The Republican journal., 1869-05-06
From the Chicago Post (radical.(l
The Rich Richer: the Poor Poor


The letter of Commissioner Wells, of
the revenue department, addressed to Mr..
Congressman Kelley, of Pennsylvania, has
not attracted the attention it deserves. AS
a conclusive answer to a protectionist blath-
erskite, who elbows off, whenever any
body or anything touches his barbarous
theories, utterly regardless Of fact, logic,
reason, fairness or truth, the letter is
model; but it is, at the same time, mourn
ial proof that the condition of the skilled
mechanics and laboring men of the country
is, owing to the working of the double in
EQUITY, az inflated paper currency and
ruinous tariff, every year growing worse,
and that, as long as the present agencies of
destruction are IN operation, there is no
hope of Improvement. AS in the official
report made to the secretary of the treas
ury, and by him to congress, at the open
ing Of the present session, Mr.. Wells takes
nothing for granted-asserts nothing that
is not proved by an army of facts and fig
ures against which the plunderers, who are
despoiling the masses, may butt their heads
in vain, from the data furnished by long
and careful inquiry, extended over nearly
every part of the country i'll which manu-
featuring is carried on, he arrives at certain
conclusions which he summarizes as fol-
lows:
For the year 1867, and for the first half of the
year 1858, the average increase Of the cost of
AL the clements which constitute the food,
clothing and shelter Of family has been about
- per cent, as compared with the standard
prices of lS60-'Gl.
The result, in general, of this large increase
III the prices of commodities of domestic con-
sumption to the laborlng man becomes evident,
by comparing such increase with the increase
in the rates of wages during the period under
comparison-which rates, for the year 1867 as
compared with lsG0-'6l, were as follows For
nnskilled mechanical labor, so per cent for
skilled mechanical labor, 60 per cent"
But not content with the general state
ment, Mr. Wells furnishes volume of de-
tailed proof verifying the aggregate results.
We have room for only few items:
recent comparison of the wages paid in
the manufacturing establishments in Lowell,
Mass, and OF the prices of ar t:les of domestic
consumption in the same locality for the wears
1860 and 1869, instituted and published by the
editors of the Lowell Courier also affords the
following results
In the Merrmac Manufacturing Companv
the average advance of the wages paid in 1868
- IN the carding" department, emitting
overseers' was 60 per cont. In the SPINNING"
department, 81 per cent; In the weaving"
department, % per cent. In the repair shops
Of the same corporation the average advance
in the wages Of the mechanics was 63 Der ct ::
of oyerseers in all the departments, So Der Ct
In different branches Of mechanical industry
in the city of Lowell, the advance In the WAGES
Of machinists, carpenters, and blacksmitbs.
was 80 per cent; of stone cutters, 100 per Ct !:
Of brick and stone masons, Is per cent.
By the examination of the above table liable
omitted) it will be seen that the average adj
vance in the price of the leading articles of
domestic consumption, In the cities Of Lowell
and lawrance, for the years 1863 over 1860
(making no allowance for the varying ratios of
quantities. used,) is somewhat in excess of
ninety (9l.63) per cent, but If the average be
proportionedto the relative Importance Of the