The Washington times., 1912-03-26
PRESIDENT URGES
SLASH IN RATES Of
COTTON SCHEDULE
Message, Based on Board
Report, Says Labor Is
Cheaper Than Abroad.
Continued from First Page }


In. cost of production. on some highly
specialized yarns, and on yarns of the
highest count-that is, of greatest fine
hess-the. duty in some cases about
equalizes the difference in conversion
tosts. In many cases, however. on the
higher grades of yarn which are pro-
puced in this country. the duty is in
excess of the difference in the cost of
production, though by a much less
amount than in the case of ordinary
warp and filling yarns.
Lower Labor Cost.
The difference in the cost of weaving
yarn into cloth as between this coun-
try and its chief competitor varies, ac-
fording 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
rost, due to the greater number Of
looms tended per weaver in. this coun-
Try. This reduces the labor cost per
yard despite the higher earnings of the
further substantiated by the fact that
cloths of this description are sold by
the domestic manufacturer in this
country at prices as low as those
charged by the foreign manufa cturer
IN his own country. In proportion,
however, as the fabrics become more
complicated land, therefore, permit Of
tcWer looms per weaver), the American
cost OF production increases. In the
case of most fancy fabrics of conpll-
cated weaves, the cost of weaving is
nlSher in this country, but on such
fabrics the present duties are in excess
OF any difference in cost, and in many
Eases are in excess OF the total conver-
sion cost in this country.
The cost of finishing (that is, bleach
ing, printing. dyeing, and meTcerzing)
Is about the same In this country and in
the leading competing country The
extra duties imposed under the pres
ent law by reason of these processes
are in excess of the difference in the
extra cost due to finishing and are
often in excess of the total domestic
cost of finishing.
The report further shows that in the
case of 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
hs low as the prices charged by the for
eign manufacturer in his own market.
and in many cases lower. on the finer
goods mill prices in this country are
higher than abroad, due in part. at
least, to the higher cost of production
here. In few cases. however Is the
mill price in this country Increased by
anything like the full amount of the
duty.
Consumers Hit.
On the other hand, the prices paid by
consumers in this country are higher
than abroad. even where the prices re-
ceived by the manufacturers are the
same in both countries. This is re-
suit of a system of distribution under
which the margin between the manu-
facturer's price and the retail price Is
much greater than abroad. This Is
partly due both to the higher cost of
distribution and TO the established prac-
tice in the cotton retail trade of SELL
Ing fabrics at customary fixed or set
prices.
Under the existing system of distribu-
ZION 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. These mat
ters are set forth fully in the report
of the board, which presents in impair =
tial manner the necessary facts on
which an intelligent revision OF this
schedule can be based.
l. therefore. recommend that the Con-
eress proceed 20 such a revision with
pit delay.
Pcforn closing this message, 7 desire
10 bring the attention Of Congress 20
the tact mat the lao0r and expense in
vowel IN the reports tN the Tariff Com;
mission upon schedule * twODl and
manutactIres of, ana upon schedule !
Icotton manufactures). have been such
Pc nearly TO exhaust the appropriation.
H'he pressure under which these invcs-
hgation and reports We're made involuN-
"a greater outlay than will be nec"s-
Ear% IN the investigation and report
tarirr tit law. HSretofSre he Ty "yDend M jt're Hre
rs averaged about $OCON per month
trHce , Iho PIotIi !ri Dcca'he aNalI
lis chairmin. Mr. Emery ad,ises ~,
that $1,000 par month. in addition Ia
the SunI On hdnd would enable them 10
III 'irc,.,.'J WE" mpPiI mpfi over SCI SCI" ~
The fiscal yea Junc 20 i91s therH.
fore uI4c thc appropriation as a de-
nEIchIN 3pprop'la''nn, or Son"t", to en-
no,L 1,,rD" h r,ontbe ne t,,,i Kis, No,
aud June.
CaDnOl pmDhaSiL1 too much the i'm.