New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-15

three months would not amount to more '''
one weeks production. and consequently ia,eo
stocks have accumulated. Jobbers refuse u sr
orders and will continue to refuse until the 'ai.
question Is decided. The manufacturers oo ~
know which way to turn; whether to close their
factories and throw their hands out OF eHipios
ment or continue long as their capital hoiu'
out.
lie explained that the percentage OF labor IN 'i,e
total cost OF production of pocket knives eNceeu'
81 per cent. He exhibited a knife, the cost OIL '',
material in which was 80 cents and the cost Oh
the labor 81 %. The steel in the knife cost ifit
cents. II the duty should be taken off steel anu
the price Of that article should be reduced py TIC
amount OF duty, and all other materials useu III
the manufacture of cutlery be placed on the Tree
list 1t would give the manufacturers an adVah'aee
OF about 3 cents each dozen knives manuiac'-
ured. The German manufacturer who SENDS hii'''
10 the United States now pays nearly the entire
duty. and the English manufacturer smaller
proportion The total value of foreign pocket CUT
ery imported last year was S905,2os ana the uu'ie
amounted to about ssl6,57l, making to'ai Vi
H.72l $50. The total American production the SAINT
year 100000. II all the mills should De ciose'
here and all the pocket cutlery consumed IN inns
country should be imported under duty OF ~ pc,
cent ad vaorem. the revenue received "ou'N
amount TO Ss73 on the basis OF last year I'M
nortatons The revenue actually received on inc
foreign cutlery imported was only S5'ooo less. III"
cost of foreign pocket knives has been greatly
duccd within the last three years. despite Inv Ia
crease of the duty and the fact that oPe'"o
wages in this country four times greater '"'.',
paid in Germany and more than double uo9e p
in England a.,
Mr. Bradley probably succeeded in satisfying MI
Breckinrige that there is no trust or con'onla'o"
OF the American pocket cutlery manufacturers "
fix prices After he had done so he paid his respects
TO the proposed tariff bill drawn by the committee
Of the Ncw-York Reform Club. That Dill proposes
TO fix an al valorem rate of Is per cent on pocket
cutlery A.,
cor course that would mean" said MT. Bradiey'
"the closing up of every American factory.
The Reform Club committee estimates that the
annual importatons under the q per cent i''.
would amount to Sl5co.0O a year I'm other "o'us'
said Mr. Bradley EFT il not only proposed to de-
s,rov the American industry. but 1t Is estimated
that such destruction will induce American con-
suners 70 buy 30 per cent pocket cutlery than
they did last year" He did not think that cou"
bc done He gave the committee plainly 10 uhuer-
stand that any reduction whatever In the rate OF
duty on pocket cutlery would inevitably cause re-
duction Of wages in this country.
IRON AND STEEL SHEETS
The manufacturers OF iron and steel sheets
wrought bar iron and tnplatcs were strongly rep
resented by NIessrs Battelle Niedrinshaus' 'rone-
rnver Leeds Jarrett and Representative Phillips OF
PENNSYLVANIA. Mr. Battelle spoke Tor the manu-
lecturers Of iron and steel sheets whose WORKS nave
a capacity OF 400 900 tons a year and an invested
capital OF el5OO00o0. and employ 1900 worklngmeh'
representing population OF G.v',, 10 whom $1,000
90 I'm wages are paid yearly when all the works are
in operation. Owing to the present tariff agitation
and fear OF unfavorable action by Congress- two
thirds OF the capacity Of the mills Is now idle ana
heavy stocks OF manufactured goods are on mana
for which no sale be found No orders are be-
ing received and the idle mills cannot start unui
the existing uncertainty Is removed. Inc act OF
1880 reduced the duties iron and steel sheets ana
n further reduction to rates "for revenue only
would destroy the industry.
Mr. Battclle submitted comparative statement
o., wages in English and American sheet mhls
which showed that the averages in wages IN the
latter arc about ~ times as large as In the for
rner I'm Germany and Belgium the wages are
much lower than IN England. Mr.. Batclle said
4, would he impossible for employers To reduce the
wages OF American worlSmcn 10 the European
scale without long and terrible struggle when
would involve immense losses and cause untold
distress Mr. Eattelle remarked that the reciproc-
l,y agreement between the United States and Spain
had given the American manufacturers the con-
troll OF the Cuban markets as far az sheet iron
Is concerned
Mr. Nledringhaus Of -. Louis. an extensive man
uacturer Of both black plates and tin sheets began
by saving that the tin-pate Industry actuaily
does exist. and that foreign manufacturers are
looking with great hope Of relief 10 the action OF
the Lila Congress. Any reduction whatever In
the rate OF duties would compel n reduction or
wages II the duty should be reduced To one cent
a pound which was the rate In the tarin OF ISN
United States was found 20 b" impracucabcl' whscS
would have To- hc reduced one.third ana u tih
plat- should be placed the free list II would
he necessary 10 reduce wages - per cent. maj
would not only desiroy the IN pafe mnns ra
vanlzcd plates which would then be covered with
NJ f.drf uUhu a
capacity Of ~ boxes day and prepsrati3ns had
Isy bn, that could not be done in the existing
uncertain conditions Of Affairs lie employs l,oW
Sn S9d n1 he aSona 0 be ' laen out Of business
here 10y REDUCTION Of the tarin he wou.d ,a5 h
ana shp his goods TO the United States and make
money.
THE TEMPLATE OUTPUT.
W C. Croncmeyer. OF Piusburg. a manufacturer
Of both black plates and tin plates. submitted some
Interesting statistics showing the progress OF the
tin-pate Industry from July /. 1891. TO June 30.
1875 The total output OF the first year was 1856
tons. which was increased to 95.275 tons In the
second year about half OF the black plates used
being manufactured in the United States. There
would be- no difficulty whatever In manufacturing
all the black plates required II the present rate or
duty should remain. The prices OF tin plates now
are about as low as the average prices OF the
last ten years. He estimated that reduction OF
duties 10 one cent "a pound would require re-
duction OF 20 per cent in wages ana the placing oI
tin plates on the free list would require re-
duciion OF to % per cent In wages. lie REMARKED
that the importers of tin plates are opposed 10 the
entire repeal the duties. because a duty or one
cent a pound protects their business by preventing
the importation Of plates by domestic consumers.
lie denied thai American consumers are opiosed 10
the retention Of the existing duty, ana nlel a NUM-
Der OF letters from canning companies ana others
IN support of his denial. lie also submitted iacts
showing that the cost Of the tinware To domestic
consumers Is L. 10 % per cent lower IMAM IL was
before the enactment Of the existing law, ana
similar facts were submitted by several other
manufacturers in the course OF the day.
Mr. Leeds, president of the tin-pIate company AT
Elwnod Ind, read a carefully prepared stale
mrnt I'm support Of the proposition that reduction
Of the present rates OF duty would compel a re-
duction Of wages. and submitted some interesting
comparisons showing the wages in the tin-pate
INDUSTRY IN " aes and In the United states. lie
also read "A letter from representative OF "A con
densed milk company which Is a large consumer
Of tin plate in the manufacture OF cans III when IL
was declared that American tin plates are pre-