The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-26

country This reduces the labor cost
per yard despite the higher earning
/ of the American weaver. This conciu
( sion is farther substantiated by the
/ fact that cloths of this description are
sold by the domestic manufacturer il
/ this country at prices as low as those
| charged by the foreign manufacturer
in his own country. In proportion,
/ however, as the fabric becomes more
complicated land therefore permits of
fewer looms per Weaver) the Ameri-
can cost of production increases. In
| the case of most fancy fabrics OF COM
plicated weave the cost of weaving
fabrics the present duties are in ex-
cess of any difference in COST and
many cases are in excess of the total
! conversion cost in this country.
Prices Sometimes Lower.
The report further shows that in the
case of a large variety of fabrics which
permit OF the use of many looms per
weaver, the prices at which goods are
sold by the American manufacturer
are as low as the prices charged by
the foreign manufacturer in his own
market ana in many cases lower.
Under the existing system of els
tribution a slight reduction of duties
would in some cases materially reduce
the price to the consumer, while i'll
other cases large reduction of the
duties would not change the price to
the American consumer at ALL
In the cost of raw material, the
board reports there is practically no
advantage possessed by either count y.
Comparing all of the yarns selected by
the board as samples, the English la
Dor cost was found to be on an aver
age of practically seven eighths of the
American and two mills selected. 1t
was not possible for the board with
Hn fff77c, n -
Investigate each of the items of the
cotton schedule and its work was con-
fined to yarns, threads, textile fabrics
and such specialties as tapestries,
plush, hosiery, table damask and the
like.
Figures are presented to show that
although labor costs in the cotton in
dustry are in many cases lower in the
United States than in England yet the
actual hourly earnings in this country
are in most of the principal occupa-
tons much greater The conclusion
is that on many plain fabrics the cost
of production in this country is not
greater.
The report gives some figures show
ing the difference in cost of cotton
fabrics at the mill and the cost to the
consumer.
Cloth sold at the mill at 8 or 9
cents a yard reaches the consumer at
Is cents a yard. Some examples are
given. In 1908 quilt sold at the mill
for 621s cents was sold to the con-
sumner at 81. 1910 the mill increased
the price to rs cents and the price to
the consumer went UP to $3.50.
The English Buy Cheaper.
The board argues, however that in
some cases a reduction in the mill |
price might have made no reduction
for the consumer. A study of COM |
parative statistics seems to show that
the English consumer buys cheaper
because there is less profit between |
the mill man and the retailer.
In determining costs the board did |
not take. into consideration the item
of interest upon investments, but the
cost figures do allow for depreciation.
Taking all the mills covered by the
investigation in each country there
were wider variations in the American
costs secured than in the English
costs. due partly to the fact that the
En- glish mills were all in the MancheS-
ter district where wages and other
conditions are well standardized While
the American costs were taken from
mills covering much wider area,
with much greater differences in Ia
Dor and other conditions. Another
reason for the wider variation in
American costs is that the English
mills for which figures are secured are
all of a modern and efficient type,
while some of the American mills in
GUIDED were old and of low efficiency.
Cost of Manufacture.
Discussing duties in their relation
o cost of weaving and finishing, the
'eport says:
1.-The ratio of the duty to the CONVEX
;ion cost bears little relation to the
alto of the duty to the foreign market
ralue. Thus, in some cases, duties
which are less than 80 per cent adj
ralorem will be one and one-half times
he total American conversion cost
While in other cases duties nearly so
Ter cent ad valorem will be only q of
he American conversion costs. In the
Teater number of cases the duties are
,reater than the total domestic costs
# spinning and weaving.
"One of the most interesting results
f the investigation is to be found in
he facts included in the report regard
ng the different methods of distribu-
ion in the two countries and the great
r margin which exists between the
rice at which the manufacturers sell
lis goods and the price at which the
onsumer buys them in this country,
s compared with similar prices in En-
land. The relation of the tariff to the {
rices paid by consumers can only be
nderstood by fully comprehending the
ignificance in American trade of the
rinciple of set prices.'"
The summary of the report is a large
and the full report probably
Till fill two to four volumes. The wool
eport filled four. It probably will be
rdered printed by congress.