STATE OF NEW YORK, County of Fulton, ss: Patrick W. Smith, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a member of the firm of Rogers & Smith, glove-leather manufacturers, at Gloversville, N. Y.; that he has compiled a statement showing the wages paid to workmen in his mill for various grades of work, for the period of one week, viz, from January 20 to January 25, inclusive; that attached hereto and marked Schedule A is the statement so compiled by deponent, and is a true and correct statement taken from the books of deponent's said firm for the period hereinabove stated, and is a correct statement of the actual wages paid to each of said workmen for said period. Deponent further says that the foregoing statement presents a fair average of the weekly wage earned by workmen in the factory of said deponent's firm and is a fair average wage for several years last past. PATRICK W. SMITH. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of January, 1913. [SEAL.] WILLIAM A. MACDONALD, Notary Public. COLORERS. BEAM WORKERS. Wilhelm Meinke, of Burg, Prussia, whose American interests are looked after by Richard Bondy, of this city, arrived in Gloversville Saturday evening after having landed in New York on the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria. Mr. Menke, who is one of the largest shoe and glove leather manufacturers in his country, was interviewed yesterday by a Morning Herald reporter, during which time he gave many interesting facts concerning the industry. Mr. Meinke operates one factory where there are employed 150 hands. In addition, he controls two other factories, and the entire number of employees numbers 220. The fact that Mr. Meinke manufactures both glove and shoe leather affords him better facilities than if he was merely interested in one branch solely. The output of his factories is 250 dozens per day. In speaking of the leather situation Mr. Meinke states that owing to the Turkish war fully 33 per cent of the leather which comes here is now shut out. The flocks of sheep in the war zone have been practically annihilated, and it will take at least two years before the flocks will be restored to their usual numbers. Naturally, the result has been that buyers crowd into Spain, France, Italy, and Russia, and the demand causes the prices to advance sharply. Prices have advanced generally from 25 to 33 per cent, and are still advancing. Unions are strong abroad, stated Mr. Meinke, and there was some labor trouble a year ago, at which time wages were advanced about 12 per cent. At the present time colorers earn $1.25 per day, and kneestakers about $1.50. The men have steady work all the year round. Mr. Meinke is a cousin of George Meinke and was for nine years technical manager of the former's plant abroad. Wilhelm Meinke has been in business for himself for 11 years. The output of shoe leather turned out by his plants is not sufficient to meet the demands made upon them. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word. Wilhelm Meinke, jr., his son, has been here for the past six months studying American business methods. The elder Meinke made his first visit here one year ago. He is a close student of men and affairs and takes much interest in Gloversville and its people. He spoke in warm terms of the enterprise manifested by business men in all lines here and predicted a great future for the city. He showed a surprising familiarity with this city and its early history, as well as the growth of the glove industry from its humble start. He stated he was particularly impressed with the number of public buildings here, especially the Federal building, the library, the armory, and The Morning Herald building. CORTLAND CORUNDUM WHeel Co., OSCAR W. Underwood, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: We are informed that Schedule N-Sundries, of the customs tariff act, August 5, 1909, will be taken up for consideration by your committee this week, beginning the 29th. We desire to submit the request that artificial abrasives either the crude or the pulverized and graded forms-be placed on the free list. "Artificial abrasives" appear in the tariff act under paragraph 432 as follows: "Crude artificial abrasives 10 per cent ad valorem." Artificial abrasives are being imported into this country in two forms, to wit: In lump or block form, as the material comes from the furnace, and in the crushed or pulverized form, which is produced by crushing the lumps and grading the crushed product into different sizes of grains. Much confusion has arisen in determining how to classify imported artificial abrasives owing to the vagueness of the term "Crude artificial abrasives." Whether imported in the lump form or in the crushed grain form the material is in a crude or semicrude state, for it must go through further manufacturing processes of a more or less elaborate nature before these abrasives can be used in the form of grinding wheels, sharpening stones, abrasive cloth and paper, etc.; in short, before ready for application in the field of largest use. Artificial abrasives are rapidly taking the place of natural abrasives, known as emery and corundum. Neither emery nor corundum are obtained in the United States in quantities of commercial importance, nor is it in the least probable that they could be, no matter what tariff protection was provided. Corundum is being imported from Canada free of duty, either in the lump or the grain form under the existing tariff act, and this is as it should be. The commercial supply of Canada corundum, however, is becoming scarce and the