New Britain herald., 1924-12-29
HIGHER TARIFF
 NOW DEMANDED
Rates on Cotton Considered
 Inadequate

New Bedford, Macs, Dec. 29.-- With tho statement that the cotton mills of this city are dependent on the tariff 10 maintain their prosper lty, 'as affecting both tho investors and employees, Morgan Butler, treas- urer of the Butler mills and presl- dent of the National Cotton Manu- faoturers' association, said the tariff bill of 1922 had proved inadequate for their protection. It was added that only reduction in tho cost of production or an increase in the tariff on fine cotton goods would af- cquately protect American standards. and that the community must sup port "cvery cndeavor to make the tariff adequate to protect our textile business" The statement by Mir. But Ter. who Is the son of United States Senator William NJ, Butler, was made in summary of the pas. year in the textile industry here, and an estimate of the prospects for 1925, written for local publication,
 since the world war the textile industry of the world has been sub joct to seyeral dcprcssionS," Mr. Butler said. Ut is just beginning 10 emerge from the most severe and longest depression in modern times. New Bedford has been less affected than any other textile center in the country because New Bcdford's pro duct is different from that of the great majority of mills.
 lis products, however, Is subject 70 the competition Of some eastern
 mills located in states where hours of operation, charges for taxes and other items in the cost of produc- ton are more favorable to success 1 iul and continuous operation; and for the most part of tho product of New Bedford mills is in competition with the product Of European fine goods mills. The cost Of production of the European mills is consider i ably below that Of American fine goods mills chiefly on account of the superior standard Of living obtaining ilere which ncccSSitatcs a higher wage scale. New Bedford is de- pendent on the tariff to maintain her prosperity as affecting investors in i Ter industry, and even more de- pendent on it as affecting the pros perity and well being Of the larger humber of her people who are em- ployed in the mills.
 "The tariff bill of 1922 has proved 10 be inadequate for our pro- lection. Since Europe began to re- cover from the immediate affects of the world War there has been truly | appalling increase in the volume of line goods coming into the country. i According ta government statistics, i this volume in 1928 was almost equal to the production of all New Bcd- i lords cloth mills at full capacity. It is but little less in 1924. It is approximately equal to 25 per cent of the total normal full time .produc- tion of all the mills in the United States equipped 10 make New Bed ! ford goods.
 This situation for New Bedford is q serious one and must be met by common business sense and the application of every energy We can exert. It is obvious that New Bed ford costs of production can be re- duced or that the tariff on fine cot ton goods be increased to adequately protect the American standards we have established. The community mustg rasp the importance of the tariff and support whole heartedly as q common cause every cndeavor to make the tariff adequate to pro- ] tccL our textile business"