The record-union., 1896-01-23

CHICAGO, Jan. 22-The National
Association of Manufacturers to-day
decided to ask both branches of Con-
gress to institute an immediate investi-
cation into the largely increasing i'm
ports of articles of Oriental manufact-
ure, which are gravely menacing the in
dustries Of this country. An important
report bearing upon the subject was
received and adopted. It said:
Japan does not confine herself to
spinning cotton. Her people are intro
ducing a great variety of manufactur-
ing industries, all using improved ma
chinery, and they are initiating the
patterns and inventions of the Western
nations with impunity, because there is
no protection for either the patents or
trademarks of foreigners in Japan.
ARTICLES of Japanese manufacture
have appeared in our Eastern cities,
rivaling and underselling American ar
ticles suitable for similar purposes.
Japanese mating is now crowding out
cheaper kinds of Philadelphia carpets.
Japanese rugs, made in imitation Of
American patterns, are sold in great
quantities in preference to American
rugs of higher values. Brushes are
sold at retail in Eastern cities for about
the American value of the manufact-
ured bristles. American watch-caSe
makers are selling to Japan cases for
excellent movements made there for
this market
There can be no conceaiment Of the
fact that some of our manufacturing
industries are grayely menaced by this
rivalry of a country where skilled labor
may be had at a cost of 10 or 10 cents a
day, or less than one-tenth of the cost
of such labor in our own country. Your
committee does not care to discuss the
causes of this menace or the methods
by which the peril may be averted. We
believe that the national association
should, however, take cognizance of the
matter, and should ask that Congress
shall investigate the subject in a thor
ough and comprehensive manner, so
that the people may fully understand
it,
From the Committee on Resolutions
came a partial report recommending a
judicious system of subsidies for the
development of the American merchant
marine; favoring the construction of
the Nicaraguan Canal by the Federal
Government, and the development of
interior waterways; urging the enact
ment of a national bankrupt law for
uniform operation in all States.
This portion of the report was adopted
unanimously. There was a spirited
discussion, however, on a, resolution re-
ported, without recommendation, set
ting forth that inasmuch as many
States of the Union have passed certain
laws to the effect that all foreign cor
porations shall file with the Secretary
of State a certificate of incorporation,
and pay into the treasury of said States
certain fees, and imposing certain OBJ
jectionable features, that therefore the
Executive Committee be empowered to
take such action as in their judgment
might seem wise to secure uniformity
and remove the objectionable features.
The resolution was sent back to the
committee to be remodeled.
There was a long debate upon ma
jority and minority reports from the
Committee on Revision Of the Constitu-
tion. The majority report, represented
by F. S. Fish of Indiana, favored de-
priving manufacturers clubs or State
clubs of representation, thus allowing
only the individual manufacturers,
firms or corporations to have a voice or
vote in the organization. It was con-
lGLtQS1 b9 liz A4lAJGAtty VI lAlC SOillll11ltSC
that its plan would make a greater sue
cess of the organization, while con-
tinuance of the present method of mem
bership would make the organization
simply "howling society"
The minority report, presented by
Thomas McDougall Of Cincinnati, fav-
ored a continuance of the present sys-
TEN of club and society representation
with a few unimportant notifications
The convention, however, agreed with
MIR. Fish, and the minority report was
then submitted to a vote.
This afternoon Professor S. Water
house of Washington University. ST.
Louis, delivered an address upon the
Nicaragua Canal.
This evening the delegates of the
Manufacturers Club of Cincinnati gave
a dinner at the Auditorium to Presi-
dent Thomas Dolan, Hon Warner
Miller, Peter Studebaker Of South Bend,
Ind, and few other of the leading
spirits of the organization
The delegates to the convention of
Textile Manufacturers held no business
sessions to-day.
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