The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-06
TO BUY
WATCHES ABROAD.
American-Made Goods Can Be
Brought From Europe with
Profit, Rainey Says.

-4
Journal Special Service.
Washington, April 6.-Congressman
in an attack on the Dingley tariff in
the house exposed the alleged methods
of the watch trust. The Illinois con-
gresham made the broad statement
that the Dingley tariff made it possible
for many American manufacturers to
sell their goods abroad cheaper than
they sold them in the United States.
used the watch trust, and his desk
looked like jewelers. counter, for be
covered it.with gold watches enough to
set a small dealer up in business. He |.
also brought into the house a huge
photograph Of the store front OF 9 New
York retail dealer, who bought Amerl-
can-made watches abroad and sold them
dealers who bought the same grade OF
watches of the trust were not permitted
to SELL
Taking up his argument. Mr.. Rainey
said:
"There is tariff on watches-a
tariff that is practically prohibitive: We
produce in this country from SD, 100000
to 5000, 900 worth Of watches every
wear: we import into this country less
than $2,OO00OO worth Of watches an
nually, nearly all of the imported
watches coming from Switzerland. The
! specific and ad valorem duties on
watches and watch cases amount prac-
tically to nearly so per cent OF their
value. The watchmakers Of the United
States are practically entirely free
from competition. The Swiss move.
ments that are brought into the country
every year are the more expensive
grades of movements; they come here
I because there has been established a
trade for them.
Trust Fixes Prices7
| A. Keene Of New York commenced TO
4 buy American watches abroad at the
| EXPORT price He accumulated over
100000 worth Of watches purchased
at the foreign price before he COM
menced to advertise his goods.
"Until the Dingley tariff went into
effect we had one price tor american,
price prevailed abroad. Soon after that
time the American watch trust was
1 formed. They will probably deny that
there is a watch trust, but they own
each others stock, they fix the same
price here and the same price abroad on
the same grade of goods. They, all ex-
act from retailers the same contract mt "a as
"Under the contracts an Elg1n
p sVeritas' movement cannot be sold
for q less price than $35. Mr.. Keene ad-
vertises this movement for $2o.5o. l
might continue the comparison, but L
have called attention to the contrast
in prices sufficiently, perhaps to raise
the question as to how this enterprls-
p ing American jeweler can make tnese
prices. a..
ssThe reason for it is simply this:
Americ n-made goods can be re-import-
r ed free of duty if they come back IN
% the same condition they were when they
went abroad, and if they have not been
advanced in value or improved upon
while abroad. ~ - -.+ 4ssa@z.. r ,tg
Others Profit Too.
uMr. Keene simply buys American
watches abroad, upon which Jobber. IN
% some capital Of Europe has made
Z profit and perhaps retailer also has
8; made profit; he buys watches upon
which the freight has been paid across
s the Atlantic and pays freight on then
back to. New York and, with all These
8 items added, he is able to sell thu
r watches he brings back, from 25 to 81
per cent cheaper than the American re
taller can possibly sell the same goods
It is easy to reimport watches. Thu
i name of the maker is stamped upol
: them and they can be easily identified
p as, American made goods.
"The movement in this watch (hold
e ing up a sample)' is a 16.size, 17-jewe
pany It was bought by a Mancheste
watch dealer from the London agent o
the Waltham company for SO shilling
= ($12 in American gold. This sam
grade of movement costs the larges
Z dealer in America, all discounts of
Il $17.35. This is one Of the movement
81 which it is impossible, by the iron-cla
sumner for less than $25. This grade Q
= movement can be purchased from Nj
~s Keene for 1859 as long as the stoc
- lasts. --
"All watches are numbered. Thi
watch is numbered 10537464. Th
=. books Of the Waltham company wi
u show that this watch was sold abroad
I challenge the company to produce til
! books and prove the contrary.
.. Challenges Denials
II have here an Elgin watch, mac
in Elgin, III. The movement is a 1
IL size, 15-jewel movement; the case
g. g. 2O-yeaf Keystone James Boss bran
~ of goods. This watch was sold in Sout
AMeI1cd LOT Po.fO complete; IL COSCS u
American jeweler to buy this compile
watch SLAP with all discounts O.
The ordinary American retailer sells
for $17. Mr.. Keene sells it for $97
The number of this movement is 11O7
078. challenge the Elgin Watch col
pany, or any member who desires
represent it on this floor, to dispro
anything have said about it,
Mr.. Rainey made similar compa
sons on dozen or more differe
4 watches, in each instance giving t
maker s name, the price, and the nu
Der of the watch. He continued:
-. ssUnder these circumstances who
any .yd protected, the American workmen a
j 81 American consumer, or simply the n
RN, lionaire who owns the stock in tn,
uP, watch companies
a1 TX Has the Dingley tariff increased
ca. number of watch factories in the COZ
BE, try? In 1870 there were thirty-sey
lynn: watch factories in the country; in 1!
- there were only thirteen
81 have simply given the facts, an
challenge anyone to disprove then
There are many forms Of nervous