The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-06-12
JAPAN A COMPETITOR.
The Ways and Means Commit
tees Report.
FACTORIES BEING BUILT IN JAPAN.
No Remedy Outside of Prohibition of
Convict Labor Goods-The Prices Paid
workmen-Amcrican Capital Sees
Profitable Field For Investment.

WASHINGTON, June 10. Chairman
Dingley of the house ways and means
committee has made report on the men-
ace to American manufacturers by the
threatened invasion of the cheap prod
ucts of Oriental labor and upon the ell
feet of the difference of exchange be-
tween gold standard and silver standard
countries upon United States manufac-
turing and agriculture, these questions
having been Investigated by the COM
mittee The report says the sudden
awakening of Japan from the Oriental
slumber of centuries is being followed
by an equally rapid westcrnIZing of her
methods of industry; that while the
Japanese do not have the inventive tac-
ulty of Americans, or even OF Europeans
their initiative faculties are wonderful
Their standard of living would be lie
garded as practical starvation by the
workmcn of the United States, and
hours of labor average II day SuCh
skilled workmen as blacksmIths car
penters, masons. composItors, tai'ors
and plasterers receive. III japanese
cities, only from 20 TO 33 cents, and rae
tory operatives to - cents pei day IN
our money and nearly double these
sums in Japanese silver money. whiIe
farmhands receive - ii per month
Europeans and Americans, says MT
DungIcy, are recognizing the pIoiitahi'
field afforded for Investments and lac
tories. and he adds: Sixty one cotton
mills, controlled ostcnsIbly by Japanese
companies but promoted by Europeans
and several small silk factories are IN
operation with something over hall
million spindlcs- Japan Is making n"'>i
Il. II aF0l
the narrow wants of hcr OWN people.
and is beginning TO export cheap silk
fabrics and handkerchiefs
Recently watch factory with
American machinery was established
by Americans. although the stock Is
held in the names of Japanese, a. for
eigners viii not be permitted to carry
on manufacturing III their own names
until 1888, and the progress made: indI
Gates that the enterprise VIII prove
success
The committee have not found that
any articles of importance made bv
factory methods in Japan, outside "f
cheap silks, handkcrchicfs, mattIngs.
rugs, etc have as yet invaded the mar
ketS of the United States. but japan
threatens tn toe Il more serious CnmpctI
tor than Great Britain, France or Ger
many.
According TO MT illilEltNs Naitii-
petition will differ, not in kind. but in
degree from European competition
The committee reports that It knows no
remedy. outside of the absolute pro
hibitiOn enforced against convict labor
goods except the imposition of duties
on competing goods equivalent to the
differences of cost and distribution
The report continues Silver stand
ard countries like Japan and Mexico. In
which as it Is claimed, the prices Of do
mestic products estimated in silver Te
main the same as in 1873, are put To q
disadvantage in their trade with for
eign countries ON gold standard III
that the latter countries are able to uSt
silver, which costs nearly 30 per cent
less than il did in 1873. i'll payment foI
products of silver standard countries
practically paying only half as much u
their money for the products of silver
standard countries as they paid IN 1873
while the silver standard countries pay
or at least paid in 1892. ~ per cent mor'
in silver and only 10 per cent less il
gold for the products of gold standar,
countries than they did In 1873
The advantages III foreign trade of n
identical monetary standard are shown
and in considering the proba Utilities q
cnliSting the manufacturing countric
of Europe in an international agree
ment for fixed coinage ratio betweel
gold and silver. IL Is said that the lead
ing European countries. especially
Great Britain. must he the first to fec
the competition of Japan and uthe
Oriental countries