The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-13

Itappears from this comparison, that
five classes of workmen, whose daily
wages aggregated in 1860, So 81, are now
receiving Sl8 15 per day, or equal IN
gold to S12 IA. Here, then, is an nd
vance Of 40 per cent, in wages. as COM
pared with 1860, which is 10 per cent.
less than the rise in the prices of COM
modities-that important difference be-
ing largely due to the addition of taxes
to the cost of production. Without al
luding to the very Important economic
problems suggested by these facts, we
ask what is to be the effect of this con-
dition of affairs upon our industries?
Can we expect to export any important
amount of our products while prices
continue thus largely above the normal
level? A large proportion of the artl-
Giles above quoted are agricultural pro-
ducts; what reason have we to expect
that, with such extreme prices, the far
mers of other countries will not under
sell us in the markets to which we are
won't to sell our surplus production?
What, again, must be the position of
domestic manufacturers? With such
an enormous advance in the price of
their products, how can they compete
with imported manufacturers?
The war in this country has slightly
deranged values in Europe; and this is
the case especially in the very import
ant matter of cotton manufactures.
no comparison to the advance in the
United States; and the result Is there
fore inevitable that, on all products
competing with our own, European
manufacturers will make n good profit
upon their goods; and yet sell below the
actual cost oil our own manufactures.
AT the present time, very large amounts
of domestic dry goods are on the hands
OF manufacturers, unsaleable below
cost; one of the legitimate results of
the existing arrangement.
There is but one remedy for this con-
dition of affairs-a reduction OF wages.
Until the price of labor is reduced to its
normal standard, our producers can
not possibly compete with those of
other Countries, and can only employ
their capital at constant and heavy
loss-a course US injurious TO employees
as to capitalists themselves. There are,
however, nt present, peculiar dithcul-
ties in the way of etfecting general
reduction of wages. Operatives are apt
10 compare their wages with the costs
of living; they find their present
earnings lower in proportion to the
prices OF commodities than before tue
war; and hence, instead OF being
prepared to work at lower rates, lney
are in many cases agitating, for an ad--
vance. and in some instances have been
successful. At the same time the whole
operatiye community are united IN an
effort to ensure a reductionof the daily
term of labor to eight hours, a measure
which would increase the cost of labor
more than one-third. For these rea-
sons IL would be futile to expect any
voluntary concessions from laborers.-
The only course remaining is for man
ufactnrers partially TO suspend produc-
ton. a movement has been set atoot
among the woolen manufacturers to
combine for general suspension OF
work for six or eight weeks. Somesuch
measures should be adopted In all
bTanches of manufacturing; the only
question in the case being whether the
snspension should be partial or total
WAGES would by TINT means be ut once
red1ced 10 practicable basis, and ope-
rafions could be resumed upon a sure
footing. The workman would then oe
able to buy his commodities at proper
tionately lower prices; though receiv-
| ing less, he would have to spend less;
and his condition would be in all re-
spects as favorable as now, If not even
more favorable. 1t Is much TO be hoped
that the operative class viii show dis
| erection in this crisis; and yield readlly
| to a course in which they are as mnch
\ interested as any otheg class OF the
1 anunluniEV. ~