BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-30

of the Kasson treaties, particularly the cot
ton knit goods men, come forward with def'
mite assertions as to the disastrous effects on
their business of any lowering whatever OF
L the tariff. The friends Of the treaties
answer, but without an equally definite
showing, that such duty could s'safely" be !,
lowered. Perhaps this is because one man
does not understand another's busin;ss, and !,
il ia a good argument for tariff commission |
authorised to delve into facts.
Owen Osborn Of Philadelphia, for exam /
ple. made presentation this morning OF
the cotton knit-goods situation, just as Mr..
| Riguev of Massachusetts did last evening on
the iewelry interests as affected by the pro-
nosed French tariff. He cited the wages
: paid to various grades ofoperstlVes here ana
in Germany on regular protective lines, anu
, this convention processes to be one OF pro-
tectiouists. He said competition was more
. difficult now than when tie Dingley law was
q passed. on account of the rise in wages, ana
i that it was only by practising the strictest
= economy and accepting small prohts tnat
industry maintained its place here. de also
% alleged that American consumers were
l. getting more for their money to-day In
q cotton knit goods than consumers IN Europe,
n as he had ascertained by comparisons IN
English retail shops. A system which acai
thus beneficial to the laborer, the manufac
turer, and the consumer, he Thought, should
a not be changed.
nj William o. Barker Of New York, whit
ltook the same view, brought out ngure
differing from those quoted yesterday, q
show that our reciprocity treaties had beel
successful, and had resulted in greater II
crease of exports than Of imports. ID
quoted BBDt1mIn hSffilS6n -0n 4ssssa affect
Or. Of South American reciprocity, the Nortl
western Millerg Association on Brazllla
till reciprocity, and, in general, warmly sul
ported the KassOn treaties. He shoWe
that our exports of manufactured goods ma
fallen of $2O, 900 900 in nine months OF tn
III wear by comparison with Q correspondent
raj period of last year, and boldly predicte
he That they would fall off another e2O,OOO
,ar 600 in the NEXT year unless some eonce
sions were made. This was answered 3
Vi PennsyIvania delegate, tcho said the fal
en- inc of had been due to lowering the prle
rd of three great articles and not to declln
in the volume of exports. This lowerin
price was largely due to industrial depre
III sion in Germany which had affected II
lc- foreign markets.
RIA Titus Sheard Of Little Falls, N: Y, d
IN clared that RECIPROCITY never did an
never will help this country, and interes
demanding it, especially through h
French reciprocity convention, have 4
right nor need to demand it of u.s." Don
petition, he said, was the means for r
solving any reciprocity treaty into i
I'D proper class. He said the French reclpr
1ll city treaty operated actually to reduce tf
duties on Knit goods to 10 per cent. belo
the duties imposed by the Wilson bill.
les great deal Of foreign trade was done on
profit of per cent. "What was the o
casion for the changef" asked Mr.. Shear
Till elias any one in the convention heard an
explanation offeredf"
80. Owen Osborne of Philadelphia drew
= 80 hopeless picture OF the American knl
ne goods industry in the absence of tariff pr
lSD lection.
" William @. Barker of New York, rep-
i. senting the National Association OF Agr
n,S :, cultural. Implement Manufacturers, adv
all Gated reciprocity. He said that unless rec
Tor procity were applied as safety valve,
id. tariff explosion would follow that woul
- create general ruin. He criticised some
on the assertions and figures Of Charles Harb'
las Clarke, who Immediately replied in deta
ice TO the criticisms.
ad "Figurea may lie sometimes" he sail
'.but liars also can fgure.n
:, The session adjourned at noon, when Il
ed officers Of the Convention and committe
a of ten went to the White House and calle
n on President Roosevelt.