price bids fair soon to be prohibitive. The production of artificial abrasives in this country is under the protection of patents owned by two manufacturers who are thus enabled to monopolize the output for their sole benefit, so far as the manufacture of these artificial abrasives into grinding wheels, stones, etc., are concerned. One of the manufacturers is selling one of its artificial abrasives in the grain form to competing manufacturers, but in such limited quantities and under such conditions as do not permit of competition on a level footing. There are, in consequence, more than 20 manufacturers of grinding wheels in this country who are dependent chiefly for their supply of high-grade abrasives on importations from abroad, either Canada corundum, which, as before stated, is becoming scarce, or on artificial abrasives. These 20 or more manufacturers, who are unable to produce their own artificial abrasives by reason of patented processes and formula, are to a considerable extent selling their manufactured product in the shape of grinding wheels and stones in foreign markets in direct competition with artificial abrasives produced abroad and upon which the foreign manufacturer bears no tariff burden. This necessarily handicaps the American independent manufacturer without any compensating benefit to any American producer. If for the purpose of protecting revenue, your committee deem it inadvisable to entirely remove the duty from artificial abrasives, we wish to urge with greatest emphasis that at least you place artificial abrasives in the lump or block form (to wit, the crudest state) on the free list, thereby encouraging the larger importation of these crude abrasives and permitting all of the manufacturing and refining processes to be conducted in this country without handicap, and that you place a duty not exceeding 5 per cent on artificial abrasives in the semicrude or grain form. It is our firm conviction, however, that the American industry in finished products will be greatly benefited by putting artificial abrasives in both crude and semicrude or grain forms, as above described, on the free list. Otherwise the large majority of manufacturers of these products in the United States will not be and can not be on an equal competitive basis with those manufacturers who have monopoly under patent protection. nor with European competitiors in foreign markets. Very respectfully, CORTLAND CORUNDUM WHEEL CO., To the honorable COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, ALEX. E. KLAHRE & Co., House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIRS: We would respectfully call your attention to paragraph 439 pertaining to furs, skins, etc., and would ask that on the following furs dressed on the skins, namely: Sheepskin rugs, goatskin rugs, dogskin robes and mats, kidskin crosses, and lambskin crosses, which are under paragraph 439 in the prevailing law dutiable at 35 per cent, be reduced to 20 per cent. The above-named skins are tanned and sewed together in China, but can not be used in this condition as imported and must be resewn, cleaned, and dyed. On single tanned goatskins, single tanned dogskins, single tanned sheepskins and lambskins, a duty of 20 per cent, same duty as in prevailing law. All raw skins free as in the present law. We are convinced that in the event of the reductions of duties on the skins named, he revenue to the Government will be largely increased. It is a well-known fact amongst the trade that owing to the present rates of duties our manufacturers and importers are somewhat timid in importing the quantities of skins from China they otherwise would do if lower rates of duties prevailed, depending upon the European markets for their purchases from time to time and paying the extra profit to the importers of those markets, which should inure to the benefit of manufacturers of our country. One of the largest firms of manufacturers in Milwaukee made the statement a few days ago that owing to the excessive duty of 35 per cent the firm was compelled to discharge a large number of working men because of the difficulty in selling their output on account of the high duty. Very respectfully, yours, ALEX. E. KLAHRE & Co. ALEX. E. KLAHRE & Co., To the honorable COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, DEAR SIRS: We would respectfully call your attention to paragraphs 442 and 583 in the present tariff bill which relate to human hair. Paragraph 442 reads: "Hair, human, if clean or drawn but not manufactured 20 per cent. Manufactures of human hair or of which human hair is the component material of chief value not specially provided for in this section, 35 per cent.' Paragraph 583 reads: ,, "Human hair, raw, unclean and not drawn, free." Owing to the conflicting interpretation of these paragraphs, importers have had considerable trouble in the past. In some instances duties have been imposed and in other cases hair which has been assessed as dutiable previously, has been brought in as raw material. So-called cleaned and drawn hair is regarded by the trade as raw hair, as it has to go through the identical process of washing, cleaning, bleaching, and dyeing as hair on which there has been no question raised as to it not being raw material. The cleaning and drawing in most cases is done for the purpose of complying with the sanitary laws, before shipment from foreign ports. There are employed in this city in the manufacturing of human hair into curls, switches, etc., about 10,000 persons, and although the argument may have been used that this is an industry