PARAGRAPH 99-WINDOW GLASS. and manufacturing interests concerned would be at the mercy absolutely of foreign competition. We take it that each member of the committee that we are addressing, irrespective of political affiliations, is desirous of seeing American industries flourish and expand, and that none of you would knowingly be a party to giving an advantage to a foreign competitor at the expense of American industry. When we speak of foreign competition we refer particularly to Belgian manufacturers and workmen, who can produce annually about 5,000,000 boxes each of 50 square feet of window glass, and whose home market consumes but 5 per cent of their product. Because of these conditions the workmen and manufacturers of that country have been forced to adopt methods of production that would be neither desirable nor legitimate in this country. For instance, it is customary to operate factories continuously, no rest being taken on Sunday, 54 hours constituting a week's work for the Belgian blower, while in this country 40 hours constitutes a week's work, the American blower's work week commencing at 1 a. m. Monday and terminating at 12 noon Saturday. It is also customary to employ girls in the Belgian factories, who perform a certain class of unskilled work for which they are paid at the rate of 40 cents per day. The same class of labor in this country is performed by men or boys, who receive from $1.50 to $2 per day. The cost of materials entering into the manufacture and boxing of window glass is also much cheaper in Belgium than in this country, so that before we approach the question of wages paid skilled labor there is a substantial advantage existing in favor of the foreign manufacturer. We have been able to secure a copy of the wage contract effective in Belgium at the present time and find that wages per box of 50 square feet, single strength, are as follows: Blower... First gatherer. Second gatherer. Crane tender.. Cutter. Flattener.. Total....... Cents. 11.2 7 2 1 5 3.5 29.8 In this country wages per box of 50 square feet of single strength are as follows: It will be seen from the above that the American manufacturer pays about two and one-half times as much for skilled labor as does the Belgian manufacturer, and it should not be lost sight of that this advantage is even greater than it appears because of the extra amount of production secured by reason of factories in Belgium being kept in operation continuously. PARAGRAPH 99-WINDOW GLASS. It will perhaps be thought that the American manufacturer is placed at a disadvantage by being compelled to pay an exorbitant wage, and I wish to explain that the average workman will produce about 100 boxes of single strength window glass per week, each box containing 50 square feet, as nearly as sizes will allow, and that wages will average as follows: It must be borne in mind that the above rate of wages is not effective for a whole year, as it is not possible for the American manufacturers to dispose of any of their product abroad in competition with foreign manufacturers who have such distinct advantages in labor and raw material costs. Neither has it been possible for the American window-glass workers to labor continuously at trades that require such heavy drafts on their vitality, not only because of the recognized unhealthfulness of their occupations, but because of the extreme heat of the factories during the summer months. For these reasons as soon as the wants of the home markets are supplied, factories must cease operation. This country consumes about 7,000,000 boxes of window glass annually, and with the present number of factories operating it is possible to produce that amount in 8 months time, so that what seems like a very fair wage at first glance does not seem such a large amount when consideration is given to the fact that the amounts earned in 8 months must be distributed over a period of 12 months. I believe, gentlemen of the committee, that if you will investigate thoroughly the status of the window-glass industry in this country you will come to the conclusion that any radical reductions in the present tariff rates will be extremely harmful to all who are dependent for a livelihood on the successful operation of window-glass factories. There are at least 10,000 workmen and their families dependent upon this industry, and it is necessary that their interests be given very careful consideration before any action is proposed that will affect their future welfare as would a reduction in the tariff rate, making necessary a decrease in wages. For the past three and one-half years the window-glass industry in America has been fairly protected by a tariff rate that has kept the home market free from the ruinous foreign competition which would ensue upon a reduction of the tariff, and we therefore earnestly urge that you report against any reductions of the present rate, knowing as we do that if proper protection is given to the industry upon which we are dependent for our livelihood, it will be possible for us to maintain wages at a point in keeping with the ideals of American citizenship. In conclusion I want to say there seems to be some misunderstanding concerning the ability of the American window-glass workers with regard to making large wages. The fact of the matter is that the average skilled workman receives about $15 per week. When we distribute the amount earned in 8 months over a period of 12, that is not a large wage. PARAGRAPH 99-WINDOW GLASS. As I have explained, the wants of the home markets can be supplied in from seven and one-half to eight months; so that after the requirements of the home market are supplied, we have to stop work. It is not possible for the American manufacturer to get into the foreign market and meet the foreign competition, particularly the Belgian manufacturers. It has not been possible for him to get rid of any of his product outside of the home market. For that reason we feel that this trade of ours is entitled to enough protection to enable us to work the limited time at our disposal; that the Belgian manufacturers should not be allowed to come into this market and interfere with us. I believe if the Sunday work and the cheap unskilled labor cost were eliminated in the Belgian industry, the American window-glass worker would be able to compete with the Belgian manufacturer and the Belgian workmen. I do not believe anyone would advocate a plan for any industry which would tend to make it necessary for a skilled workman to be employed on Sunday in this country, and that is what we are protesting against here. We do not want to be forced to meet that sort