The morning call., 1894-07-25
WAGES CUT IN OTHER MILLS.

The California Jutemills is a large
brick building on Third avenue, East Oak
land. which few DAYS ago gave employ
ment to some 100 workmen.
1t is being closed down because the
company says it cannot work al a profit if
the tariff reform" bills now being con-
sidered in Congress become laws.
'The price of jute bags is now 81 cents, "
said John Robertson, superintendent of
the mills, yesterday. The Mckinley bill
places protective tariff of little less than
cents per bag. The Wilson bill reduces
the tariff TO ! cent. We cannot compete
with the laber of Calcutta at that rate.
Our material comes from Calcutta a well
as the manufactured bag with which we
are confronted in the market. We favored
the passage of the bill and did not buy any
material, and have now used up all that
we had in store, and are therefore about
TO close down. We cannot resume if the
bill passes as it is. We Will resume at
once if it Is defeated"
The great warehouses of the company,
which usually at this time of the year are
stored with raw material, are entirely
empty The Wheelbarrows in the yards
turned upside down; the long rows OF
sewing machines that were few days ago
noisy with Industry and each manipulated
by women'S busy hands are all silent and
deserted; the great patching machines
into which The burIapS is first introduced,
and which are worked by men, are still !;
the czrdiOg-mIll is silent and the great
machines lock gloomy and disc0ns0late {;
the SpiBning-mIl has just suspended ana
a few men are cleaning uD the bolts and
wheels preparatory TO a long rest.
In the weaving department 9 few girls
still can over as many machines, which
are swiftly eating the remnant OF the ma
terial at hand. When the looms and bins
are empty these few Operatives will remain
away FROM the mill, the machinery will be
enveloTed in shTOuds. the door will be
locked and an industry Will have gone out
OF business.
I've have about forty people at work,
all tod. B." said Mr.. Robertson, but hat is
only for a Gay or two. We have plenty OF
orders aud could keep oUg full complement
of 400 people at work Il we were not
thrown into competition with the labor of
the Orient What these poor people will
they nor we dc not know. S0we Of them
came to us with tears in their eyes, saying
that they would be willing TO work under
g reduction Of 10 Der cent on their wages
if We would only keep them employed, but
we could not do it. Our idle plant repre-
sents an iEyes fTent OF about $500. 600.
Our seWing-women were paid from 81
TO 81 50 peT day, weaypTs about 81 %,
spinners 81 > and mechanics and en-
gIneers from s. to s. per day.
I'VE started this mill in 1871. when bags
were selling at 70 cents. The introduction
Of the jatemjn into San Quentin brought
the price down to Q cents, and the mill
then stopped. This new company took
hold, started mp and has carried the bust
ness on successfully until the Government
at Washington with its tariff reform has
driven Us out
If anybody think g law which stoTs
these mills and IhruTs 80 many people out
OF employment will be a boon TO the
farmers in the matter oil cheaper bags, he
is not up in the ways OF the world. The
importers will then have the fixing Of the
price, and they will TX price which will
enable them to make money, and the
farmers viii get no benefit. Just make a
note Of that ana keep il in mind. They
have it il their power to reduce the price
long enough to drive US out. Of course. but
when We are well rid of. the price will 90
promptly up again"
John Rutherford. acting superintendent
of the California Woolen-mIlls, was also
seen. The mill also manufactures lutte
goods. He said that there could be no
doubt that the closing of the California
Jutemils was wholly due to the fear OF
the tariff. 1--WE are all anxious about this
tariff bill. and watch the papers daily in
the hope Of seeing some word that it IS to
thrown over. II it passes, we may not
close our mill, though we will certainly
have to reduce wages. There is no doubt
of that. We have already been compelled
to reduce in some departments.
I'VE have not bought any material for
six months, and are simply keeping going
until the matter is settled.
1T is not true to say that the farmers
are complaining about the price Of bags.
They are not. for they know they are
cheap. II times were better farmers
would get better prices for their products.
They are complaining about that. Our
workers know the situation now and SYM
pathize and are apprehensive with ms.
i have just received letter from an
Eastern mill-owner which expresses the
same alarm. They know they cannot CON-
pete with q country where the average
wages throughout the mill are u cents
net without protection we cannot"