New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-01
A CHILD OF THE TARIFF.
SUCCESS OF THE MUCH-DERIDED TIN
PLATE INDUSTRY.
THE DEPRESSION IN THE MANUFACTURE IN
WALES ATTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH VI
PRODUCTION IN THIS CoUNTRY-A

THE DEPRESSION IN THE MANUFACTURE IN
PRODUCTION IN THIS coUNTRY-A
HEALTHY INFANT.
The Free Traders, who were insoientIy anu
stupidity confident that tnplate was or couid De
made in this country. will be greatly disappointed
to find that British authorities attribute the sad de-
preston OF the manufacture in Wales TO the CROWN
OF production here In February The London
Economist was careless to admit. respecting
the serious decline in shipments of tinplates to this
country: The main reason Is undoubtedly inc eA-
pansion of the home production" Just now the
emnently foreign State Department has puolisneo
In the May Consular Report some fifty pages In
structing Americans how tinpates are manufact-
ured in Wales and elsewhere abroad and reciting
the wages paid. 1t Is stale news. the Cardin dis-
patch on wages being dated July "a 1894. and the
Swansea dispatch July 49, 1894. but It really shows
much energy for that Department to get news less
than year old The figures are useless Tor the
mills had long struggle with their hands early this
year and finally most Of them succeeded IN renuc-
ing wages. the declared reason being that II was
absolutely necessary In order TO meet the American
competition even at the reduced duties now In force
here.
THE Western Express" OF Cardiff has investi-
gated the condition of the tinplate business In
Wales. and reports that out OF total OF l'5 mills
sxty-eight entirely idle and that all In opera
ton, with single exception, have recently reouceu
wages from 10 to 1914 per cent 1t will Interest
American workers II not the Free Traders to learn
what the wages which have been thus reduced.
The consular reports make the entire cost OF labor
from IS to Sc cents box. and admit that the
wages paid In July year before the reduction
OF wages and also before the reduction OF duties
here were go low that freight and the duty OF %
cents a pound were hardly equal TO the disparity
between the charges for labor in South Wales COM
pared with the United States. 1t is added that the
roller. the highest paid workman can earn In Car
din about s. 90 per day; two others earned ABOUT
81 90 two more nearly 50. and two more from ~
cents to 81 each. all the getting less than IS
cents according the consular figures. But these
wages have been down 10 TO 1917 per cent this
year in order to compete with the Americans. and
one British journal gives warning that II Is because
OF the superior ingenuity and enterprise OF the
Americans ard their OF better labor-saving ma
chinery.
II does appear that the alarm in Wales was
quite grounlless In the first half OF last year
the American works produced 53CS,55I pounds.
which Is about third Of the average consump-
ton In half a year. recent report showed thar
the i6s mills already completed in this country with
Others in progress would have a capacity exceeding
the entire annual consumption OF the United states
In nine months Of the current fiscal year the I'M
ports were only 3s Alb pounds. and in the previ-
Gus five years three OF them under the Mckinley
duties and two under the previous duties. the I'M
ports had averaged 6of.pcpD POUNDS yearly. Al
that rate unless cheapness induces larger consump-
ton the Welsh works will have 10 look elsewhere
for n large share OF their business.
They we're charging for tinplates les. Cd box' OF
full weight Bessemcr coke. in January. 1880, and
after falling In May the price was about us. when
tho Mckinley tariff passed. though the higher
duiy did not 20 into effect Until the following july
Tho nrce IN Wales ranged between us ana u.s.
box from October until May. 1891. but declined as
soon "a tho new duties went into force TO las Inc
Free Traders viii notice that on the race OF 'niss
tho nr,ce IN Wales was reduced fully the amount OF
Increase IN the duty here BY the end OF the year
1901 tho price had fallen 10 Us. 3d.; In lS2 II fei
% ,os In 1899 10 lis In 1894 10 l0s, ana the same
r;,tss 70 now selling In Wales for S. l1td Dox
r. Americans are extending the production 49,
- u,,h only e 81 asked in New-fork Tor guy,
oI' mates which had over s. before the tas,t
~ iSs was enacted and when duties WE ia
~ NO NOV II seems probable that one vi uie
cht,iren 81 the tariff will 1--we. ,..o,
N thanks either. to the democratic ~ W.
who tried 70 XIII II. The cost OF lake ore . -, lave
1,ced nv the Messaba discovery: the COST OF .ahe s
III yre,gh,s by severe compe,ition the COSY
~ 10 nv prolonged strikes OF labor rhe coz. w
pessemer bleis has gone down rom - r ~
az I, three years which affects IN Inc pivipo ,,r
go third TO half OF the cost OF prouuSIae ,he
Mates and nevertheless, in order 70 SUI some
pia,rs, 49, Mills were also obliged 20 make some
Ai.,nn ~ wages and the struggle last VIII, ad
I..ttas concessions both SIDES winch
,e,b en,n,oyers and men TO Keep men nound
pom ia weu 10 remember that not one P1. w.
could be made In the country uis.r. @
b,ohsr duties OF 1897 gave capitai su"0'e"' ~
10 encourage the undertahihs