of competition, and we hope you will have that in mind when you are taking up this schedule. Mr. JAMES. Do you work for this company here or appear for them? Mr. NEENAN. In answering that question I will say that I am representing the Window Glass Workers' Association, the national window-glass organization of skilled workmen. Mr. JAMES. In what capacity? Mr. NEENAN. I am president of the organization. Mr. JAMES. Do you live in Port Alleghany? Mr. NEENAN. No; I live in Cleveland, Ohio. Our headquarters are at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. JAMES. You say you attained the present rate of wages through the protection which is afforded? Mr. NEENAN. I believe so. I do not believe it will be possible for us to maintain the present wages if the tariff is reduced to any considerable extent. Mr. JAMES. Yes, exactly; but do not the laborers in the organization of which you are the president have anything to do with maintaining the wages? Mr. NEENAN. Yes, sir; they do. But when it comes to the question of the American manufacturer selling a box of glass in competition with a Belgium manufacturer I say it would be impossible for him to do so under the present conditions. Mr. JAMES. How many times have the members of your organization struck for higher wages? Mr. NEENAN. I believe it has been three years since we have had a strike. Mr. JAMES. Where was that? Mr. NEENAN. It affected seven or eight different States-Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, and Kansas. Mr. JAMES. What was the cause of that strike? Mr. NEENAN. We contended at that time for an advance in wages, I believe, of 15 per cent. That was about three years ago, if I remember correctly. PARAGRAPH 99-WINDOW GLASS. Mr. JAMES. Did you get it? Mr. NEENAN. We did not. Mr. JAMES. Was the rate upon these goods the same as it is now? Mr. NEENAN. It was before the revision of the present tariff. It must have been about four years ago this winter. Mr. JAMES. Was the tariff rate increased or lowered? Mr. NEENAN. The tariff rate at that time afforded the American manufacturer sufficient protection to sell his goods at higher prices, but for some reason or other they could not get the higher prices. Perhaps it was due to overproduction; I do not know. We stopped work in the middle of the winter; a very bad time for us. The members of our association were dependent, and within 10 weeks we lost our struggle. Mr. JAMES. You went out for 10 weeks, trying to get an increase of 15 per cent. Mr. NEENAN. Yes, sir. Mr. JAMES. Have you investigated to see how this tariff rate here compares with the wages paid, the per cent of the wage paid in the production of a given article? Mr. NEENAN. What do you mean? Mr. JAMES. In other words, is it not true that the tariff rate here is many times higher than the amount of labor it takes to produce an article? Mr. NEENAN. To a certain extent, perhaps, that is true. Mr. JAMES. Are you not asking for protection that is many times greater than the labor cost? Mr. NEENAN. I believe that the mistake in this tariff is that it protects, perhaps, a little too much on some sizes of brackets. Mr. JAMES. Do you not think this schedule protects too much? Mr. NEENAN. No; I do not. Mr. JAMES. Are you not asking the committee to give a rate of protection that is many times the labor cost of the article? Mr. NEENAN. No; I do not think we are, except, as I have said, on certain brackets. Mr. JAMES. Certain what? Mr. NEENAN. There are some brackets that we should have still greater protection on; for instance, up to 16 by 24 sizes. Mr. JAMES. Do you think the rate is too high? Mr. NEENAN. No; I think we should have more protection. Mr. NEENAN. Yes, sir. Mr. JAMES. What is the rate? Mr. NEENAN. One and three-eighths cents. Mr. JAMES. And you think that ought to be raised to what? Mr. NEENAN. I think if it was raised to about 2 cents it would give us plenty of protection. Mr. JAMES. Do you sell any of those goods abroad? Mr. NEENAN. No. Mr. JAMES. You do not import any? Mr. NEENAN. No; we could not do that. PARAGRAPH 99-WINDOW GLASS. Mr. JAMES. What is the average wage per week to the people enployed in this industry? Mr. NEENAN. The average is about $15 a week; that is pretty close to it. Mr. JAMES. About $15 a week? Mr. NEENAN. Yes; our blowers are to-day making $100 a month, and we will work seven and a half months each year. Mr. KITCHIN. Did these companies give you any assurance that after the Payne Act of 1909 they would increase the wages if they could get an increase in the tariff? Mr. NEENAN. No. Mr. KITCHIN. Have they led you to understand in any way that you men are going to get an increase in wages if they can keep this present tariff on? Mr. NEENAN. Absolutely not. Mr. KITCHIN. How many times have your men struck in the last 10 years for higher wages; say, since 1897 ? Mr. NEENAN. I could not answer that question. Mr. KITCHIN. Several times? Mr. NEENAN. There has been quite a lot of trouble. Our own organization had split up and caused trouble Mr. KITCHIN (interposing). They never gave you the benefit of a tariff until your organization got together and made them do it by striking? Mr. NEENAN. I think so. There was a time years ago when the window glass workers made better wages than they are making to-day, and we got the benefit of the tariff rate. Mr. KITCHIN. You have made a great many talks to your men, when they are assembled, in regard to wages, have you not? Mr. NEENAN. Yes, sir. Mr. KITCHIN. Have you not always taken the position that it was your organization or union that was giving you the higher wages? Mr. NEENAN. Not altogether. Mr. KITCHIN. You laid more stress on that than anything else, did you not? Mr. NEENAN. No; I did not; but I know almost as well as I am standing here before you gentlemen that if the Belgian manufacturer is allowed to put glass down in the New York market that he can make in Belgium for 95 cents a box, we can not meet that competition at all. Mr. KITCHIN. If you thought the manufacturers would give you all the wages that you are entitled to under the protective tariff that they are enjoying, you would not advise the men to strike? Mr. NEENAN. No, sir; I would not. Mr. KITCHIN. Do you think they have come to a point where they divide up the tariff and give you all that the present tariff will stand? Mr. NEENAN. No. I believe that if this present condition continues we will be able to secure an advance in wages later on, through the strength of our organization. Mr. KITCHIN. You think you can secure it through your union, but they are not going to give it to you themselves? It would not be accorded you without a strike? |