New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-29

Total manurs S54 IeO6s2 s4ssJ96so S2sOssu ss5c9,2s
Wool
ia ct,lred--. o.7ssSSO s.7so,44s SI4JG le4as,752
Total gold value
imports wool
and manufac-
lures Of Wool S 2Sss2 ssG2ooss s7sG29le s2soOs.OSa
The above figures, which bold to be among the
most remarkable ever furnished by the commercial ex-
perence Of any nation tell their story and require
from weird Of comment 70 point their application
But brief may be stated that the evidence
cited cOneusvey shows three results 10 have fol
lowed the enactment OF the highly productive wool and
wooden tariff Of 1867.
Frs The production OF domestic wool has not In
creased. but diminished.
second The wooden manufacture Of the country is de-
pressed 70 a degree almost beyond precedent and az
whole the owners OF the property represented by II
wOud undoubtedly he very glad 70 dispose OF the same
at very far below what II would cost TO replace IT,
How pitful indeed, be it condition, when the
Bulletin Of the Association Of Wool Manufacturer in It's
issue for December 1872 is forced 70 admit through one
of its editorial wrtersR ". Robinson, see page S52)-
" that any change must he for the better''
THIRD: The proportion Of the people Of the United
States who to-day clad in wooden fabrics OF foreign
manufacture is larger than before and TO this
would add and in respect 70 the same would challenge
refutauon) that the price paid by the consumers in
this country their clothing is nearly 50 per
Of that paid by the people OF any other ma
ton compeers wealth, civilization, and popnla-
ton.
In view Of these facts furthermore what becomes Of
MI. Edmands's assertions that 'the good feeling be-
tween the woo-growers and manufacturers confines
unchanged and both are satisfied with the results OF the
arrangements 1867 - that the wool and wool
trade Of asst year in general satisfactory !"
viii the President OF the American Wooden 3anufac
turers' Association rise 10 explain
There one point 10 which desire 10 call atten
ton 70 in this connection and that is, the striking Illus
tration which the most recent statistics OF the wooden
industry Of the United states afford Of this faacv that
the excessive duties imposed in 1867 enacted IN the
interests OF American labor The late Edward Harris OF
Rhode Island whose thorough practical acquaintance
with the wooden manufacture viii not be questioned,
long ago asserted result Of his experience that
the cost OF labor TINS industry not in
of 20 per cent of OF the products which II
ated The OF 1870 more than confirmed the con
illusions Ofdr. Harris 10y showing that the proportion
which the of labor the wooden industry sustained
for that year the aggregate value OF the annual pro-
duct Of wooens was little in Of II cent the
exact figures being: S5540505s value OF the annual
wooden product S2s7755, cost Of the Labor entering
therein.
Now IN 1861 careful personal examination and com
parson OF the wooden mills Of the United states and
Great Britain showed tnat the average difference in
wages in tins department of industry between the two
countries equal efficiency being conceded 10 the
English operauve about % per cent IN favor of the
vanoed in Great Britain that the existing difference
probably not in excess OF 20 per cent But for the sake
Of argument, and all contingencies,
viii ASSUME that the American labOrer the wooden
mills Of the United states receives average, 80 per
cent more in wages than his English competitor. This
then. basis Of the census returns would give
the English wooden manufacturer advantage Of about
five per cent SD in the cost OF his fabric. per cent
on the basis of the estimates Of Mr. Harris,
the calculation being 30 per cent OF II per
cent IN the instance, and 30 per cent Of 20
per in the other. tariff OF 10 per cent on the
import If cloths would therefore be more than sufficient
70 supplement- any advantage which the English wooden
manufacturer NAV have the OF wages. through
the employment Of his socaed "pauper labor" over
the American. But notwithstanding the the actual
tariff the import OF these products ranges from GO 10
$50 per cent the heaviest duty being imposed on the
cheapest fabrics by the poor. and the hghtest
ON the most costly. purchased by the rich; and the
present wooden manufacture in The United
states cOnclusively proves that these excessive
rates anything but protective. The explanation OF
this singular phenomenon H. that the docrue OF prOtec-
tionh has "run INTO the ground and IN attempting
protect everything have raised the prices ofevery
constituent OF manufacturing industry that, except in
the case few artioes-ke worsteds and carpets ii
respect 70 which the tariff is ugge and fraud-we
rroect nothing that we have deprived the American
wooden manufacturer OF the tmmeasurable ad-
vantage enjoyed by the manufacturer % all
other countries. namely, that OF a free choice
Of raw MATERIAL without which he can no more make
good and cheap cloth than ithe Israeltes could make
good bricks without straw and finally, that by the con-
Joined agency OF the tariff and base currency
made the United States the poorest OF all lands to buy
In but the very best sell Is II any wonder that
under such circumstances commerce should
vanish from the ocean, our imports continually
increase and our exports continually and comparatively
diminish wooden industry be PROSTATE. our paper
nIsas il now the case-work only half time, and
great agricultural OF the West be forced 10 pay
more for all they buy and take less for al they sell than
during almost any previous period Of history the
average price Of beef pork -four and having been
IN the aggregate nine per less the LIST of January
1873 than II was on the OF January 1850 To borrow
AN expression OF the late Mr. Greeley, NAV we not well
exelaim Men and brethren. how long shall this state
of things continue Z"
Mr. Edmands, IN his TRIBUNE Statement Of Feb = re-
marks that "he stability Of the wool tariff seems now
assured and eOngratulates himself that trouble If no
longer TO be anticipated from that noble American
manufacturer the late Edward Harris. whose complete
success as all wool manufacturer under the low
tariff OF ~ was witness 10 the Incompetence
~ hose who demand complete prohibition from competi
non a. condition precedent for continuing ousinessn
which the highest standard of is u combine the
smallest prOporOn Of wool with the largest measure OF
some other and cheaper constituent But IN TINS
Nj Edmands il mistaken. The stability OF the
o tariff and OF every other OF interfering, tricky
industrial and commercial Legislation is more seriously
threafenedlthan before. Because judgment mol
speedly executed against evil work, therefore the
hearts ofthe sons Of men fully set them 20 do
evil But the Judgment will come. The people are be-
ginning TO think on these subjects Facts like those
which have referred 10 IN this paper. and which are
randly multiplying will compel thinking and when the
eons M this country gwen this question OF