The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-06-05
GERMAN REPORTS
Of LABOR COST
HAS REACTION
Aldrich Scores a Strong Point
When Summary is Given
Senate
BAD FAITH OF GERMAN
CHAMBERS Of COMMERCE

In Anonymous Statements German
Manufacturers Attempt to Show
That Conditions in United States
We're Falsely Presented.
Washington, June 5.-The summary
of the contents of various memorials
of the German chambers of commerce
and industrial establishments, crit
izing statements made by American
manufacturers who appeared before
the ways and means committee of the
house was presented to the senate to-
day by Mr.. Aldrich. chairman of the
senate finance committee. He con-
siders it vindication of his action
in charging that German manufacture
ers had been "impertinent" in their
invasion of American legislative halls
for the purpose of influencing con-
gress in their behalf while a tariff
bill was under consideration.
The statement of Mr.. Aldrich hav-
ing provoked storm the abstract Of
the German memorials was prepared
and the entire report ordered printed.
The abstract is now ready and the
whole report will be printed as soon
as 1t can be translated from the Ger
man text. 1t is contended by men,
bers. of the house ways and means
committee that the request made
through American diplomatic and
consular representatives in Germany
for facts relating to the wage scale
in the various industries in Germany
was sent abroad before the hearings
on the tariff bill were begun. Never
theless it is shown that the desired
information was not gathered by Ger
man chambers Of commerce and
ings given by the committee had been
published and that the German
manufacturers made their replies di-
rectly to statements made by Ameri-
cans to the ways and means commit
tee instead of supplying facts con-
cerning the wago scale.
Without the exception the names of
the individuals who supplied informa-
tion to German chambers of commerce
were withheld by the German govern
ment so far as the senate finance COM
mittee is concerned all Of the state
ments are anonymous. Witnesses be-
fore the house committee are criti-
cized by the German manufacturers
and their statements in some in
stances are declared to be incorrect
and misleading. and in ono case, false.
Following are some of the criticisms:
Some OF the Criticisms.
Accredited to the commerce. of COM
merce at Nuremberg is the request for
the Americans raise the duty on
bronze from 12 to Is cents a pound
10 unreasonable" The statement
admits that the American wages are
twice what they are in Germany, but
asserts that the difference in cost OF
wages is not sufficient to warrant the
increase o. rate asked for by Ameri-
can manufacturers. 1t is asserted al
SO that only about 100 persons are
employed in this industry in tho
United States which statement the
New Jersey senators say is untrue as
there are over 200 persons employed
in this industry in New Jersey alone.
Testimony given before the house
committee by MIR. Bargess. an Ameri-
can manufacturer of China porce-
lain is criticized and termed in ac-
curate by German manufacturers
whose names are withheld and whose
places OF business are not given. The
statement of Mr.. Kurth regarding la
bor cost in tho manufacture of clay
pipes to the house committee is char
acterized by memorial OF the cham
ber of commerce at Limburg to bo
incorrect" A statement by an
American manufacturer OF coal tar
dyes named Schoellkopi, is declared
to mot prove anything" The name OF
the critic and his place OF residence
ara not given.
Similar criticisms arc made in an
swer to statements to tho house com"
mittee Of the Corset Manufacturers
association of the United States by
former Congressman Littauer. con-
corning the manufacture OF gloves; by
producers OF hops and by manufac.
turers of gold leaf jewelry, knit
goods. Autographs. musical instru-
ment, optical instruments OF all kinds
of paper, pencils, pottery and a large
number of other articles. 1t is de-
MED in the report that the German
exporters undervalue their goods. In
a number of cases the language of
criticisms made by German cham
bers of commerce is indentical and
frequently the expression is used that
"the chamber challenges the truth Of
tho statement"
Concerning figures given by Geo. F..
Boyden, an American manufacturer OF
knit goods, memorial Of the cham-
ber of commerce OF Chemnitz asserts
that the rates OF wages quoted for
Saxony are totally false" Argu-
ments used by the chambers to show
that In spite of the cheaper albor in
Germany, the low cost of manufacture
there is Offset in the United States by
the fact that coal Is cheaper and wa
ter power in many instances, is avail
able.