Piecework wages of kiln hands, compared. Cost of placing in and drawing out of an Schoenhof's New Jersey bureau of statictics 18 foot 18-foot biscuit-kiln. and labor. biscuit. report. Singular to notice, Mr. Schoenhof's general average is $8.70 per week, only 1 cent more than our report before mentioned to the Tariff Commission in 1882-showing conclusively that our table of English earnings is correct. If we take Table 1 of his report, page 76, for the year 1884-85, we find the earnings as reported by the English workmen to him very much less. Now we come to the report of Schoenhof, page 79, where he compares the piece prices paid in England and America. Piece prices, English and American, compared. [Schoenhof, page 79.-April, 1886.] The same course was pursued in making these figures as was adopted by the author of the bureau of statistics, New Jersey, for 1883. Only a few of the branches are given, and those of the pressers only. Why the jiggermen, kilnmen, dippers, and others were not given, when those branches comprise two-thirds of the product of a factory, is a query. Where the whole list is taken, English and American, the difference is 112 instead of 57 per cent., and these figures in England are good from oven prices, while the American prices are good from hand, a difference in price variously estimated at from 10 to 20 per cent. additional. › Comparison of wages paid in the potteries in England and America. [The English prices given are those paid November, 1880, and in force after that time with a deduction of 8 per cent. from these prices. The American prices are from the established printed work list. All the American work is paid for "good from hand" when made, the loss in it going through the kilns falling on the manufacturer. The English is paid for "good from kilns," the workmen suffering the losses sustained while going through the kilns. All other lines, as C. C. ware and china compare in same proportions as white granite.] Comparison of wages paid in the potteries in England and America—Continued. There is a far greater difference in woman and child labor, which is 200 per cent., and this labor is one-third of the pay-roll of our potteries. The tables and figures, in regard to wages heretofore referred to, only compare English and American wages. It is an undisputed fact that French wages are onethird lower than English, and German one-third lower than French, and here is where we-even more than against England-must begin to defend ourselves. The trade of the United States is drifting fast into a higher class and finer line of pottery. France and Germany with their chinaware are taking advantage of this growing improvement in the taste of our people, and have been making alarming efforts to supply this market, not only to the detriment of the United States manufacturers, but to the very great alarm of the English manufacturers. Germany is sending her pottery products into England to-day; this alone is a warning of our impending danger. It seems to us wise statemanship to look these matters calmly in the face. Not alone, then, have we to fear the 125 per cent. and upwards difference in wages in England, but the far lower rates in Germany and the corre spondingly cheaper habits and customs of their people. Instead of a reduction of duties to decrease the revenue, it seems to us that common business prudence should dictate a large advance in the rates, as well as a more strict enactment in the administrative features of our tariff law. This industry is no longer so small that our enemies, the importers, can say, "Oh, it is not worth protecting," as they did from 1863 to 1876, and "there is no use putting a duty on these wares to increase their cost to the consumers," for we are manufact uring, as before stated, one-half the consumption of the United States, and at a price more than 50 per cent. less than before home competition was created-a positive evidence of the absence of any TRUSTS in the potteries. As to the change in the classi fication proposed by the ways and means bill, we can not avoid the conclusion that the committee have been imposed upon by some one interested in foreign wares, inasmuch as the change makes such a serious reduction in the grades of goods most largely produced in the United States. A reduction in existing duties on decorated E. ware, commonly called W. G. or P. G., from 60 to 40 per cent. ad valorem, and from 55 to 35 per cent. ad valorem on plain white goods. We desire to call especial attention to the clause in the proposed law beginning "White granite, common ware," etc. This makes the rate 35 per cent., and on the class of goods known as under glaze and lustered ware, and opens an avenue for a flood of fine-grade wares suitable for the most cultivated and luxurious people in the coun try. The committee have been misled as to the class of goods protected by this clause. The reduction on this class is from a 60 per cent. rate to a 35 per cent. rate, and, if maintained, will work untold harm to the industry. The proposed change in the law in regard to duty on packages amounts to but little except on the commoner grade. What we desired, and what is necessary to collect ad valorem duties, is a law that fixes the dutiable value of all goods at the port of shipment ready for transportation; otherwise, there will be no guide as to values, and goods might be invoiced from the interior of Germany, or Russia, or China. Transportation charges certainly should be added, along with the usual commission for selling goods, and then we would have the value at the port of shipment. All goods that we sell must be put in merchantable order; so should the foreign. The foreign manufacturer makes a profit on his packages, and why should he not pay a duty, for we manufacture packages in the United States just the same as we manufacture E. W.; and, as it is the custom of all branches of trade to fix the values of their wares at the principal ports of the country, we can in no safe or equitable way fix values except by the re-enactment of the old law fixing values at the port and by the ship. This law was repealed in 1866, and was restored after one year's trial. The injurious effects and lawsuits growing out of the law of 1883, under this same law, should certainly call for its repeal. We concede that the assessment of duties on packages and charges will be equivalent to 2 to 5 per cent. But we claim that the changed conditions of trade as between countries (now France and Germany more than ever) demands an increase in duties, rather than a decrease, on pottery, and this will cheapen the ware to the consumers of the country by the continuance of home competition, and a general distribution of potteries throughout the United States. Rich in its material resources, why should its pottery material lie valueless in the earth? With labor ready to create wealth and useful articles for the people, why should we place ourselves dependent upon our foreign rivals? The classification of the old bill works well and should be maintained by all means. It is as follows: "SCHEDULE B.-EARTHENWARE. "Brown earthenware, common stone-ware, gas retorts, and stone-ware not ornamented, 25 per centum ad valorem. "China, porcelain, parian, and bisque, earthern, stone, and crockery ware, including plaques, ornaments, charms, vases, and statuettes, painted, printed, or guilded, or otherwise decorated or ornamented in any manner, 60 per centum ad valorem. "China, porcelain, parian, and bisque ware, plain white, and not ornamented or decorated in any manner, 55 per centum ad valorem. "All other earthen, stone, and crockery ware, white, glazed, or edged, composed of earthy or mineral substances, not especially enumerated or provided for in this act, 55 per centum ad valorem. "Stone-ware, above the capacity of 10 gallons, 20 per centum ad valorem. "Encaustic tiles, 35 per centum ad valorem. "Brick, fire-brick, and roofing and paving tile, not especially enumerated or provided for in this act, 20 per centum ad valorem." The necessity for protecting this industry arises, as in all other cases, from the difference in the wages of the home and the foreign laborer and mechanic. We have here shown conclusively that there does exist a wide difference in the earnings of the English and the American pottery operative. If we wish to continue the manufacture of these wares in the United States, we must discriminate accordingly in the passage of our tariff laws. We have shown by this statement that the figures of the New Jersey Bureau of Statistics and Labor, 1883, are incorrect by the subsequent report of 1886. The report of 1886 gives the figures reported by the workmen themselves, which shows the report of 1883 to be 60 per cent. less than that of 1886. The report of 1883, before mentioned, attempted to throw discredit upon the figures presented to the Tariff Commission by the committee of the United States Potters' Association. How signally the report failed to do it the tables herewith presented will show. What we claim in brief is that the average difference of earnings between the English and American operatives is at least 125 per cent., and that the report presented to the Tariff Commission (and herewith printed) is reliable in every respect, and has never been disproved. HOMER LAUGHLIN, Jos. WILLETTS, C. S. COOK, J. H. BREWER, JOHN TAYLOR, Executive Committee United States Potters' Association. |