New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-02

unawarcs. but might understand in their own
interests that the contracts taken. and under
which The mills were being operated. were not
at such prices as To justify any further advance
in wages nj This time. Nevertheless. the work
ers in the National Mills have demanded Il
restoration Of the old rate of wages paid in 1892
although their difficulty appears to have orgi
mated in demand to stop learners being taught
10 weave who did not comply with the rules OF
the union. requiring the payment Of 81, into the
treasury of the union by each learner There
wore also grievances alleged regarding the meas
urcmcnt Of cloth in computing the earnings. III
does not appear that the strike was seriously re-
/, rarJcd by the manufacturers until the demand
was made that wages should be raised to the
level Of 1892 and the cost OF production thus
corrcspondingly increased. AT that point the
Manufacturers Club determined to take action
and. unless the workers rccedc. II seems prob
ohlc that general closing Of the mills is not far
distant.
If Is most unfortunate that this great industry
which has been so seriously depressed for the
last two wears. but has now begun to revive win
surprising vigor and has shown most gratifying
procrcss in the effort to compete under new ana
irving circumstances with woollen manu'actur
ors Of other countries, should now be arrested
bv serious labor difficulties. 1t Is to be hopeu
that better sense will prevail. and that Tor TIE
time questions of wages may he DEFERRED UNI"
thc American works have fair opportunity 10
ascertain how far and in what branches OF the
nroduction they can compete with the Wooieh
mills abroad II is idle To suppose that THIS IS
settled by the receipt Of certain orders FOR soous
Expcriencc within the last year has shown now
freoucntlv such orders have been cancelled. wheh
the clothicrs haveSfound themselves able "'iore
Tho final delivery Of the goods. to make DETER
bargains with foreign producers. or have fouhd
tho market for the goods less satisfactory Than
they expected.
Thor, is a further difficulty, which many OF
tho manufacturers are realizing more fully ever!
wcck namely. the undcrvaluations OF foreign
goods imported under the new tar1n Inc re-
,noval of all the duties by weight on Wooi'h
goods has left the door wide open for evasion ol
the du,v and defrauding the Government ny iaiSe
,nvoices and values To the trade IL Is pcrf'c'i!
well known that a large proportion of goods I'M
nortcd in recent years has been sent by the
manufacturers abroad TO so-callcd firms III thiS
country. which are in fact merely selling agents,
holding n confidential relation with the foreign
concerns and In no true sense buying the goods
Those are inyoiccd at whatever price the foreign
concern may please. accepted here without Ih'S
ton. and returns are made Of The selling price, 50
that the division Of profits Is precisely sch rs II
the house receiving the goods in This country
were a mere clerk agent for the foreign con
corn Under such circumstances. II Is 'x'''"
inglv difficult 10 detect undcrvalna'ions. ana INC
frequency Of them within ihc last Two or 'hr'e
months has lel 10 organization OF American
manufacturers for the express purpos" "i aSSis'-
ing the Government authorities. :" TAR rs pos
sIbc In checking cvasions Of the law ana frhudn-
lent invoices But NJ such a time" when threat
cnel with heavy imporations NJ duties far De
low those which the law intended To impose II
IS evident that The manufacturers are absolutely
unable with safety 10 decide upon any Increase
in the cost Of production aS respects orders th'y
have already accepted.