New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-10-31
Governmen. wages for labor.

Government wages IOI iIuUoi'
To The Editor Of thc Tribune +:
am wofkngaaa that not convinced, by the reasons
gwen il. the Secretary Of tie Treasur5 letter for reducing
,b OF the had. employed seyeTl Nevy Yards.
oft proprisly Of that measure
He says that just for the Coz eminent to pay more
for work than individuals pay for the sane KINDS OF iaoo
Now contend that the Government ought TO pay Just
Price for the work has done though individuals should
get theirs performed FOR nothing Because certain causes
operate among preventing the workingman from re-
ee,ing adequate remuneration for his labor does 1t therefore
become the duty Of the Government also to withhold such
remuneration SO from this Insist that in consequence
Of the wrong which the workngnan suffers IN Society II
becomes more incumbent upon Government TO do hun
tlceor the Government vii! therebybe setting example
which will tend to diminish the evils which he suffers from
individuals Amy good which individuals eau not or VIII
not effect and Government is within IT'S legitimate pro-
vince to accomplish n Government therefore can do any
thing to secure him Just wages improve his condition III
sny thing else it incumbent upon IL so to do.
The Secretary that the working people have to pay
the expenses of Government their interests will be promoted
BY his reducing wages Of the men who work ior the GOV
erunen, Now if the working people pay the expenses OF
Government, must be by their consuming the imports
from which the revenue Of Government Is derived aud II
high wages are paid the hands employed the Navy Yards,
the duties on imports be high and their price to the
consumer also high But the duty imports effects an IN
crease in the wages labor and also augmen its amount
and in this than makes for the increased prce
the consumer pays such imports So the Secretary
that the working people pay the of Govern
fas the ground aud the position that the working
classes are benefited by his reduction becomes exploded
SpoKEsH.yE.
Remarks on tie db0ue.
We have but little space to devote to our cor
respondent referring our readers back to Mr..
Henshaw's Letter for our general answer. What
does he understand by wages being too low ,
The fact that man is paid one dollar or two for
his days work proves nothing whatever, unless it
is compared with other things. When ii is said
that Labor is inadequately rewarded, we under.
stand that certain descriptions of Labor are paid
higher, according to their Just worth, than other
crptions-thatsthes man who makes speech
IN Congress-, plea at the bar, or supcrintends his
own farm or mill, receives larger proportionate
reward than he who lays brick, shovcs the fore
plane, or makes boots and shoes. If every thing
else were brought down to that standard, fifty
cents day would be just as good pay dollar
now is.
Now what does our correspondent advocate
Simply that Laborers for the Government should
be paid twenty-five to fifty per cent. more for the
same work than other Laborers receive or can
get Now in our view this would not diminish
Blu! aggravate the evils now endured from The TN
equal reward of Labor.
II is in vain that our correspondent attempts to
break the force of Mr.. Henshaw's argument. No
matter how it is raised, the money collected for
the support of our Government belongs to the
whole American people He who robs or de-
frauds the Government robs every man in the
land. And the payment to those who work for
the Government, no matter whether as Secreta-
ries, Clerks shipwrghts, laborers, at higher
wages than similar talents and services could
command in other employment, tends to dimin-
lsh, however lnsensibly, the means Of every man
who does not work for the Government. Look
ct the countries where Government functionares
are most sleek and pampered, and there you will
fnd the common laborer going to bed supperless
We are much IN favor our correspondent
can DO OF paying every man far and Gust wages,
but we contend that this paying extra price for
less work to those who work in Navy Yards and
Assenals (as has too generally been the case is
unfair, unjust, and every way injurious to the
public welfare Ed, Trib
u The Wings of Yates have nominated the
following Teke,;-For Sheriff, URAH HASYoRp, for