Evening star., 1901-04-10
ALL ABOUT CORDAGE
GIVEN BEFORE THE IN
DUsTRIAL COMMISSION TODAY.
Hemp Cannot BE Grown Elsewhere as
Good as in the Philip
pines.

Cordage was the subject of inquiry by
the industrial commission this morning.
There is a cordage combination in the
United States and that was inquired into.
Mr.. II. W. Grimwood, acting secretary Of
the Cordage Association of the United
States, appeared and was questioned at
length in regard to the cordage business.
He said the cordage consumption in the
United States is about $4,000 tons of twine
and 10000 tons of rope.
Mr. Grimwood said the cordage supplied
to the world today is much superior to that
of quarter of century ago. The indus
try is free to all. so far as the processes of
manufacture are concerned. as the pro-
cesses Of today are not patented. The
manila hemp used in the manufacture of
rope and twine comes altogether from the
Philippine Islands, and it could not be sue
cessfully grown anywhere else in the
world. While the plant could be grown
elsewhere. 1t lacks the strength of the
manila grown in the Philippines. The pro-
duct seems to require the peculiar coI,di-
tions of soil and climate Of the Philippines.
If Factories Were In Manila.
Mr. L.itchman asked the witness what the
effect would be on the cordage industry in
this country if cordage factories were
started in Manila.
From past experience" replied Mr..
Grimwood, lit would be a pretty serious
matter in my opinion
The witness said that pending the de-
cision of the United States Supreme Court
regarding the relation of the Philippine
Islands to this country the effect of cordaSe
factories in the Philippines could not be
determined. If this decision should be one
to prevent the protection of this country
from the products of the Philippines the
result of cordage factories in the Philip
pines would be disastrous unless the wages
of workmen in those islands should come
up more nearly to what they are here. lie
said the transportation of the finished pro-
duct from the Philippines to this country
might be greater than that on the raw ma
terial, and to that extent the industry here
would be protected, but that would not be
sufficient to really protect the factories
here.
The witness said there is today no inordi-
nate profit in the sale of cordage goods.
There had been no labor difficulties be-
Workmen. Competition had in the past
been disastrous and the combination in the
cordage business had been to lessen COM
petition and get better prices.
Two Kinds of Competition.
Asked If competition was the life of trade
he said in a sense it was, but at the same
time it is very ruinous at times. He made
distinction between competition that is
the life of trade and competition that is
the ruin of trade. In the rope trade the
capaci of the factories is at least so per
cent more than the present consumption.
When competition becomes ruinous those
to be affected by it are the men engaged
In it and their employees When competi-
tion becomes ruinouS in prices there is a
great incentive on the part of some manu-
facturers to place inferior goods on the
market. If any law should be passed to
prevent such an association as that repre-
sented by the witness he feared the con-
workmen because when profits disappear
wages are affected.