of a luxury and not of a necessity, if a duty is imposed upon human hair, it will inure to the benefit of the foreign manufacturers and will throw out of employment in our country a large number of persons employed in this industry. In previous tariff laws the question has been raised a number of times as to what might be called raw hair, and we would call your attention to two decisions: Treasury Decision 9441, which reads as follows: "TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 17, 1889. "Human hair, partially cleaned. Lewisohn v. Mogon. "SIR: The department is in receipt of a letter dated the 22d ultimo from the United States attorney for the southern district of New York, in which he reports the trial of the case of Leonard Lewisohn . Daniel Mogon, collector, which was had before Hon. E. H. Lacone and a jury in the United States circuit court for said district on the 16th ultimo, which resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The question involved was as to the proper classification of certain importations of Chinese human hair which was subjected to duty by the defendant (collector) at the rate of 30 per cent ad valorem, under the provision in Schedule N (T. I. 444) for human hair if clean or drawn, but not manufactured, but which the plaintiff claimed to be uncleaned and not drawn and to be dutiable at the rate of 20 per cent ad valorem, under a clause in the same paragraph for human hair drawn, unclean and not drawn. "The United States attorney reports that the proofs adduced in the trial showed that while the hair had been drawn to a little extent and to have been cleaned a little, yet that it was not the drawn and cleaned hair of commerce, it being dirty, inasmuch as it contained dead nits. The evidence adduced further show that while the drawn hair of commerce consists of bunches of individual hairs all of the same length and all of the roots being on one end, the points at the other end, and very highly cleaned the merchandise in question consisted of small bundles tied together at one end, the individual hair being all varieties of lengths, with roots and points at both ends. The question involved seems to be entirely one of fact as to the condition of the merchandise, and the verdict of the jury was substantiated in accordance with the evidence. Upon submitting the matter to the United States Attorney General for his certificate under act of March 3, 1875, that officer advises under date of the 7th instant that no appeal or writ of error will be taken by the United States from the judgment of the circuit court in said suit. The department therefore concurring hereby directs you upon due entry of judgment to take necessary steps for its settlement and payment. Any other suits of the same character may also be settled in the usual manner, provided it is ascertained that the requirements of law as to protest appeal, institution of suit, etc., has been duly complied with, and this ruling will apply to further importations of such merchandise, decision 8729 being modified accordingly. "G. S. BATCHELLER, Acting Secretary." "Respectfully, Decision 14252; G. A. 2216: "Human hair, raw, uncleaned and not drawn. "Before the United States appraiser at New York, July 18, 1893. "In the matter of the protest 46164 A 2772 of A. Musica, against the decision of the collector of customs at New York, as to the rate and amount of duty chargeable on certain human hair imported per Elysian, December 21, 1892. "Opinion by Sharretts, General Appraiser. "The protest in this case is lodged against the assessment of duty of 20 per cent per hundredweight ad valorem on 20,400 kilograms of human hair, being a part of 266,600 kilograms of this substance, all of which was classified by the collector as human hair cleaned and duty assessed thereon at the rate complained of in paragraph 447 of the present act. The board has samples of the merchandise in dispute taken from the importation in question. The samples show that this hair has been put in small bundles assorted as to color and we think it has been drawn and cleaned to some extent. The hair, however, contains dead nits, is otherwise unclean, and is not arranged with all the roots at one end and the points at the other. In these respects it differs from the drawn and cleaned hair of commerce. We find as a fact, that the merchandise is human hair raw, uncleaned and not drawn. We sustain the claim of the appellant that the merchandise in question is entitled to free entry under paragraph 604. The collector's decision relative thereto is reversed." In order to avoid these complications, would suggest that paragraph 442 reads as in the present law, and as a substitute for 583 the following: "Human hair, uncleaned and cleaned, drawn or dyed but not commercially and not manufactured into switches, hair braids, curls, and ringlets, free.” Respectfully, yours, ALEX. E. KLAHRE & Co. Hon. JAMES M. CURLEY, M. C., Washington, D. C. J. C. PUSHEE & SONS, Boston, Mass., January 25, 1913. DEAR SIR: With this we are inclosing you a copy of a petition in which we have joined with a number of brushmakers from different parts of the United States to Hon. Oscar W. Underwood, M. C., chairman of Ways and Means Committee, and will you please allow us to say that the brush manufacturing industry, while small, is one of the oldest in this country, and a substantial part of it is located in and about Boston. The concerns engaged in it have always, and do now, compete with each other to the very everlasting limit. There has never been a suspicion of trade agreements look. |