Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-09
WHEFIING REGISTER SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1897.

idleS applying 10 larger SEES VI SldSS
We're recommended
Potteries We're next taken up. John w.
Morgan. of Trenton, n. j.. spoke for the
workmen. who. he declared. We're not as
we'll situated as the potte.s Of England.
Average wages per week under the Nc
Kinley law had been S11.40. and under the
Wilson law $i.63. and had Is many mer
been employed in the last period as the
first. wages would have oeen 80 per cent.
lower Skilled potters were in a state of
destitution.
T. ]. Whitehead, of Trcnton declared
that not more than one third of the Tren-
ton operatives had been employed during
the past two years and those On reduced
time Rates equivalent to the Mckinley
scale were desirable.
e. a. Stevenson. of East Liverpool, O..
told a similar story. In answer to a ques-
ton from Mr. Grosvenor, he said that the
workers received as fair a share of the
profits Of the business under the Wilson
law as they had under the Mckinley law.
He said that unless something was done
for worlImen their condition would be ter
rible, and concluded:
Il will say on my own responsibility
and for those / represent. that if such a
tariff is not given the manufacturers as
will enable them to pay fair wages,
fear for the future of the Republican
party"
Congressman Taylor, of Ohio, who repre-
sents McKinley's old district, spoke as an
expert on potteries. incidentally he re-
marked that the Senators in charge of the
Wilson bill had promised that if a strike
then pending among the potters were set
tied the rates would be advanced to 40
per cent on plain and 40 per cent. on de-
corated wares. The strike was settled but
the Senators We're unable to keep the
promise because the House accepted the
bill as 1t came from the Senate without
amending it in conference.
Mr. Taylor showed that the government
had received S3,OOOOO0 more in revenue
from the small importations while the Nc
Kinley law was in force than the large
importations under the Wilson law. He
spoke at length of the competition of ia
pan. where potters wages We're % cents
a day declared that a capital of $lOO.OOOom
invested in Japan would capture the
markets of the world and drive the rest
of the world to barbarism or protection.
BY way of illustration he exhibited sam
pies Of cups and saucers, of Japanese
make. sold in New York at $3.50 a dozen,
the decorating of which cost that sum If
done by Americans Mr.. McMillin asked If
there was not a combination Of potters
fixing prices and discounts. To this Mr..
Taylor responded that the organization
made a unifrom price list and agreed on
discounts but their agreement was rope
of sand binding no one. Under duty the
home competition would be sufficient 10
keep prices to a. reasonable level. Seven
eights of the capital invested in Limoges
was practically American capital and
seven-eights of the product came to Am
erica. consigned at whatever rates the in
terested parties chose.
Mr.. McMilln asked Mr. Taylor to give
the names of parties consigning wares to
II msclves.
-. Taylor replied that the matter was
one of common knowledge and Mr. Taw-
ney added that the investigation made by
the committee last winter had shown the
facts 10 be as Mr.. Taylor stated them.
Specific rates was the remedy Mr.. Taylor
proposed.
A request for leave to file a written
statement was made by Arthur c. Wiggin,
secretary and treasurer of the New Eng
land crockery association, but the COM
mittee insisted that he should speak and
put him through a cross examination.
"Are you an importer"
The reply was affirmative and Chairman
Dingley said Let that be entered in the
minues."
Replying TO Mr.. Millin's question Mr..
Wiggin said he knew of the agreement
among the potters by the fact that all
agents made the same prices and dis
counts.
Are not the discounts larger to large
dealers than to small ones?' asked Mr..
McMillin
YES"
Are not large discounts given on large
quantities by all dealers?" asked Mr..
Payne.
Yes"
The committee then adjourned.