The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-24 00:00:00

THE CONDITION OF AMERICAN
INDUSTRY

A very interesting discussion has been going on in
America between the advocates and the assailants of the
policy of Protection respecting the present condition of
labour and wages in the United States. The report of
the Hon. D. A. Wells, special commissioner of the
revenue, on the condition of American indastry, attracted
a good deal of attention. It was widely circulated in this
country, and as it attributed most of the evils from which
the labouring classes in the States now suffer to the
method of raising the revenue, it excited great indignation
among the opponents of free trade, who are, unfortunately
for America, both numerous and influential in the States.
Mr. Wells, whose report was founded on carefully com-
piled statistics, said that in 1867-8 the average increase of
cost of family living was about 78 per cent. as compared
with the standard prices before the war. Mr. Kelley, of
Philadelphia, took upon himself the task of replying to
Mr. Wells, and in a speech in Congress said that the
prices of commodities were not, on an average, more than
50 per cent. higher than in 1860, and that really the
labourer had gained instead of losing by the war, since
skilled labour was now fully employed at an advance of
from SO to 100 per cent. Mr. Kelley did not, however, inform
his hearers what was the position of the unskilled labourers,
who are certain to outnumber their more fortunate
brethren. But Mr. Wells has not thought fit to leave
Mr. Kelley unanswered. He has writ ten a let ter embodying
the result of further investigations, and gives some statistics
which fully confirm his statements. Flour has advanced
iu price 88 per cent.; salt, 20 cents a bushel ; gold, 60 to
70 cents currency. Rents have also greatly advanced, and
Mr. Wells mentions an instance of some houses in Mr.
Kelley's Congress district, in Philadelphia, let to working
people, whose aggregate rent-roll has increased since 1360
130 per cent. His investigations extend over the States
generally, both in the cities and in the rural districts, and
arriving at the conclusion that it must cost $2l 2:c. for the
weekly support of an ordinary labouring family of five
persons, he asks how many American workmen earn that
amount. The comparative demand for labour is less than
before the war. The population has increased, but pauperism
has increased still faster. In Philadelphia, in 1863,
there were 108,260 out of a population of 750,009
in receipt of poor relief, while in New York itself the dis-
tress from want of work has never been so great as during
the past winter. It is disheartening to find the social
perplexities of the overcrowded and overtaxed Old World
repeated in the new ; yet this is the substance of an official
report from New England. " A helpless crowd of workers,
the oppression of low wages, inevitable poverty, and a dis-
guised serfdom, a rich master, a poor servant, and a mean
population. Such is the story of manufacturing in Old
England, and such is the story of manufacturing in New
England." Yet, notwithstanding this dismal picture, the
aggregate wealth of the country is increasing rapidly, but
its distribution is most unequal. Under a system of
inflated currency and indiscriminate taxation, says Mr.
Wells, the rich are becoming richer, and t':e poor poorer.
Exchange in kind for foreign commodities has become
nearly impossible, thus restricting the employment of
shipping ; while under the plea of protection to native
industry special taxes have been levied on certain articles.
The publication of Mr. Wells's report produced some
discussion on the whole question of free trade and protec-
tive duties, but, unfortunately, the retarding influence
was too strong. The wealthy manufacturers throw all
their weight into the scale, and attempted to disparage
the commissioner's statements by designating him a free-
trader. Mr. 'Wells rejects this accusation, and declares
himself in favour of " a policy of moderate and judicious
protection." The presentcondition of the labouring classes,
and the exorbitant cost of the necessaries of life, prove
very conclusively that whatever else is " protected," the
true interests of the country are suffering severely from
the manuraci,urers' favourite policy.

The Duchess of Norfolk has contributed £lOO to
the Pope's Jubilee Fund.

Mr, William Craft, a negro, is now in this
country, endeavouring to raise £1,500 to purchase and
stock in one of the Southern States of America a tract of
land, with a view to locate thereon a company of free
negroes, who will be its cultivators on co-operative prin.
ciples. Amongst the supporters of the schfme are Mr.
W. E. Forster, M.P., and Mr. T. Hughes, M.P.

TRANSPLANTING IN THE NIGHT.—A gentleman
anxious to ascertain the effect of transplanting at night,
instead of by day, made an experiment, with the following
result. He transplanted ten cherry trees while in bloom,
commencing at four o'clock in the afternoon, and trans-
planting one each hour until one o'clock in the morning.
Those transplanted during the daylight shed their blossoms,
producing little or no fruit, while those planted in the
dark maintained their conditions fully. He did
the same with ten dwarf trees after the fruit was one-
third grown. Those transplanted during the day shed
their fruit ; those transplanted during the night perfected
their crop, and shewed no injury from having been
removed. With each of these trees he removed some
earth with the roots. The incident is fully vouched for ;
and if a few more similar experiments produce the same
result it will be a strong argument to horticulturists,
gardeners, and fruit-growers to do such work at night.
THE 0 VEREND AND GURNEY PROSECUTION. —A
paragraph has gone the rounds of the papers stating that
Dr. Thom, the prosecutor in the case against the Overend
and Gurney directors, intends to conduct the case himself
at the trial ; and the announcement has created some
surprise, as well it might. It is monstrous enough that
the investigation of such a case should be left to the
energy of a private individual instead of being undertaken
by a public officer. And the scanthil would certainly
be vastly increased if the conduct •of the trial were
to be left to unskilled hands. But wa believe there
is no real fear of such a result. Dr. Thom is no doubt
the prosecutor in the case, as any other of her Majesty's
subjects might have been. But when once the grand jury
has found a true bill against the accused, if they do so,
the cause, like all criminal causes, will be one between the
Queen and the prisoners. In the Court of Queen's Bench,
to which the case has been removed, no one is entitled to
appear and conduct a cause but the parties to the cause,
or their counsel. We are, therefore, at a loss to see how
in a case, the -parties to which will be her Majesty and the
accused, Dr. Thom can possibly be entitled to open his
lips, except as a witness.—Solicitors' Journal.
SHOCKING SUICIDE.—On Friday afternoon, at
about a quarter after two o'clock, a shocking case of suicide
occurred at the Ludgate-hill station of the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway. It appears that about
two o'clock a young man entered one of the water-
closets at the station. Not seeing anything of him for
some time, Cab•inspector Oates was prompted to look
through the fanlielit of the door, and there dis-
covered the body lying, blood having flowed from a
pistol-shot wound in the forehead. The report of
the pistol was heard by the boy in attendance, who,
however, took no notice of it, believing it to have pro-
ceeded from outside the station. A revolver was found
with the chamber discharged lying on the deCeased's
knee, and in his pocket a receipt from Messrs. Reilly,
gun makers, Oxford-street, made out to Bumstead,
Esq., for the sum of £2 155., which is supposed to refer to
the pistol found. The handkerchief of deceased was
marked W. B. A cigar case, cigar• bolder, two hotel
bills—one from Stanley's Hotel, Lymington Spa, and the
other from the Red Horse, Stratford-on-Avon, with some
other trifling articles, were found on his person. On a
subsequent examination by the police the following
articles were found :—A silver lever watch, by Frodsham,
Gracechurch-street ; two £lO Bank of England notes, and
a Crystal Palace season ticket in the name of W. C. '
Bumstead, Stonely Villa, Clanton.