In making our calculations as above you will notice we make a variation, as you understand some operators will easily make $2 a week more than others. The average, of course, will be between the prices given, if you desire that information. The tariff on the cotton schedule, as you know, has always been too low, and since the new arrangement with Germany we have dropped out of the cotton business entirely, as it is useless to try to compete; we must let our machinery wait for a change in the tariff before we can work it profitably. The full-fashioned hosiery industry has paid the Government millions of dollars duties, and then to have them legislate against our industry it seems very unfair. I hope something may be done at this meeting that will improve our condition and give us a chance to get back some of the money that we have paid the Government on our imported machinery. If there is any other information that you desire that I can give you kindly let me hear from you, and oblige, Very truly, yours. GEO. E. BOYDEN, Treasurer. EXHIBIT G. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, County of Philadelphia, ss: Personally appeared before me, a notary public, residing at Philadelphia, in the aforesaid county and State, Henry Brown, manager of the Brown, Aberle Company, a corporation of Philadelphia, Pa., who, being duly sworn according to law, says: That the following list of wages paid at the present time at the hosiery mill of the above corporation at Philadelphia, Pa., was copied from the weekly pay roll of the said Brown, Aberle Company, and are true and correct, both as to the rates paid for piecework and as to the weekly averages earned by the different classes of operators; that the rates have been in force for years; that to the best of his knowledge and belief there is no material difference between the wages paid for the same kind of work in the different sections of the United States, and that the following schedule of rates for piecework and the list of weekly averages constitute a fair basis for calculating the cost in the hosiery factories of the United States of such lines of goods as are coming in most direct competition with foreign, and especially German, goods: (2) Rates paid for piecework for 39 gauge ladies' 70/2 lisle : Knitting legs__ Knitting feet_. Topping Looping Seaming Examining and mending Boarding Pairing and folding Winding Other wages and salaries.. $31.45 32. 20 11.30 10.50 8.50 10.00 14.50 8.00 .27 .15 .08 .07 .08 .04 .06 .06 .02 .15 .98 Total cost per dozen_-_. That the foregoing facts are true and correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief. HENRY BROWN. Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of November, A. D. 1908. [SEAL.] EXHIBIT G. FRED E. SCHMIDT, Notary Public. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, County of Philadelphia: Personally appeared before me, a notary public, residing at Philadelphia, in and for said county and State, George B. Pfingst, trading as Lee Hosiery Mills, of Philadelphia, who, being duly sworn according to law, says that the following list of wages paid at the present time at the hosiery mill of the above individual at Philadelphia, Pa., was copied from the weekly pay roll of the said George B. Pfingst, trading as Lee Hosiery Mills, and are true and correct both as to the rates paid for piecework and as to the weekly averages earned by the different classes of operators; that the rates have been in force. since April, 1907, and have not been reduced since then; that to the best of his knowledge and belief there is no material difference between the wages paid for the same kind of work in the different sections of the United States, and that the following schedule of rates for piecework and the list of weekly averages constitute a fair basis for calculating the cost in the hosiery factories of the United States of such lines of goods as are coming in most direct competition with foreign, and especially German, goods: (2) Rates paid for piecework for 33-gauge half hose: $27.50 8.48 11.02 12. 70 9.53 16.30 8.61 That the foregoing facts are true and correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief. GEORGE B. PFINGST, (Trading as Lee Hosiery Mills). Sworn and subscribed before me this 25th day of November, A. D. 1908. EDWARD M. MOLL, UNDERWEAR MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR KNITTED COTTON UNDERWEAR. PHILADELPHIA, PA., December 1, 1908. COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: The knitted underwear manufacturers' committee of the National Association of Hosiery and Underwear Manufacturers submit for the consideration of the Ways and Means Committee the following pertaining to their industry: The number of mills engaged in the manufacture of knitted cotton underwear in the United States number 476 concerns. This, however, does not include the large number of cotton-yarn spinning plants and other collateral industries located throughout the country, and particularly the spinning