The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-28
THE TARIFF.

THE TARIFF.
This important cause must in a few days, be
taken from the docket and put at issue before the
tribunal OF the country The bill must soon be re-
ported by the Committee of Ways and Means, de.
bated, and decided by both houses of Congress
The friends of protection giving mote Of prepa.
ration" for the discussion. Mr.. Abbott Lawrence
Of Boston, the prince of manufacturing capitalists
has sent forth three letters in behalf Of the cran adj
dressed to Mr.. Rives Of Virginia. These letters
have been admired extolled and republished in the
numerous journals devoted to the tariff. another
movement is alss making in Washington, eommen.
cling with an appeal to the manufacturers and me-
ehanics by some respectable members of Congress
and terminating in a grand, extensive, no doubt
"brlant" exhibition Of domestic manufacturers in
the Capitol, for the purpose Of mPressing the two
houses with the importance, extent and value Of
the manufacturing interest
No friend Of truth must now shrink from the rem
counter. Whilst the trumpet is about to sound TO
action, the advocates of liberal trade should be pre-.
pairing for the contest. We shall not now enter
into the details of the arrangements which they
should make. But we must beg them to reeolleet
the importance Of the cause in which they have en-
listed, and the necessity Of immediate action. The
revenue bill must soon come up Nearly four months
Of Congress have expired. Half the session is gone
supPosng Congress to sit even eight months, and 10
adjourn on the LIST August. Much remains To be
donei in fact, almost everything which is connect.
ed with the reforms Of OR own institutions at home
The reader Of course, will not be surprised at the
attention which we shall continue to pay to the sub
jet. We shall open our columns as far as we can.
to the facts and Arguments which we can collect
from the communications ofour correspondents.
We now lay before our readers letter in reply to
the statements Of Mr.. Lawrence. This production
has never been seen by the gentleman to whom il is
addressed 1t seems that the author has not even the
honor Of Mr.. Woodbury's acquaintance. We rave
been favored with copy Of this letter by gen.
tIeman in Washington, to whom we are indebted
for many similar favors. He knows the author well,
and he assures Us that he is ga man whose word
may be depended upon-a man Of strong mind :"
who 10 perfectly familiar with the transactions and
the operatives Of Lowell. He has been long res
ident Of that manufacturing metropolis.
LOWELL, March is, 1886.
Hon. Lew WOODBURY.:
II is Sabbath day, and | have staid at home from
church for the purpose Of reading the Hon Abbott
Lawrence's letters to the Hon. William c. Riyes
They were put into my hands by the corporation
editor OF this place, by whom they have been pub.
lished and sent far and near among the laborinp
men Of New England Having given them a care,
ful perusa | was astonished to find the Hon. Alb
bot Lawrence could wilfuy attempt TO mislead the
public mind in regard TO the condition and practical
operation Of the tariff Of ls42 upon the interest Of
the operatives in Lowell. His high position, his
great commercial experience, forbid me the ATTEMPT
to analyze the general commercial and currency
propositions his letter incucates. As a merchant
he says: "lf we obliged to import sl40 600 600
of goods subject to duty, TO meet the wants of the
government 1t Is quite certain coin must be exported
to meet the deficiency" would ask why not corn,
instead of coin. Daniel Webster said at Baltimore
a few years since, might make a reciprocal treaty.
with Great Britain advantageous to commerce, and
export our corn from the western States TO pay for
what we wanted Of the English. There seem to be
two objects to be incucaed by the etters-ene that
Virginia and the Carolinas had better engage in
manufacturing the other, that the whole protectir,
policy is for the benefit Of labor. The first PROPOSE
ton is, in my Judgment, fallacious. The second il
not true concerns us upon the wheel of the tread
mill
ain the city of Lowell, where there are more than
thirty large cotton-mills from six 10 sixteen thou
sand spindles EACH it gravey considered by the
IL was concluded to reduce the wages This was
done several times, until the reduction brought down
the wages from about 50 to 81 so per week exclu.
sive of board. This operation took place upon be-
tween 200 and 5000 females. The mills run on
No sales made of the goods the South and
West had neither money nor credit and finally il
was determined 10 hold out till Congress should act
upon the tariff. The bill passed. and Of course the
mills were kept running, which would not have been
the case if the act had been rejected and now the
average wages at Lo~ell-taking the same number Of
females for the serpiceis 50 per oesk exclusive
Of board Yet Mr. Walker says labor has fallen Irhne
are The TRACES for labor ask, tooer than su tcers IN
1912? VINO is TO be benefited by the adoption Of sus
tenn thai giues up everything and gires no reasonable
promise Of anything?"
The above quotation is from the second letter.
When Mr.. Lawrence penned the above paragra phi,
he knee he misslaiing The facts In order TO put
this matter clear before the reader, will propose il
in questions and answers
Cues. What were wages in the mills in lS4l and
ls42?
Ans. Previous to being reduced, they averaged
from 81 IS to 90 90 for piece-hands, and from
dollar to 2 dollars for week-hands.
Cues. What is the price now,
Ans. The average is about 81 81 for experienced
hands, and 81 for new hands. The wages Of new
hands have been raised from 50 cents 81 the last
month.
Cues. What proportion of work by the week,
and what by "the piecef"
Ans. About onethird by the week, and two
thirds by the piece.
Cues. What kind Of work is piece.work'
Ans. II is piece Of work that specified sum is
paid for doing; such as weaving piece of cloth,
spinning set of yarn, dressing beam Of yarn,
&c.
Ones. Were wages lowered in lS4l and 1912
Ans. They were.
Cues. How much'
Ans. From ten to thirty per cent
Cues. Have they been raised by the piece or
week sinces
Ans. They HAVE NOT, with the exception Of new
hands, as stated above. They have, in some in
stances, been equalized by taking from and ad
ding to another.
Cues. Do all the mills pay about the same prices'
Ans Its intended to have all the wages in all the
cotton mills uniform.
Cues, How was work by the piece or job intro
duceds