Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-09

Ways and Means Committee. Delega-
tions of operatives from the organiza-
tions of glassblowers, flint and lime
glass workers, the bottle and window
glass blowers of Illinois and Pennsyl
vania, and the potters of Trenton, n.
j., and East Liverpool, Ohio, spoke.
All told the same story of decreased
wages, mills running on short time and
general distress under the operation of
the Wilson law. F. l.. Bodine, of
Philadelphia, spoke for the manufac-
turers of cylinder window glass, and
Congressman Taylor, of Ohio, for the
potters, gave interesting illustrations
of ruinous competition from Japan. F.
c. Partridge, of Rutland. VT, presented
a schedule agreed upon by all the mar
Bile interests and minor interests were
also represented.
F. w. Walker. Of Beaver Falls, Pa,
spoke on tiles, asking for a reclassifi
cation and specific duties. On tie
tiles now paying % per cent ad valorem
he recommended 10 cents a square foot
or four cents a pound; on those paying
40 per cent, 20 cents a square foot or
six cents a pound.
There was a large delegation of glass
blowers reprenting the workmen of
the United States in the committee
room. For them Louis Arlington, Of
Alton, Ills, announced that they de-
sired the re-enactment Of the Mckinley
rates.
Edgar Agard, of Streator, Ills, read a
statement describing the demoralza-
ton of the glass bottle blowers bust
ness. brought about by the Wilson act
Under the Mckinley act the business
had increased three fold, while through
! improved methods of manufacturing
| the prices had fallen 20 per cent. I'm
der the Wilson law prices of bottles
had decreased from II to 40 per cent
and the loss had fallen mainly on the
workmen. whose wages had been de-
creased Is to % per cent and hours OF
labor increased almost beyond e1dGr-
ance. The chief item OF cost in the
production of bottles was labor. and
with free bottles the foreign makers
could undersell Americans even if the
! latter had to pay no wages. He recon-
mended that the bottles in which
wines. liquors and mineral waters were
imported should pav the same duty
levied on empty bottles, as well as the
duties on the contents.
The manufacturers had demanded a
| 80 per cent reduction in wages, but
! through the organization the blowers
! had been able to resist the demand.
Wages in the best times averaged SO
| day. and the mortality among the
blowers was great. the average age of
death being SO years. The maximum
wage of blowers was so day. but they
could not secure work throughout the
year. The minimum earnings were
about IS a week.
In response to questions by Mr.. Tur-
ner the speaker said that questions of
wages. hours and apprentices were ar
ranged by arbitration. The number Of
apprentices was limited to one-third
the number of journeymen.
The chief officer of the organization of
Flint and Lime Glass Workers. w. ].
Smith. of Pittsburg. asked for tariff
which would secure the manufacture OF
the American used goods by American
worllmen. The capital invested in the in
dustry in the United States was 2o,MOcN.
the annual production Of about the same
value and he number of workmen en-
ployed 10000. In the fiscal year 1893 the
American production had fallen off 20 per
cent. while the Importation had been s.
Cos 600 articles. The competitors of the
United States were England. France, Ger
many. Belgium and Austria. particularly
Austria. or Bohemia. Comparisons OF Ia
Dor cost on lamp chimneys were given.
Example was argand chlmneys. on which
the foregn labor cost was six cents q
dozen: American labor cost was y cents;
importers selling price in New YORK ~
cents. The workers desired higher rates
than had been given in any previous
law.
The rates asked were:
on articles of glassware or crystal
moulded. or cast in moulds, not cut. guild
ed or decorated. 3 cents a pound equal
10 60 per cent advalorem, present rate 40
per cent? on glassware. crystal or opal.
blown with or without mould. cut. STAIN
ed engraved or otherwise ornamented,
six cents a pound, equal to IS per cent.
advalorem).
from the Cut Glass Manufacturers Asso-
citation. They asked specific instead OF
odvalorem duties. for rate on blanks
of 10 cents a pound aud 80 per cent. ad-
vaIorem. The factories in the United
States he said employ 2.o0O men and
have an annual production OF 2CuoVOo'
The wages in the United States Is SIS
week in Germany IS: Belgium s.. Atten-
t;on was called to the evil OF agents in
,be 1-nied States for foreign houses
~, cuqb whom systematic under-vaiuation
, was practiced.
/ /. Bodine. of Philadelphia. spoke for
manufacturers OF cyliudef window glass
and green and flint bottle glass. lie rep
resented that half of the manufacturers
in 1he United States were to-day bank
rrnt although they would not admit il,
as "a result of the Wilson law. Without
nrotection they could no continue 10 do
business with the American rates OF
wages.
simon Burns. of Pittsburs. president OF
The window Glass Workers Association
rresanted the case OF the wOrkingmen.
I 1,beir average wages per month under the
/ Mckinley law had been s79.27, under the
Wilson law $3.50; the average weeks OF
I emplovment IS under NcKin''y law;
q under Wilson law. The imports had in
I creased 80 per cent Mary mills were
! closed and hundreds Of rne1 idle. The re-
adontion of the Mckinley law with new