plants established in the Southern States within the past ten years, whose product is sold largely to the knit-underwear manufacturers throughout the United States. The industry extends over the Middle, Southern, Eastern, and Western States, and is largely engaged in by individuals with limited capital, representing in many instances the only industry in the community, affording remunerative and congenial employment. There has never been a trust or combination formed by the manufacturers of knit goods for the purpose of controlling either output or selling price, the nature of the business being such that it can be engaged in by small manufacturers with limited means. The average rate of wages paid to skilled women sewing-machine operators in the United States varies from $1.50 to $2 per day. The same class of labor in France, Germany, or Switzerland receives from 30 cents to 50 cents per day. Wages paid winders in the United States, $1.50 to $1.75 per day. The same class of labor in foreign countries receives 35 cents to 40 cents per day. Wages paid knitters in the United States, $1.25 to $2 per day. The same class of labor in foreign countries receives 65 cents to 75 cents per day. The items of labor entering into the cost of manufacture of knitted underwear represent from 65 per cent to 75 per cent of the total, and unless the present rate of tariff is maintained as a minimum or increased to meet prospective new conditions, we will be unable to hold our own markets or continue to grow as an industry, excepting by material reduction in the American standard of wages. The present schedule, as shown in paragraph 319, act of July 24, 1897, known as "the Dingley tariff act," is not sufficient to protect American manufacturers engaged in the manufacture of the medium and better grades of cotton underwear from importations of French, German, or Swiss goods, owing to the very much lower rate of wages paid in those countries, as against our own highly paid American labor, and as evidence of the small factor of safety in the present tariff schedule, the imports have steadily increased. We believe that it is to the best interest of the wage-earners and knit-goods manufacturers of the United States, as well as those engaged in the spinning and other dependent industries, that the present schedule of duties, as shown in paragraph 319 of the Dingley tariff act, should be changed to read as follows: Shirts and drawers, pants, vests, union suits, combination suits, tights, sweaters, corset covers, and all underwear of every description made wholly or in part on knitting machines or frames, or knit by hand, finished or unfinished, not including stockings, hose, and half hose composed of cotton or other vegetable fiber, valued at not more than $1.50 per dozen, 75 cents per dozen and 15 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $1.50 and not more than $3, $1.40 per dozen and 15 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $3 and not more than $5, $2 per dozen and 25 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $5 and not more than $7, $2.50 per dozen and 35 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $7 and not more than $9, $3.25 per dozen and 35 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $9 and not more than $11, $3.50 per dozen and 35 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $11 and not more than $13, $3.75 per dozen and 35 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $13 and not more than $15, $4 per dozen and 35 per cent ad valorem; valued at more than $15, $4 per dozen and 50 per cent ad valorem. Our reason for recommending this increase of about 20 per cent in the present schedule is prompted through a desire to meet the possibility of the passage of a trade or reciprocity treaty with any competing foreign country, and we call the attention of your committee to the danger which threatened our industry in 1899 through a proposed reciprocity treaty with France, negotiated by Special Commissioner John A. Kasson, which treaty would have enabled the French manufacturers to send their goods into our country at a reduction of 20 per cent from the present schedule, and which change of rates would have nullified the protective features of the Dingley Act and would have been disastrous to our industry. In conclusion we appeal to your committee to revise the rates of the Dingley tariff and make the change recommended by us for the purpose specified. Respectfully submitted. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOSIERY AND UNDERWEAR MANUFACTURERS OF PHILADELPHIA. EDW. H. CLIFT, HARRY QUERNS, JOHN C. VAN DE WATER, E. G. KATTERMAN, JULIUS. HIRSCH, Jos. FELDENHEIMER, Underwear Committee. EXHIBIT A. [Memorandum attached to brief submitted by knitted cotton underwear committee of the National Association of IIosiery and Underwear Manufacturers, showing percentage rate of protection under Dingley tariff and increased percentage rate of protection desired. Referring to paragraph 319.] |