New-York tribune., 1873-06-28
FREE TRADE ISSUES.
nnnre ppnrrrTInN pROTPCT,I

TGCS or MASUFACTUmNff-A CLAIM that MANU-
FACTURER5' PROFITS ARE REDUCED BY TH1
TARIFF.
TO the Edttor Of The Tribune
SIR An article in THE TRIBUNE Of june z.
which arrived to-day. begins with the statement that
The Of 1870 shows such ratio Of progress In
manufacture In OF that SHOWN by the Of
100 or 1850 ought forever 10 silence that ingenious
query Of the Free Traders Does Protection protect D."
A was the author Of that query, rise % question
Of privilege" and ask that fair hearing for reply which
honorable disputants always concefe, and which TIN
TRIBUNE true TO the IDEAL Of journalism, has granted
most generously those who dissent from u on other
topics.
The article in question compares the gross product q
manufactures In 1850 l6GO aud l'0 ss shown BY ths
census and claims a. the result o decade Of Prooc-
tioB product Of 800 50 per capita, Without mining.
quarryng. and the fisheries, which were included IA
1860 when the product per capita was go d. Iu ibis
comparison there two errors. FIRST " " baed uppa
census widely differing in the Industries included aud
excluded, from that Of isjO and differing ssn more
administrative efcieDcY-diferences which the super
ntendent OF the Census points out very clearly and the
extent Of which he shows his introduction 70 the
manufacturing statistics And second Il states the pro
ducon Of 1910 currency. error the more surprising
because In the same article the rate Of IN 1910
reduced TO gold for comparison with the Of 60
The superintendent Of the Census after showing fully
the nature and degree Of differences between the two
censuses. gives Vol III, p. J'9 the basis Of fir
comparison Of the two reduced 70 equal terms
respects the inclusion exclusion OF certain industries.
the administrative treatment Of others 10 BOTH"
&C. s3g2ls586GO "the true expression for the gro's
product Of $780," against t8s5,9se76 in 1870. certain
Industries and results being excluded from both. or
$s9 O9O67O the product Of 1910. against s1525 O0s
for 1861 those industries and results being included IN
both This embraces the production OF tho yeir
ending May 81 1870 during which the premium
on gold as shown official publications from the Tfoi
ury Report Bureau Statistics for 1872. b. 275l, VA.
1886. For flr comparison Of values. therefore.
the figures are for 1870. ti3l,0i9Co9, In gold.
II compared with tho actually reported value
Of 1900 VIZ o. 3s5sGl67s; or s3.sGo27st52 In gold.
II compared with the i2.325 OOOOCO Of estimated
value for 1860 certain industries and rcsns bong Ia
cluded The gross product capita one case would
be Si 10 for 1870 against $50 % actually reported for 100.
and in the other 500 % for 1910 aganst 50 D. cor
responding estimate for 1850 In either case tho
increase IN gross product during ten years oi Protec
ton was Just &C per cent against = cent during ten
wears OF Free Trade ending 1867 and the increase IN
product per capita IS per cent during zen years
under Protection against - per cent during ten years
under Free Trade May repeat the query. Does Pro
lection protecti"
IL will be apparent that atm further reduction " tho
values of 1870 must be made FOR perfectly just compar
IN, III
HI CHER in gold than they in 1850 That they ara
higher think every fair will grant, and the cen
su report gives abun 1ant proof ~ the fact Here are
few illustrations the first which occur % me. out 0t
many to be found in that volume The increase in mum
Der or yards carpet made was C per cent increase Ia
reported value per cent increase In average cost
per yard G3 per cent Increase quantity OF SAT- made
80 per cent average price bushe 49, IN $780, and
27c in ls7O increase. 50 per cent Average value OF
steel made in 1850 $50 per ton average IN s7O $40 per
ION increase 81 per cent Average value OF nseed oil
made in 1870 81 o. but is wholesale price IN Ne~fork
was sc in 1850 Average value OF wooen cloth male
4oc per yard in 1900 aud Gle per yard IN lsIO increase
65 per cent The increase In the value OF cotton goo
was about 81 per cent though the number Of yards male
in 1851 was 400 and 1910 only l055972i2 tho
material having increased 95 per cent In COST
and decreased 3 pcr cent IN quantity.
Average value OF pig ron.made s2 - IN 1850 aud 80
in 1870 increase per cent 10 these impOr ant pouuo'
"a in multitude OF Others the price OF which are ds,er
tatnable the increase is far beyond the premium on
gold. The Superintendent OF tue Cansls, wig Z, lhs
best opportunity TO orma correct opinion SAYS Vol Ill
H., 379 that after much thought and extensive inquiry
on the subject aud the application OF numerous tests.
lie il disposed 70 regard 55 per cent just statement
Of the increase in price FOR all classes % mechanical anf
manufacturing productions between $50 and is7a"
Until some one with larger of facts 40 command
can show reason for different estimate, this must >
accented the most Trustworthy. The product OF 1870
s39 O9O67O reduced to the prices of 1880 becomes g.
1ol 0OOO and the value per capita only SO - against
$40 o. as above stated Thus the increase In actual
production prices being reduced TO the same level was
only s3 per cent under Protection, against s. Per cent
under Free Trade and the increase IN product per cap
it only 81 So or about per cent against 81 per cent IN
the Free Trade period May not repeat tIe query
" Does Protection protect
The comparison OF net product OF manufactures con-
.F.a.N limo UnHu
fisheries and quarues. with net product OF about
ESQ IA we must deduct from reported product Of
1870 about S69n9ij for tho inclusion Of butchers,
larger number OF carpenters. backmith'. ami other
trades and superior completeness obtained by e'p'cAi
measures as fully described the census volume ana
have net product for just comparison with that of ~'
OF In currency. Reduced 10 gold. ths would
show gain OF g. per cent under Protection against -
por cent under Free Trade Reduced according 10 tho
Increase m prices a. stated by the superintendent We
bave a net production In 1870 Of sos5o)looo 40 the
prices Of 1860 and about sls p per capita, against s5L
o5s in 1869 aud 81 l6 per capita The increase 10 net
product Il thus about q per cent against 81 per cent
under Free Trade and the increase per capita aoohtS
oer cent against 35 per cent uaier Free Trade once
more must ask '' Does Protection protect ~
Tie article in question MAKES th3 toI'"ni com
parson OF wages:
Ps'S Is'S ,Y. @a'-5psi .5jis, Vsli 9s7'io a7,i
lsGO.......... 3-S,si2J,j lHL-3
1915. .......... lIj52l5l5 2'''"'' go,
lsiJ.-........ Ia gold --.. '-,'-' 81,
IncreaSe-l5jO tu lsOJ, III per cent, A>y 4" ''' -
gold, ll.s6 per cent. .
\ h,r, .,,otcd that evpry reader may gOr himself