New-York tribune., 1921-12-25
Tariff Stirs New
England Cotton
Goods Producers
Trade Quiet but Encourag-
ing Last Week; FURRY in
Surgical Cloths; Lee IS
Idle Spinning Machinery
Special psspatch to The Tribune

Spcciol Dispatch 70 The Tribune
NEW BEDFORD. Mass. Dec 10
With the convening Of Congress the
interest OF the New England cotton
manufacturers is centered around the
schedule on the fine cotton goods III
the Fordney tariff bin. The vigorous
protest of former Senator Henry Lip
pitt, Of Providence, r. l., and other
manufacturers who appeared before
the Senate Finance Committee Thurs
day, when the bill was declared the
most discriminatory. unjust and un
scientific tariff ever devised, was but
reflection of the storm which has
been brewing for many months
New England mas to all intents and
purposes only one audible voice on the
tarix question This IS, as in the past,
directed toward 1 high protective tariff.
particularly on the fine cotton goods.
This sentiment has for months been
hostile to the Fordney bill schedule.
The cotton duties, estimated at % per
cent, are declared Inadequate to protect
the industry. Heretofore what New
England has said it needed in the lay
Of protective rates has practically be
come law. 1t might almost be said that
up until work or framing the work had
progressed considerably there was
little thought as TO why this procedure
would not continue. Now the size o.
the task assumes its true proportions
and the industry is united fer fal
presentation of its case.
Fine Goods Need Tariff
Some manufacturers feel that proper
recognition of the changed conditions
Is not being given. This group holds
to the view that the day Of the old
preferential tariff, in Which the East
ern manufacturing states decided the
tariff duties has passed. Instead the
Western agricultural interests, de
handing high prot ecti0n. in their opin-
ion, must be treated n i new way, and.
revolutionary as IL may De. argue that
it wlll be better 10 face the true tate
Of affairs.
The lower grades Of cotton do not
face the keen foreign competition that
the fine goods do Fall River, while
interested in 4 tariff. does not regard
it as so vital as New Bedford. The
American valuation plan is favored by
the cotton industry generally, and Z
constant campaign has been waged IN
the press Of cotton cities fer it's re
tentlon.
Heavier Cotton Receipts
Trade in the industry, which or the
whole has been rather quiet this week.
found encouragement IN the report of
the receipt Of o. ,052 bales OF cotton IL
New Bedford in November. This S an
increase of 3756o bales over October.
In 1920 the receipts in November we're
3 900 bales; in 1919. so GOO bales. De
cenber in the first few days has
brought lighter receipts. Figures Cor
all the principal cotton centers II NeW
England are not yet available, but the
volume 5 reported to be substantially
larger in ali than in October of this
year or for November of last year.
The cotton market has continued
quiet this week. Business IN yarns
and finished goods has shown some
Improvement The estimated sales e.
print cloth in Fall River are 49,
pieces. The surgical trades have been
active in the trading. The furry in
surgical cloth brought slight price
increase, and prices on the whole were
slightly firmer. The fine goods of New
Bedford were less active than the Fail
River trade. Prices remain without
much change. Spinning mills, which
have not recovered as much as the
other mills in New Bedford. nave been
starting idle machinery more and
more. Prices have dropped some in
yarns and fine goods from the nigh
levels Of October, but they are aow
from % to IS per cent higher than
/ they were before the advance started
in September.
Another contradiction to the gene RAJ
inactivity of the depression has been
( in the strong demand for mill shares.
which mas over many weeks Increased
their price. This condition applies 70
Fall River and New Bedford The
features IN the advance have been the
Nashawena, OF New Bedford, which
has arisen from 120 to about 150 at
present; Sharp common from below
par to 115.
There has been no new Developments
in the wage question. Mil men will
not commit themselves 10 any bel,ar
that t:.ere VIII De Il reduction wiShn
an immediate persas.. TaR-i, 4 q Wno..-
the public appears TO be either in~1-
ferent or skeDtieal that there VIII be
any cut