New Britain herald., 1915-02-24
SUBMITS REPORT ON
 POTTERY INDUSTRY
Cost Of Production Higher in United
 States Than iu Europe.

Washington. Feb 24.-Secretary Redfield yesterday made public the report of the investigation by the de- partment of commerce into the pottery industry, begun co-1ncidenally with the enactment of the present tariff law and the announcement by the United States Potters association that and reductions in selling prices re- sultng from reduced dutes must be followed by corresponding reduction in wages
 The tariff reduced duties from 55 to 35 per cent and from 60 to 40 per cent on undecorated earthenware re- spectively The report says the inn ports of pottery for the first twelve months of the tariff law increased less than a half million dollars over the last twelve months of the old law
 Conclusions Given.
 The following conclusions are given as general statements of fact:
 '1. The potters of the United States are without adequate knowledge of the costs of production in their own industry.
 2. Extreme cost of production were found in the different potteries
 
 large variations in earnings and prof. it's.
 Compared With Europe.
 "3. Large differences In the cost of production between the potteries Of the United States and those of Flu ope were found to exist. The general level of costs was considerably higher in the United States. In fact, the low est cost of production in any American pottery exceeded that of the highest cost of production in any European 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. Other factors, including customs duties, transporta- ton charges, and incidental expenses are sufficient as shown in the report to offest the difference in cost of production.
 Potteries Poorly Situated.
 ''5. Many of the American potter ies are poorly situated and the plants are badly arranged, owing to the hap hazard character of their development. There are few Americans poteries 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 potteries by from 90 to over 500 per cent, the labor cost per unit of product never shows so great a diff ference as 82 per cent. (except in German china plants). This indi- cates the greater efficiency of Amer ican wOrkmen.
 Selling Price Obsolete.
 v. The standard list upon which American potters base their selling prices is obsolete. It establishes for different articles selling prices that vary widely from the relative costs of production. Cc4aplete revision is necessary before American potters can intelligently sell their ware.
 'S. There is a distinct need for more scientific methods of produc- tion which can be brought about only by highly skilled instruction and more scientific research work.
 Must Reduce Costs.
 ;. Flnally, this report has aimed to be constructive in its analysis of the pottery industry. There are means, and these have been pointed out by which the cost of production may be materially reduced And these costs must be reduced, not only that the American industry may com pete with foreign products brought into this market but in order that American products may compete in foreign markets"
 The investigation was made in the potteries of England, Germany and Austria, and, in the United States, in AS establishments in New Jersey, Ohio West Virginia, New York, Pennsyl- Vavnia, Indiana and Maryland. The report deals exhaustively with the me- chanical, scientific labor and mar keting processes connected with the industry.