Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-26

vented from providing protection for the
life and property of its citizens"
of the intermediate profits and cost of
wood; the seventh chapter of the pounds
OF material per ton Of news-print paper;
the eighth chapter Of the efficiency of
equipment In paper mills in the United
States and Canada; the ninth chapter, of
the price of news-print paper; in the
tenth chapter is a discussion of invest
ment and depreciation; in the eleventh
chapter are shown variations IN costs of
productions over a period of years; in
the twelfth chapter are set for the
amount, value, and sources iof wood-pulp
imports into the United States. and in the
thirteenth chapter there is a full discus
sion of the wages and hours of employ
ment. IT is volume of 1874 printed pages,
with tables showing exactly the elements
that go into the cost of making paper
in Canada and making paper in this coun-
try, and disclosing both what the rates
OF wages are in the two countries and
also what the labor cost is in the max
ing of a ton of news-print paper in the
United States and in Canada, and show
ing. In other words, the efficiency OF
the labor In the two countries. as well
as the actual amount paid per hour or
per day.
EASY TO LEARN FACTS.
A study Of this report win satisfy any
candid, impartial observer of the COM
pleteness with which it is possible to se-
cure information without the inquisito-
rial examination under oath, and the
greater accuracy that may be had In a
quiet, friendly examination of the books
than by necessarily antagonistic cross
examination of the proprietor of the
business when on the stand. The report
vindicates the judgment of the Euro
pean authorities, whom Professor Emery
consulted, that the use of formal cross
examinations to secure facts in regard
to the cost of manufactured articles is
not the best course for getting at the
facts.
tits said with respect to the tariff
board that its Investigations are not to
be relied upon, Because 1t must secure
and means committee, and that the com
mittee can secure testimony OF such peo-
pie more effectively than the tariff board.
Such a statement fails entirely to recog-
nize the real character of the ,investiga-
tons of the tariff board. Material se-
cured by that board Is not in the nature
of testimony of different parties exam
ined as to what they think on any .of
these facts. 1t Is In the result of an ex-
animation Of the books and records of
producers and manufacturers and tab
ulation from these by the expert agents
of the board, resulting in perfectly def
mite and precise information as to the
actual results given by the best indus
trial or commercial operations for CIV
en- time. In short II is the substitution
of records compiled from the books of
the concerns for the testimony Of inoi-
viduals,,
Then again it said that other bureaus
or agencies of the government longer es-
tablished and of better organization have
made or are making, all the invest.sa-
tons of this kind necessary. The maker
of such an objection fails to appreciate
the marked difference between the work
of the board and most other agencies of
the government. The work of the tariff
board Is not primarily statistical. Other
agencies of the government, especially in
the department of agriculture and the
department of commerce and labor, car
ry on statistical Investigations of much
importance, much of which has to be
used by the tariff board, and in all cases
the tariff board endeavors to avoid any
duplication of work OF this kind. But
such statistical work as to production,
tlmports and exports, number of people
employed earnings per week. etc, are
very small part of the investigation
necessary for a consideration of tarin
problems. No agency of the government
has ever done even statistical work pri-
marily with view to considering the
effects of tariff rates on producers and
consumers. For instance, there is much
printed material on the subject OF
wages in different lines Of industry, but
practically none of this is of much value
for a discussion Of tariff questions, since
wages per day or per week signify little
as to the actual labor cost per unit OF
article The investigation now being
made by the tariff board into the textile
industries will develop a knowledge re-
garding wages In relation to the amount
of output, efficiency of laborers and ma
chimes in this and leading foreign coun-
tries of a character never made public
before and based on the actual wages
paid and output secured Of the
thousands of laborers and thousands
of machines, as shown by the
pay rolls of the companies checked up
by the earnings of individual men.
COST OF PRODUCTION.
The bureau of corporations has in some
cases made very careful examination in
to costs of production. TheseNinvestiga-
tions, however, were not undertaken pri-
marily with reference to their bearing on
tariff legislation. SO far as they cover
the ground necessary for such purpose.
there will be no need of this work being
duplicated by the tariff board This is
especially true OF the metal schedule. -
is only necessary to supplement this ma
terial by such other information as may
be vital to a consideration of the tarin
proper.
The best way to understand the pecul-
lar character of the Investigations of the
tariff board is to compare their published
report on pulp and news-print paper
with the statistical work Of other gov
eminent agencies regarding this industry
or with the hearings before the ways
and means Committee. 1t is shown that
this investigation does not in any way
duplicate the statistical work OF the 9TH
err departments, but that its scope is
quite different and yet the investigation
develops data essential to an understand
ing of industries from point of view
OF the tariff.
It will also appear that the method OF
Investigation is unite different from that