Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-29
TAFT URGES REDUCTION
IN COTTON TARIFF LIST
President Transmits Tariff
Board Report With Several
Special Recommendations

ton that that section or the tariff law
be taken up for revision and reduction
in the rates Of duty.
The president advises congress that
the boards Investigations have shown
that the duties on some cotton yarns
is two and three times In excess OF
the difference of the cost Of produc-
ton in the United States and abroad.
The duties imposed because Of finishing
processes are in excess Of the differ
ences in the extra cost due to finishing
and are often in excess OF the total
domestic cost of finishing.
Prices paid by consumers in the
United States are higher than abroad.
even when prices received by manufac-
furers in both places are the same.
This is said TO be due to the higher
cost of distribution here. Plain cloths
are as cheap here as anywhere, but
on fancy fabrics the duties are in eX-
cess Of the differences in cost. and IN
many cases the duties are greater than
the conversion costs in the mills OF
the United States.
BOARD SHOULD CONTINUE.
President Taft asks a deficiency APP
preparation OF $4,000 for the board to
continue its work during April. May
and June, and urges congress to further
continue the life of the board, that 1t
may prosecute investigations Of the
metal. leather, chemical and sugar
schedules which the president has d.
rected The presidents message is
comprehensive summary OF the boards
findings AS in its report on the
wooden schedule and the pulp and
paper schedule. the board makes no
recommendation and suggests no
duties in its reviews OF a very COM
pick subject. The president says he
bases his recommendations on the
declaration OF the platform on which
he was elected-"that a reasonable pro-
tective tariff should be adjusted TO the
difference in cost OF production at home
and abroad"
''The report of the board shows the
dfficulty OF stating in general terms
differences in costs Of production for
great variety of cotton manufacturers,
the president wrote.
THE differences vary widely accord
ing to the character Of the particular
fabric.
COST OF YARNS.
The report shows that the cost OF
spinning cotton yarn in this country is
greater than in the leading competing
country (EngIand). In the case Of or
binary warp and filling yarns, forming
the bulk Of the production Of the do
nestle industry, the foreign cost of
turning cotton into yarns is shown to
be about 20 per cent Of the domestic
cost
The duty on these yarns is two or
three times in excess of the difference
in cost of production. on some highly
specialized yarns and on yarns of the
highest count-that is, of greatest fine
ness-the duty in some cases about
equalizes the differences in conversion
costs.
I'm many cases, however. on the
higher grades of yarn which are pro-
duced in this country, the duty is in
excess of the difference in the cost of
production, though by much less
amount than in the case of ordinary
warp and hlling yarns.
COST OF WEAVING.
The difference in cost of weaving
yarns into cloth as between this coun-
try and its chief competitor, varies &C
cording TO the character of the fabric.
In the case of many cloths Of plain
weave, the American cost of weaving
seems to be lower than the foreign
cost, due TO the greater number of looms
tended per weaver in this country. This
reduces the labor cost per yard despite
the higher earning of the American
weaver. This conclusion is further
substantiated by the fact that cloths of
this description are sold by the domes-
tice manufacturer in this country at
prices as low as those charged by the
foreign manufacturer in his own
country. In proportion. however, as
the fabrics become more complicated
land therefore permit OF fewer looms
per weaver) the American cost Of pro-
duction increases. In the case of most
fancy fabrics OF complicated weave,
the cost OF weaving is higher in this
country, but on such fabrics the pres
ent duties are in excess of any diner
ence in cost, and in many cases are in
excess OF the total conversion costs
in this country.
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 manufactu-
rer are as low as the prices charged
by the foreign manufacturer in his
own market, and in many cases lower.
Under the existing system of dis
tribution. a slight reduction Of duties
would in some cases materially reduce
the price to the consumer while in
other cases large reduction of the
duties would not change the price to
the American consumer at ALL"
RAW MATERIAL.
In the cost of raw material. the
board reports. there is practically no
advantage possessed py either the
United States or England. Comparing
yarns selected by the board as sam
pies, the English labor cost was found
TO be on an average or practically sew
en-eighths Of the American in two
mills selected.
1t was not possible for the board,
with the time and money at its dis
posal. to investigate each of the items
/ Of the cotton schedule, and its work
was confined to yarns. threads, textile
fabrics and such specialties as tapes
tries. 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 greater. The conclusion is that
on many plain fabrics the cost Of pro-
duction in this country Is not greater.
COST OF FABRICS.
The report gives some figures show.
/ Ing the difference in cost OF cotton
fabric at the mill and the cost to the
consumer. Cloth sold at the mill at
/ 8 or cents a yard reaches the con-
sumer at Is cents. Some examples are
given:
I'm 1908 a quilt sold at the mill for
I So 10 cents was sold TO the consumer
AT 81 In 1910 the mill increased the