The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-05
U. S. SENATE INQUIRY
Series of Questions Pro-
pounded by the Finance
Committee.
IMMEDIATE ANSWER REQUESTED.
Opportunity for the Local Board
Of Trade-Labor Organizations
Interested.
IMMEDIATE ANSWER REQUESTED

| consideration the Wilson Tariff bill as passed
by the House, has issued six circular letters
of inquiry, by which they hope to receive
valuable information which will aid them in
framing just and proper legislation. The
letters are addressed to manufacturers i'm
porters, merchants, chambers of III
and boards of trade and public officers, labor
organizations of workingmen and agricul-
turists. The set of questions propounded
the first five mentioned are given below. The
questions to a~griculturists are not given for
obvious reasons.
Accompanying each set of questions is the
following explanatory letter;
EXPLANATION.
COMMITTEES ON FINANCE,
UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON, D.. c., Dec. 90, 1888
Nv Dear SIR
In former years when the question of the
| tariff was uppermost in the cons idera ton of The
people, circular letters were addressed to mer-
chants, importers, and others, making inquiries
as to the character and amount of their bust
ness, prices and wages paid, rates Of import
duties. etc. This was notably the case in l645.
| under the direction Of Secretary Walker; 10 1882,
through the Tariff Commission; and. IN 1885, I'M
der the direction of Secretary Manning.
The replies to such interrogatories furnish
valuable statistics and data, and materially aid
in legislating upon the subject of customs
duties.
With a view to securing such information, the
| Committee on Finance submit to you the fol-
lowing questions, which they trust you will
formulate replies TO, adding such general or
special matter as you may be possessed of, and
which. in your judgment, will be of value to the
Committee:
Here follow the questions.
The Committee are DESTROYS that your reply
shall give a full expression of your views, and
not be restricted to merely answering the ques-
tions categorically. At the same time lt Is de
sired that your answers shall be confined to
your own business and be stated conciseiy.
Publicity will not be given to names or loca-
tion OF business If you SO desire.
MANUFACTURERS.
Manufacturers are requested to answer the
following questions
/. State name of corporation, firm or individ-
ual, and character of manufacture.
2. State location of plant.
B. What amount of capital Is invested?
4. When was the industry established?
s.. State the amount of production. kinds and
value of articles manufactured annually since
the establishment of your industry; description.
value and quantity for each year.
8. Have you at any tiuie during the past two
years been running less than full time, and If
so. when and why?
z. What rate of ad valorem Cor specified duty
is necessary to place domestic products on an
equal footing with foreign producers, and your
8. If the rate of duty upon your class of manu-
facture were reduced Que third, what reduction
in cost of production would be necessary?
D.. L ttO QOiACSLiC iiOiOoSl0 pAhSS
of your goods in 1884, 1890 and 1891. aud at the
date of your answer.
10. To your knowledge has there bean an in
creased competition in your Inns of ma1ufac-
lures, either foreign or domestic, during tins past
four years?
II. Dc you desire a specific or an ad valorem
duty, and why?
Il. Are you manufacturing or producing as
many goods or commodities as you were IN
1882, and il not. why not?
10. What has been the tendency of wages
during the past twelve months?
IA. If possible will you give an estimate OF the
exact cost Of living of the families of two or
more of your skilled workmen, specif ying as
near as may be items of expenditure.
Is. Have you any difficulty in constituting the
existing law In regard to importatious of the
class OF articles you produce, and have You any
suggestions to maker
is. Has the price of living in your locality in
creased or decreased during the past four years,
Il. What in your opinion is the cause Of the
present depression In trade, and what would be
your remedy to correct it?
10. What component materials of your manu-
factnre are, to you. raw material?
10. Are the goods you manufacture Injuries
or necessities?
90. What rate Of interest are you compelled TO
pay on loans?
Il. What effect has immigration had on your
business?
%. What proportion of skilled labor do you
employ?
90. How do you propose to meet any reduc-
ton of duty on the goods you manufacture?
81, NlNC III Ii " . "0lhSa &aA SAAA"
dren employed, and state the wages you pay
for ordinary and skilled LABOR.
20. How many hours per week are they en-
ployed?
ao. Do foreign articles of like kind enter into
competition, aud to what extent?
"a. What proportion of your manufacture is
exported, and do you realize q less price there
from than from domestic consumption?
%. Has the cost of inanufacture increased or
decreased since 1888. and to what extent?
90. Has the increase or decrease been in ma
terialS or labor?
80. Have your selling prices increased or de-
creased since 1890?
81. What amount of the agricultural produce
ton of the country is consumed in ) our manu-
facture, or through it, directly or indirectly.
and what amount OF other domesti c produc-
lions?
so. What component materials are used in
your manufacture on which you pay q specific
or an ad valorem duty? Give the rates of duty:
80. II your raw material were free would
there be any necessity for customs duty on the
manufactured product?
"a. Please state the wholesale prices for 1881,
1890 and 1892. Have these prices increased or
decreased since 1922
IS. What changes, if any. do you recommend
of existing rates OF duty or administrative Gus
toms laws!
Importers are asked to answer the follow
ing twenty-seyen questions:-
/. State the name or names of firms you
represent.
;, State the character of goods imported.
8. State the cost of their production in the
country of manufacture.
4. Give the rates of duty on your impor ta-
tiuns.
5. State with what character Of domestic
goods your imports correspond.
6 Give the wholesale price OF your goods In
domestic markets, less all discounts.
z, What changes were made in the rates or
duty on your goods by tbs tariff act OF 1880;
and if the change was made from ad valoren to
specific duty, what was the ad valoretn equiva-
lent for each year, 1891, 1893 and 1898, for the
new specific ratesg
s. State whether the cost of goods imported
by you, excluding freight, commission and duty,
has increased or decrea sod since 1897, and what
per cent. OF Increase or decrease Estimated on
the cost of 1890 has taken place 10 date.
@. state your opinion as to the conditions
necessary to be maintained in the United States
TO make it an exporting country OF the goods
that you import.
10. State your opinion as to whether or not
goods such as you import eau ps mauufac-
ttlred in the United States without a reduction
of wages.
II. State whether or not the articles you inn
mort have ever been exported from this country
to the countries from which they are now inn
ported. and when aud in what quantity.
II. State what difference there is between the
price made Tor the export on the goods you
handle and tue wholesale price for the local
market at the point of production.
10. State the retail and wholesale price of the
goods at the point Of production. and tbs re-
tail and wholesale price of the same goods in
the United States for the years 1881, 1890, 1892
and the date of your answer.
Ia. On what terms are goods generally sold
is. state whether you are a manufacturers
agent, a cousignee, or q purchaser.
is. What commission is paid you for handling
goods.
II. Please give the average rate OF interest
in the country of prodnc,i ion OF your goods.
tbraa YEAR for skilled and unSkiiiei labor.