The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-06-11
PLOT TO BOOST
PRICE Of CLASS
Committee Learns Of Combine to
Keep Them High Above
Pre-War Level.

| A nationwide scheme of manu-
facturers of FLAT" glass to close plants
for fixed periods each year, limiting
production and maintaining prices at
a level from four to five times that
of pre-war days, was shown this week
| by Samuel Untermyer before the
Lockwood committee on housing in
city hall, New York.
There are two periods of operation
ordinarily of IA or IS weeks each,
so that the plants are closed 20 or
p weeks yearly. This is regulated
by national association interviewer
with one another, and an understand
ing exists that if a manufacturer pro-
duces in less than the time fixed all.
that he would ordinarily in the full
IA or Is week period. he shall close
| ahead of time. No manufacturer is
supposed to produce more than Ibis
quota"
The combine is regarded by coun-
sci to the Lockwood committee as
one Of the most powerful in the coun-
try, and the information relating. to
it will be sent to the federal author
| tiles, under whose jurisdiction it falls.
Several witnesses were unable to
! estimate the amount Of business done
by the combine, but the committees
counsel is Informed that the yearly
sales of flat glass in this country
amount to approximately $350,O00,O00
Joseph Elias, of Joseph Elias, Inc,
of Long Island City, member of the
| executive committee of the National
Glass Distributors association, to
which nearly all of the jobbers and
manufacturers of "flat' glass belong,
was asked by Mr.. Untermyer:
do you think that it is a good
thing for the country THAT a great
Industry of this kind should be under
such complete control that the manu-
facturers produce in concert what
they please, distribute the quota of
production among them, shut down
whenever they think the market is
supplied, and have a uniform price
to the trader"
I think that production should be
controlled" he replied,
Another witness, Edgar v. Jacks,
member Of Holbrook Bros. No. 80
Beekman street, jobbers in flat glass
ware and members of the National
Glass Distributors association, said
the unions wanted the plants shut
down for certain periods, fearing that
"over-production'' might ruin the
business.
Effect on Prices.
. Counsel commended that within
Few years the manufacturers had
more than trebled their prices to the
Joobers and the jobbers had more
than trebled their prices to the re-
tailers
FROM the minutes of a meeting of
the executive committee of the job
oers'. association, Mr.. Untermyer read
| into the record:
considerable discussion and
tnought was given recently by the
Chicago jobbers to the necessity of
revision of the list covering wind
snlelds and automobile sizes, with the
result that they formulated a list
oased on unit prices obtained as fol-
lows: Each light was figured as the
manufacturers current cost, plus
1relgnt' the result being trebled.
This method admits of the list be-
ing sent out subject to a. discount
! OF SO per cent. Please note that the
list has been so arranged with ref
erence to grinding and polishing of
cages that the suggested discount Of
o. per cent is applicable to these
Items as well as to glass;
Inc biggest manufacturing associa-
tions, according to the testimony. are
the National Association of Window
Glass Manufacturers and the Plate
CLASS manufacturers of America, both
in Pittsburgh.