Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-24
MORE SCIENCE IN
POTTERY NEEDED,
SAYS REDF| ELD
Secretary Of Commerce De-
clareS Leaders of Industry
Lack knowledge of Cost of
Production.


Washington. Feb. Secretary
Redfield today made public the report
of the investigation by the department.
OF commerce into the pottery indus
try. begun Co-incidentaily with the
enactment OF the present tariff law
aud an announcement by the United
states Potters association that any re-
duetions in selling prices resulting
from reduced duties must be follow
ed By corresponding reduction in
wages
The tariff reduced duties from S.
TO 81 per cent and from 60 TO 40 per
cent on undecorated and decorated
eartherware respectively The report
says the imports of pottery for The
first twelve months OF the tariff law
increased less than a half million dol
lars over the last twelve months Of
the OLD law.
The following conclusions are given
as general statements of fact:
Variations in Earnings.
=. The potters of the United
States are without adequate knowl-
edge OF the costs OF production in
their own industry.
-. Extreme costs of production
were found In the different potteries
OF the United States There were al
so large variations In earnings and
profits.
IS. Large differences in the cost
of production between the potteries of
the United states and those of Europe
were round to exist. The general lew
Ell of costs was considerably higher in
the United states. In fact, the low
est cost OF production In any Ameri-
can pottery exceeded that Of the high
est cost Of production in any Euro
pean pottery, except one establishment
In Austria.
"A. Competitive prices Of Ameri-
can and foreign ware In the United
States are not determined solely by
the difference in cost of production
at home and abroad. Others factors,
including customs duties. transporta-
ton charges and incidental expenses
are sufficient as shown IN the report
to offset the difference in cost of
production
IiaphaMrd Developments
20. Many OF the American potter
les are poorly situated and the plants
are badly arranged, owing to the hap
hazard character of their develop
ment. There are few American pot
teries that have thoroughly modern
plants equipped throughout with up
to-date machinery
"6. In spite of the fact that the
average wages paid in American pot
teries in the different occupations are
higher than those paid in European
Yatisfsss hy from 30 70 over 600 per
cent, the labor cost per unit Of pro-
duet never shows SO great a differ
ence as ~ per cent except In Ger
man china plants) This indicates
the greater efficiency of American
wofkmen.
- The standard list upon which
American notters base their selling
price Is absolute. II establishes for
different articles selling prices that
vary widely from the relative costs OF
production Complete revision is ne
cessary before American notters can
lnteiligently sell their ware.
Better Methods Needed.
IS There is a distinct need for
more scientific methods Of produce
ton which can be brought about only
by highly skilled instruction and more
scientific research work.
~. Finally this report has aimed
to be constructive In its analysts Of
the pottery industry. There are
means, and these have been pointed
out by which the cost Of production
may be materially reduced And the