The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-01
GRANITE TAR
IFF CUTTING
Continued from first page.D

cars at quarry is $780, emitting all trans
portation charges to the same dlstribut'
ing point, which from Barre, Vts IS
easily equal to the freight charges across
the water which, if added at SILL,
makes total of $37ll, or an excess IN
cost of S2.55.
"That certain other granite I. o. b.
Aberdeen, costs $50.6l; duty, at 20 per
cent ad valorem, is Sll,00; freight and
delivery t. o. b. cars at New York, Sls,12i
total, S9025.
"That certain domestic granite costs
| (. o. b. cars at quarry $S7; emitting
wholly transportation charges TO the
same distributing point, equal from
Barre. VT, feel sure, to the shipping
charges across the Atlantic, namely,
sIs.72; total, Sl0572; against the Amer
lean producer, Sl5.47; and that also GER
tain other granite =. o. b. Aberdeen costs
S8oS2; duty, at 90 per cent ad valorem,
$l2.l7; freight and delivery f. o. b. cars
at New York, $l9l3; total S92.l2.
"Tbat also certain other domestic
granite costs T. o. b. cars at quarry, Sss;
emitting wholly transportation charges
to the same distributing point, which is
probably equal to the shipping charges
on sea, $l9.l3; total, $l07.l3; less,
S92. IL; to the disadvantage of the Amer
lean producer, Sl5.0l.
Granite Manufacturers Not Heard.
mo manufacturers of granite were
heard. and the rate of duty was cut TO
25 per cent, substantially granting the
request of the importer. Whether 1t was
because the importer requested a taflH
that would invite competitive lmporta,
ton or because the committee regarded
this industry, whose finished product u
practically all labor, as one which should
be stripped bare of protection and lett
to combat it's foreign rivals with wage
| scale that is high while theirs is low,
| can not say. but such is the result OF
their action--and the consequences must
be most serious.
"Wapes in Barre, VT, and vicinity
Cutters, 4Osa cents per hour, minimum;
polishers, 405s cents per hour, minimum.
Foreign: Cutters, 10 cents per hour
average; polshers, IA cents per hour
average.
"When the present bill of prices ex-
pres the new bill will require "a day
for eight hours.
1.-THE granite business OF the United
| States is in no sense a trust; each manu-
faeturer is in competition with every
other. In Washington county, W., my
| home county, there are over l4o manu-
| featuring concerns in direct competition
with each other. and | am advised that
the same condition exists all over the
United States Should the tariff be
raised 100 per cent. over the rate OF
TODAY it would not at all affect the
prices of the product, owing to the sharp
competition which prevails IT would
mean simply increased production with
| in the United States without increase
Of price to the consumer. II the tariff
liz reduced so that foreign competitors
ship their manufactured product to this
country to any considerable extent, II
will reduce the output OF our manufae-
turers without lessening the cost to the
consumer.
"This Is case where that for every
foreign monument sold in the United
States American labor manufactures
one less. The American laborer gets
Just so much less opportunity to sell his
product. and the American manuiactur-
err parts with his profits for the benefit
of the foreign producer and the home
importer. House bill 1921 makes for
eign manufactured granite an easy com
petitor with American manufactured
granite upon terms which give the for
eirner marked advantage in our own
markets. This is not the tariff revision
promised the people by the Democrats
| In their platform of 1912, nor is it in
accord with the declaration OF President
L. ali Hff
Pittsburgh, when he was quoted as say
ing that his party proposed
"Merely reconsideration OF the tar
Iif schedules such as will ADJUST them
to the actual business condition and
interests of the country. Their desire
is not to check but to aid, not to en-
barrass but to quicken.
an this tariff, the Democratic party
make a vigorous assault on nearly every
Industry in which my constituents are
interested. Not alone granite and free.
stones, but all manufactures OF wood, al
products Of agriculture, Of the farm and
Of the mill all woolens and cottons,
thew have either transferred the article
TO the free list outright or have so re-
duced the rate Of duty as to admit and
invite foreign competition on terms
which put the American producer al
distinct disadvantage and compels an
immediate readjustment of cost in pro
auction or final surrender OF the en-
terprise.
'There il no considerable cost reduc-
ton possible, except by lowered wage
scale and no condition should be invited
or permitted. If preventable, the effect
of which is to reduce any wage scale
or lower the standard OF living Tor any
American workman. The true standard
for all Americans in all particulars is
not cheapness but excellence. The rea-
son given for this attack on the indus
tries and enterprises of my constituents
lis that it will reduce the cost OF living;
but il is not so to be accomplished. Re-
cent experience in free hides and free
rubher. free coffee and teas, is illustra-
tive of my position. To lessen expense
to the user of boards. planks and other
lumber is the explanation given for piac-