Milford chronicle., 1947-02-14

THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS
OF dlnnerware were in Washington this week
lighting against tariff reductions which
might put them out of business.
These manufacturers are not big CORPORA
tlOnS centered in big cities. They are typi-
Cal small businesses, mostly dispersed in doZ-
ems OF small cities and communities which
depend upon the p0ttericS for their livcli-
hood.
AS such, this industry and others like it
are tremendous force for economic security
and stability in this Nation. Witness the
TACT that the pottery workers have been OF
ganlzed and bargaining collectively for 10
years without major labor dispute. These
employees are, for the most part, skilled
craftsmen who are making a contribution 10
American art and culture which never can
be produced by the punch press or the as
sembly line
Yet this industry is threatened today bv
a request from England and Czechoslovakia
1Or fulther reduction in tariffSi on dinner
ware. Our Government is actively consid-
ering this request
Pottery workers in this country receive
an American wage which is 300 percent
hlgher than that paid in English potteries-
9O0 percent higher than Japan. To offset
this broad wage discrepancy, at least partial
from 4O to ~ percent on tableware
This wage differential is extremely i'm
portant because in the pottery industry 60
TO % percent Of the factory selling price is
paid IN wages, as compared with 20 percent
in all industry.
FOrelgn countries are eager to get Amer
lcan dollars. SO the first question that arises
is whether dOllar-short countries are TO DUR
chase the products of our giant mass-produc
ing industries obtained at the expense of
small business III. this country
Representatives of the u. S Potters Asso
cation and the Vitritied China Association
appeared before the Committee for Recp
roclty information this week to explain that
any tariff reduction now would mean that %
american pOtterieS probably would be forced
to close their DOORS
1t was pointed out that any concession
granted England OF Czechoslovakia now.
likewise would apply to Germany and japan
as soon as the peace treaties are signed. The
ultimate result of tariff reduction, therefore
would mean flood of Japanese dishes that
would dlSplace both the American and Emo
lish product. s
me domestic manufacturers told how
the British government has taken pains TO
protect It's pOtteries against competition
from countries which paw an even loyo,.
"Why can't we have that same sunno,t
and cooperation from our government y ono
witness asked at the hearing. "lt's enough to
De compelled to compete with the lower labor
rates"
forthcoming reciprocal trade agreements IS
VIII bear Watching. 1t would seem that this
IS poor time at which to attempt = careful
scientific adjustment Of tariffs. The entire
world Stlll Is in Il state of chaos. Peace
treatleS have not been signed. Values of five
OF SIX years ago are meaningless today.
In the case of the pottery industry. for
example, tnere has been no actual experience
uiloer ahylhlng but War conditions, with the
lalltt reduction made in 1899 with the Brit
iSh.
1t would seem wise, therefore. to DELAY
any reduction in rates until some sound L.sis
IS available upon which to decide whether or
not such changes will be in the interest of the
United States
IEIMlNG DESTRUCTION bv fl re 81
staggering drain on our human and material
resources, Major General Philip B. Flem
lng' who has been appointed by President
truman as chairman of a forthcon1ino Nn-
tional Conference on Fire Prevention. recont-
~ stated that concerted attack on fire losses
must be made by national state and local
authorities N'''
!. General Fleming, speaking over the ma
tlonWlde radio program of the National
Board OF Fire Underwriters, pointed out that
iof more than ten years an average of II. 600
lives have been lost annually as q res,l of
llre Property loss has steadily mounted
touching $500, 100000 in 1916. "This terrible
obstruction of life and property" he said,
could have been almost entirely avelted if
proper precautions had been taken in time"
The National Conference on Fire Preven-
lon, called by the President, will be held in
washington within the next few months. Its
purpose is simple and basic: to bring the
eVer-present danger from fire home to all our
people, and to intensity the work of fire pre-
Hehtlon IN every town and city President
truman phlased it in these words: "I can
tnlnk OF no more fitting memorial to those
who died needlessly this year in the LaSalle
Hotel IN Chicago, the appalling disaster at
the Wlnecof Hotel in Atlanta, and the more
Nnl1y l.