The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-25
THE TARIFF.

i
exhibition Of arguments. We know of none that
better calculated 10 exhibit the truth than such
essays as the following from the pens of merchants
who are acquainted with the facts which they de-
scribe.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION
In the last Of the series Of letters addressed by
Mr.. Abbott Lawrence TO Mr.. Riyes, he uses this
language;
THE tariff of 1912 was enacted as much for the
benefit Of the southern and western States as for
Massachusetts,, and they have derived as much ad-
vantage from il in proportion to their capital. OIL
the truth Of this declaration, they will be satisfied
after years experience under Mr.. Walkers plan
Of low ad yalorem duties"
The government Of the United States was organ
lied to TO the people certain nalisnabe rights
belonging to them. The laws were to be for the |
equal benefit Of the governed or, said by
General Jsekson, the blessings Of government like
the dews Of heaven, were to descend upon all alike
The operation Of the tariff law, admitted by Mr.
Lawrence the above extrlct, is obstructive OF
these ends" IL benefits the people only sin proper
ton to their capital" IL is also in that sense il is
charitable to suppose, he uses this language
81 have personally no more interest than any
other citizen. If the government adopt course OF
measures that prostrstes the labor Of the country
shall in common with every other citizen, feel is
effects"
Mr.. Lawrence has an immense capital invested in
productive machinery. Probably no man in America
is more deeply interested than he is in continuing the
monopoly afforded by the present tariff. The advice
which he volunteers may be very sincere and doubt
not is for Mr. Lawrence s gentleman and an hon
orable merchant, but certainly has not the merit
Of being dsinterested. There are many persons
whose minds are led astray by the representations
Of the manufacturers, and who really suppose that
the effect Of the tariff is TO protect labor. That such
10 not It's practical operation is readily demonstra
ted. Examine, for instance, the condition Of the
Merrimsck Manufacturing Company. | cite this
company because there has recently been published
partial exhibit Of its affairs, though could name
others which have been, for the amount Of capital
invested, much more successful This company
divided last year among its stockholders profits 10
the amount Of 5000 OOO on its capital Of 81 900 900
1t has since been said by the president Of the COM
J pany, Mr. Appleton, that this dividend was not all
earned in year. that the gross profits of last year
were s534, $40; consequently, the difference must
have accrued from the surplus earnings Of the pre-
vious year. The gross profits Of the present year.
including the large amount paid to some Of the
stockholders in salaries and commissions, predict
confidently, from some knowledge of the extent Of
the business Of the company and the high prices Of
| goods, will exceed 100000. Ii we believe the
words OF the manufacturers, these prncely returns
to the capitalists, are the mere incidental benefits
that spring from the protection given TO the labor
the earnings OF the Merrimack company has been
given to the aborTs. report prepared by the treas.
urer Of the company, Mr.. Chadwick, shows that
more than two-hrds Of the operatives in the mills
and works Of the company are females, and less
than one-third males. The average wages OF
the females the last year 80 per week, clear Of
board. OF the males, IS cents per day, clear of
board. These are the rates they have received for
| producing such splendid revenues for others. II
these same operatives to 90 into any other en-
ployment in any part Of the United States and give
unintermitsd application 10 uok, they could make
beyond doubt, better wages with or without the aid
of the tariff 1t is obvious that the working class
connected with the Merrmack company derive but
lutte benefit from the present system Of revenue
laws. The lions share Of the plumber goes to en-
large the influence Of capital 1t is also, the other
hand from the pockets Of the laboring classes that
the large profits Of this company drawn. Prints
and sheetings the only two descriptions Of goods
which they produce-the former averaging last
year less than II cents per yard and the latter 81
cents per yard being expressly adapted to the
, of mechanics and farmers. The Evening Post Of
Tuesday contains an article on "a high tariff and
low wages" which proves the fact that the appeal
made by the manufacturers to Congress urging the
passage Of the tariff TO protect labor mere
subterfuge for they lowered the wages Of the opera
tves the next year after it adopted. The same
article furnishes some interesting tables from which
make the following extract
Lawrence mill No. /, an establishment named after
this benevolent champion of the tariff during the
four weeks ending April 18th, lS43, the poor fe-
male operatives earned in wages but about two
t thirds the money which the females Of England
!, 'paupers' think the advocates OF high tariff
call them--have been receiving for the same SER
vices Let us make the comparison:
Wages paid at the Laurence mill, No. !, Lo,csH.
Female attending looms 81 49, board 81 2s total 50 81
ala; l IS; s37
Probably for 70 hours labor.
"Conpare this with the compensation of the wo-
men in the English mills. There have been re-
ceved from American at Manchester, many
| years an esteemed and upright merchant of this
city, tables containing particulars of the wages paid
in sevaral cotton mills in Lancashire during the
e year 1874. These tables give:
e Wage, on looms ls shillings sterling, or 81 50
For week ofs6 hours oflabor, as restricted by law.
"The female operatives at Lowell, have laid be-
e fore the Massachusetts Legislature frequent me-
MORALS filed with the catalogue of their grievances
We have always supposed there were good grounds
for dissatisfaction their part, and now by the adj
mission Of the mill owners themselves have the
d means of showing how much their wages fall be-
j., low those of the English 'pauper' work people"
q It is true Mr.. Lawrence asserts that there has
been a steady advance in wages since the passage
= of the tariff He has published statements from
= four mills in confirmation of II; but he does not
= give the reasons that explain the Of the ad
vance in reference to those particular mills One of
them is this: In lS4l weavers received lG cents for
producing what is called cut, containing 80 yards
This rate has since been reduced to II cents for the
1t same work. Formerly the girls were confined to
II. two looms but many Of them manage three
and four and thus, by making extra efforts, giving
l. almost ubIe the amount of labor to the compa'
r Mes they make their earnings per week average
better than they did before the rate was reduced II
the manufacturers exact more work now for the
u same amount Of money than they did in ls4l, Of
g course wages virtually lowered in the same pro-
,e portion To prove his declarations, MIR. Lawrence
/ has recourse to statistics. He says:
ain the State of Massachusetts, the institutions for
savings are obliged, by law, to make returns to the
Re legislature. In the annual returns just published,
j. find the following:
o SAVINGS BANKS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
v Amount deposited
:, Is4l. ,4S5, aga 81