The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-17
Ghs @aiIg Arans.



Protection Tested by Results.
Advance sheets OF Census Statistics Of
Manufactures present some very instruct
i've facts which we advise advocates Of the
protective theory 10 investigate with care.
IL will cost them many weary hours Of
study 70 devise even plausible reply to
the argument which those official state
ments furnish.
From 1850 10 1860, 1t will be remember
ed, we were living under low revenue
tariH--the lowest, in fact, which has been
tested in this country at any time since the
hrst experiment in protection after the
war with England The effect Of this long
period Of uninterrupted low duties upon
our manufactures, and the labOrers en-
ployed therein, are tested by the census of
1860.
In 1861, an extreme protective tariff
was adopted, which has continued in force
10 this day, with many notifications, in
deed tending generally 10 increase the OBJ
stacles 20 our intercourse in manufactured
products between this and other countries,
but without any material change Of charac-
ter The effects of nine successive years
Of extreme protection upon our manufac-
lures and the laborers employed therein.
are tested by the census of 1870.
In 1870, the aggregate value of products
OF manufactures was S4.232, 625, Sg2 the
value of materials used was g., ass, 2gl 1852
and the net product or addition 20 the
wealth OF the country by manufactures,
was 81 ,744, 1888, $40. In 1860 the net pro
duct was 1854, 256 $50, so that the increase
AtrNtuag al. I,auA.. e L.. l..
Too per cent But the increase during the
previous decade was from $463, 9S2. 1893 in
1850, 10 1854 256, jS4 in 1860 or 81 per
cent On the other hand, the increase in
capital invested in manufactures during
the protective decade was 1899 per cent,
while the increase in capital invested from
1850 20 1860 was 50 per cent. Deducting
in each case value Of material and wages
paid from the aggregate value Of products,
we find that the net proceeds in 1870 were
- per cent Of the capital invested in
1850 they were A. per cent, and ia 1850
only 40 $40 per cent This SUN, in each
case, represents much more than the ac-
tual profits Of capital, because from it
must be deducted all expenditure for taxes
repairs, and renewals Of machinery and
buildings, aud for goods left on hand up-
sold. But II may be presumed 20 bear the
same relation 10 profits in each case. OK.
cept a. taxes have been increased since
1860 The progress of manufacturing in
dustry in profit and stability during the
non protective period from 1850 10 1850 is
therefore represented by the advance from
40 per cent 70 AZ per cent; while its pro /
gress backward under the period of duties |
falsely called protective is represented by |
the decrease from ~ per cent 10 - per |
cent less the increase OF taxation since
lS6O These changes will be readily seen
10 the following table
MT VALVE or PRODUCT
1-'H 1904 4stgs2 wi
iStA ........ Sol 25h5Sl Increase. - per cent |
~" ....... i't's8en Increase ioi per cent
CAPITAL INVESTED
is5U ....,...S 5ag9ti,s5t
l~tN ... tup9,-5j,ili lucreasp. ~ per cent ]
i~iu ....... H1iAa4dnHa Increase 1923 per cent
NIT PROCEEDS PRODUCT LE-s MArERf.tz AM
wNgEsN
l,tn sra l45 lr per cent NJ capital 90 per cent
-in 4lHf,tls, per cent Of capital o. n,r cent
1870 @o,l2,Ji' per cent Of capital IS per cent
IL appears then, that manufacturing in
iustry, tested by the census returns. has
not been as profitable in the aggregate 10
he capital invested, under the extreme
protective duties, a. It was under the low
revenue tariff OF 1850 and that this
branch Ut industry, which advanced in
profit fully one-sixth under the low duties
rom 1850 to $50. has in that respect not
'uly failed 20 continue it, progress. but
ias actually suffered a material loss under
he protective duties in force from 1851 10
$50
But it may be supposed that. while cap
tai has failed 10 secure larger profits under
he system Of protection, the laborer EN-
'Iuyed IN manufactures has been greatly
'enetted. This is the cOmmonly-emploved
'reteXt OF the advocates of the protective
ystem they do not desire larger profits
or the capitalist except for the reason that
ihor may receive higher wages. In test
ny the advance Of wages By the eepsus
eturns, we must remember that prices of
pod and clothing, and the cost of living
nd supporting family have largely in
reased since 1850, 80 that, as officially
altered statistics have conclusivelvproved
100 does not go as far b supply the wants
G the labOrer as 500 did IN 1850 With
his fact in mind. let US see how the Ia
'orer IN manufacturing industry has Jared
nder the protective system.
AU lNtNf hcDhINlnN W tie census returns. |
here we're employed in manufactures .
- GG7 hands. and the entire sum paid as !
RACES for labor was s775, 62l 1913. This is
u average Of S373.67 annually for every
erson employed But this is in currency
urlng the first six months of 1870. prior
b the taking Of the census, the premium
u gold averaged lji cents, and for the
urpOse of comparison with the wages Of
500, the average paid must be reduced 10
old values namely, S32J.24 PER caDifa
low, in 1850, there we're paid S37s,S7S.
jU to i.3ll,2iG persons employed, an
yerage of SgSS. 81 per capifa. The in .
rease in the gold value of wages paid 10
aud- employed in manufactures has.
lereiore, been only S34.GO per capiia. or
s- than II per cent. With an increase
only IL per cent in wages, while the cost
living has increased nearly so per cent
gold, the labOrer cannot be said b. have
cen benefited by the protective neriod
borrower without such an increase in the
'st Of living, his wages increased quite a. /.
uch under the low tariff from 1850 Ia :
500 For in 1850 the average paid Ia
lnds employed in manufactures was
b, s. and the increase from that time
$500 was therefore, a fraction over 10
q cont The official figures compare a. =
lIow-
. lagss pau H1nds Per capiiq