New Britain herald., 1929-11-19
SENATE DEBATES
 COTTON SCHEDULE
Opposition to Higher Duties
 Heard in Quarrel

oOi''pitlllS WOIh OH llG COllO1 manufacturers schedule before nlghtfall the senate resumed it's consideration of the subject today with Senator Blaine. republican. wisconsin. Noicing opposition to nose advocating higher import duties on such articles.
 He asserted those seeking such - increases had failed to make case either from the standpoint of labor or industry' and said cotton manu- facturers were seeking to construct tariff wall behind which they 1 would form combinations of monopolies through mergers of the various industries"
 No Earnest Effort
 There has been no earnest or in- teilgent effort to improve either conditions of the workingman or themselves" he said. They are and have been crowd of grasping com binations and individuals. They cnjoy all the luxuries of life. but the men and women in their industries arc the ones in distress
 Senator Walsh, democrat, Massa- chusetts, said that while certain branches of the industry were pros porous. he could show the Wiscon- sin senator where cotton mills had hoon closed. others operated only part time, and still more in bank ruptcy.
 Walsh said he intended 10 vote against many proposed increases in cotton textile duties, but was con- vinced that a Every serious deprcs- sion" existed in certain branches 10 ' which, higher tariffs would be con- tributing aid in restoring prosperity.
 Few Mills Flushed
 Senator Wheeler, democrat. Mon tana, said it was true that mills were being operated day and night in the south. but these were a very limited number
 Answering Whceler's arguments th&t some workers were paid as low as S10 a week for 60 hours. Simmons said wages in dollars and cents were not as high in the south as-in New England. but considering the cheaper living conditions in his sec lion the wages were about the same m proportion 10 those in New Eng land.
 Summing up proposed changes in ne cotton schedule, Blaine said the house bill proposed higher duties on h%0 cotton articles and lower rates on IF, while the senate finance com- mittce increased 715 and decreased only 15.
 As long as labor has no bargain ling voice. he said.it could not re- / .oive a dollar Of benefit from the proposed higher levics.
 Blain said there were a number Of / mergers in the industry but Sim mons depled if there was a "tendenA ry in the south towards mergers h" had not "observcd it nor heard of it."
 Some Closely Owned tip"There are some very wealthy c~niles in the south that have a lumber of mills rather closely own od in their families,' he continued, but I am not aware of any move ment in the south in the direction of merging the cotton mills. It may he that 1t is going on and l know nothing of it. I do not think it is going on, myself"
 Blaine answered the labor re search association had so reported' and he had quoted from the report.
 Saying this information had not come to his knowledge, Simmons as- serted there were 'certain wealthy families" that had erected great many mills. He added that the GCannon family" in his state had / probably a half dozen or perhaps six or eight mills located at differ cnt points in the state"
 But what I understand the sena, 1 for 10 mean by merger" simmons continued. lis indep pendently owned | mills coming together and operating ! under a general corporation, on" { corporation. g controlling company. 1 l do not thing that happened 10 any 1. considerable extent in the SOHth. CS- !. pccially in North Carolina"