The Press., 1894-06-28
(From the Congressional Record, June 17.)
 "SHODDY."

MT. Hawley-Mr. President, the sen ator from Rhode Island spoke for Con- necticut in what he has just said concern ing these great reductions in woolen goods, and the influence they will have on the employment of our people. It is useless to complain now. The bill which is cursed by all parties will be approved by none in the dbming elections.
 Something was said this morning about the quantity of shoddy used in the manu- facture of cloth. The senator from Mis- souri (Mr. Vest) observed that there were practically no goods made in this country wholly fine or without shoddy. I told him Tpresumed there was not an ounce of shoddy in the Clothing of this chamber, though did not know what peculiar fancy some senator might indulge.
 Photographed to what considera model typical New England town, or rather young city. I asked for the sum of their production and the quantity of shoddy. Not great many years ago this town was ravine running through rough, unpro- ductive highlands, one or two hundred feet above the tumblins stream. At the head of the valley is flnelake or natural reservoir, from which the Strong stream runs rapidly down, furnishing anoble wa ter power Now great mills succeed each other at short distances in what has be- come prosperous and altogether con- fortable and happy town of fine churches, | halls and homes.
 asked the question, "What are your annual products and what shoddy do yoil ?'
 wish to say of their goods, that after they get into New York they are ire quently put upon the shelves and are sold by tailors for French-made and English made goods of the highest class.
 The reply is as follows
 l Rockville, June G. 1894.
 Estimated annual production five fine cloth mills in Rockville, $4,000,000- -
 Remember, that this is place where was the ravine described few years ago s no shoddy; only fine wool and worsted yarns used in these mills. Two other mills here make blankets, knit goods and lining, giving an estimated annual pro- duction of $400, 900. One mill makes shoddy to sell to mills outside of Rock vile. H. l.. JAMES.
 There are $4, ,O00, 900 worth of beautiful dress goods of the highest and the finest class made in that town. How this tariff will operate upon these manufactures six months or year hence, do not know.
 Shoddy is spoken of as if it were alto gether a dishonest thing, like the clay the English manufacturers work into the cot } ton they send to Asia and sell which adds to the weight, but which does not deceive the Chinaman much, for after one wash ing he never buys cotton with that stamp. He prefers the Eagle stamp.
 "Shoddy" is a word derived, judge;
 from some local dialect, perhaps deriv- . ative of "shod." There is recognized word ''shode" It represents the waste
 of woolen mills thrown off in the weaving, finishing and trimming, and also refuse
 woolen stuffs that are run through ma chimes that may be said to resemble cot JOu Bll. Spobh o OoSuulSdi I knowledge.
 It is usually worked into the coarser
 and inferior cloth. It seems to give body . and warmth, and has legitimate place.
 It is a perfectly honest, useful product save when the manufacturer lies about it. The expert recognizes it at sight. (Hartford Courant) We are able to add a few interesting details to the story. In the first place, not one of the woolen mills in Rockville has as yet made any reduction of wages.
 The manufacturers decided that for what
 work was done in their mills they would pay as of old until a new tariff law should
 be passed. Orders have fallen off and
 there has been less work, but the wages have been what they were in the period of activity. In this case and for the pres. ent the mill owners shoulder the loss. } If, however, the proposed tariff bill, ol
 any bill similar to this, becomes law then they will decide what cut in wages is necessary and must make the reduc
 tion. It will be cut down or shut down
 Congress really and not the mill owners
 at all will decide the wages question il
 the Rockville woolen mills.