Milford chronicle., 1915-03-12
REPORT MADE ON
MONTGOMERY CO.
Says Business Depression is Due
to Bad IdethOdS.
ONLY TEXTILES AFFECTED
Declares Manufacturers Need More
Careful Attention to Business Rath-
Or Than Change In the Tariff.

Declares Manufacturers Need More
/ Careful Attention to Business Rath.
Or Than Change In the Tariff.
Secretary of Commerce Redfeld &C.
cuses the Manufacturers' association
Of Montgomery county, Pa, of mis-
representing industrial conditions in
that county in an effort to discredit
the UnderwoOd-Simmons tariff law.
A letter written by the manufactur-
ers' association to President Wilson
last December attracted nationwide
attention because of the forceful state
ments it contained. The association
called Mr.. Wilson's attention to the
fact that the business depression it
had predicted when the tariff bill was
pending, was now a reality in Mont
! gomery county and that the industries
which the association represented
were suffering the natural effects of
foreign competition.
This letter was a source of consid |
erale annoyance to the administration |
and 1t was finally decided to send a |
special agent from the department of |
commerce to Montgomery county to
make an investigation. This special
agent has now reported, and Secre-
tary Redfleld contends that his find
ings fail absolutely to sustain the
statements made by the association
It is noted, however, that the report
deals only with the direct effect of
the tariff law on Montgomery county
industries. There is no mention of the
possible indirect effects caused by
business stagnation in other lines.
In his letter to President Wilson,
submitting the report, Secretary Red
field concludes:
I'm view Of the facts submitted re-
specting the negligible importations, 7
the injurious trade customs and the I
competition in certain Q
lines, 1t is evident that such of the 9
in this district as may
iaye suffered need rather careful at
ention to business methods than the
IMPOSING of a tariff to sustain them
While carrying on business under h
that are essentially un- {
ound" Il
D. NJ. Barclay, agent of the bureau .
f foreign and domestic commerce, u
lade the investigation. None of the n
was obtained from the ~
oOks Of the concerns belonging to u
he Manufacturers association, be-
ause they had not decided to open
lem to confidential inspection. All
ata were gathered by interviews with va
lie manufacturers. tit
Barclay visited thirty manufactur- Pl
g plants. all but twelve of which be- vi.
nged to the Manufacturers asso- er
alton. ris
"Of the thirty concerns" says Bar sa
ay, fifteen admit that their busi
'ss could not be directly affected by
e tariff; twelve state that foreign.
ade goods could come into direct 49,
mpetition with their products: three T~ -o
fused any information. ~ ~
'Of the twelve firms which claim ~, AZ,
At they could be hurt by foreign ~ ~
mpetition, five produce low price ,N DoH
lmless hosiery, five medium and low -, -
ced wOolen cloth, one cottonade ''~
/ cotton worsted and one manu-
turing wooden and worsted carpet onl
ms and knitting yarns" 7
The investigator pointed out that II Yer
3 only the textile industries which cen
nplained Of being affected by the a rC
iff less