looking glass plates
cheaper than ever before, and at the
same time We will be buying the prod
uct of American workingmen who in
turn buy our goods and whose trade
after all Is worth more to US than that
of all the other countries combined.
F. @. ARBENz, Secretary,
ARBENz FURNITURE Co.
ChiRicothe, o.
n .t-G1 ... u J..e.o..