The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-09-10

dlctions were made by Democratic ora
tors and Democratic newspapers that
the American consumer would be COM
PEELED to pay far higher price. The
prophecy was also made that the manu-
iacturers of read dv-made clothing would
find it necessary to advance the price OF
their goods and reduce the wages
of their hands. AS the ready-made
clothing industry is the greatest Roch-
ester possesses, this question has been
closely studied here. out of the popu-
lation of IA, ,S54 credited to the city by
the state census of the present year,
$4,000 persons are employed IN the
making of clothing. New York and
Philadelphia alone surpass Rochester
in the number of persons employed IN
the ready-made clothing industry, but,
of course, a larger proportion of the
residents here are engaged IN the Dusl-
ness than in the two larger cities. The
prediction, therefore, In 1880, that the
price of ready-made clothing might be
advanced through the operation OF the
Mckinley act excited much talk IN
Rochester, because il was believed that
If il were fulfilled, the business of the
city might diminish.
Two wears have passed and now 1t Is
possible TO learn what has been the Ell
feet of the tariff act upon the clothing
industry. The results were explained
to-day by Max Brickner, president OF
the Chamber of Commerce OF Koch
ester, and a member OF the Vile
Brlckner Company. one of the largest
clothing manufacturing corporations IN
the city. "We are selling readv-made
clothing. both that made from foreign
goods and that made from domestic
goods. at the same price as before the
Mckinley act was passed. The same
statement would also be made by every
other manufacturer of clothing IN Roch-
ester. The consumer, therefore, does
mot nav A cent more for the clothing
whirh he wears. OF course am speak
,np of ready made clothlng-that worn
by millions of Americans. small per
cenrage of Americans who buy costiy
foreign goods, to whom II Is matter Oh
indifference whether they pay 50 or
500 for suit made TO order, may pay
more for their clothing. But they iorhi
only a small proportion OF our popuIa-
ton.
Mr.. Brickner, in proof of his state
mant exhibited to me price list OF the
clothing made by his firm IN IS9o, ana
mother lust issued. This list contained
the nrices of fifty articles OF clothing OF
yarious grades. In every case the price
~ the article of clothing, whether coat,
waisroat or pantaloons, was the same rs
in 1890. The prlce Of some foreign
Goods which we use IN making our
Clothing" continued Mr.. Brlckner. Is
hiober IN market, but the increase, de-
spite the tariff, is SO slight that We bear
the loss, and our customers 90 hol kn3"
Of it. This proves, of course, that !he
Foreigners have reduced the PRICE
of their goods 10 importers M Mior
The purpose OF jumping over the
tariff and getting into our maIhel. !.
a. an instance of our disregard OF
the increased price of some foreign
-oods. take Italian cloth. which we use
for lining clothing. In making slo sutIs
we only use cents worth more OF lne
cloth. and of course we do not increase
the nrice of our goods to 5000 because
of that increase. We buy worsted soods
in Europe at cost TO US now, "heh
landed in Rochester, OF y yaro, I9l
witch We used to paw Sl.ao. But II on.
takes s ward and three-quarters OF tus'
cIoth 10 make coat and "alstcoa.. !.
| That makes the additional cost OF Tue
10th III cents We pay that l'2 ,eLlts' =
ana 10 moi increase the price oi NE NE
ciotaing TO the consumer. he sets US