The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-23
LET THINGS ALONE.

PROFESSOR sUMSER's ADVOCACY OF A RELIEF
FROM srAGNAT1oN- OF NO
usE-rBE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND
WILL ALONE RIGHT MATTERS
Tho principal witness before tho Hewitt Labor In
vestig nnug Committee, which met at The Post ONO
yesterday, was William G. sumner. Professor OF
Political and Social Science At Yale College Messrs.
Hewitt, Rice aud Thompson the only members
OF tho committee present. Tho examination Of Pro-
lessor Sumaor was rapid, IN some parts amusing,
IN few tedious, and almost always to the point.
uo started out with tho consideration of general
depression, and followed with local troubles and
drawbacxs Ho objected 10 the designation 'Inborlng
classss" and called them instead tho "non-captnl-
sts" He very pronounced in favor OF FREQ trade
and tho removal OF tho tax imports appeared be
the only action which he thought Congress could
der,ake for the improvement OF tho present condition
Of srsira Tho discussions between Professor
sumner and Mr.. Hewitt on the subject
of iree trade sharp and eniven,ng.
The former far ready TO discuss the causes
Of stagnaton than tho remedies and In reply to what
he thought the government ought TO do TO revive
certain specific existing evils he almost Invariably
answered that IL should do nothing. He thought that
thpgs would in tho Of t,me straighten out Of
themselves and that action by tho government would
more nkeIy rctard than assist the process The
animation room was crCwdcd tDrouRnOut tnc etttfpg,
winch occupied about four hours and halt
SESSION.
Professor sumner bogan by saying that the existing
effects mad produced by several general causes
all over world and tho United States had borne
It's snare OF tho general depression After that thoro
wero local causes OF complaint The opening
OF the Suez Canal had marked effect
tho carrying trade; the Introduction Of
machinery had effect first OF locking up capital
and dispiacng labor, and tho Franco-P russinn war
SPOKEN OF another ono OF tho general Of
depression. A large number OF men during that war
hui DO takou from works OF industry, ana en-
barrsssing oxpedion;s had TO DO rcsortcd TO. Tho
speculative iceng that II engcndered was disastrous
to Germany. France has recovered from the Tact that
.ncy were iorcod to ecoDomize.
The Witness In considering tho state OF trade In
England, spokc particularly OF The iron
iercsIs ana this led to prolonged discussion with
Mr. hewitt, tho latter Doing Well posted tho
a,tous of tho iron TRADE. PYoiessor Sumuer urred
the theories OF Tree trauc, and Mr.. Hewitt inquired
how this country co1d compete with England N tho
iron trade II the metal could DO produced Ia that
conntry cheaper than here.
witness-You have nevor had q chance to do Il,
Mr.. Hewitt
Wnuess--Becnuao tho laws Of your country would
not allow you to Try aud hope you will keep peg
ging away Al them unlil you get them down. laugh
teri
EXCHANGE coMnoDirixs
Professor Suinuer then argued that the Law OF sup
pig and demand wouia regulate many OF the present
evils Ii MA individual by producing one thing could
purchase another ut less outlay than Wy msnuiucur
iDg the thing needed, OF course he would do so. II
the country coud raise cotton and buy iron
IRON England more probably than could manu-
facture the iron ought to do and stop producing
iron Tor while, unth matters wero altered. Tho
people oil THIS country werc by means badly
OF AS has generally been supposed. They have
square mile OF land to every twelve
perEon, and witness said they ought 10 be much bet
Ter on now than they will Dc when tue country IL
crowded aud when we have TWEEN w. five persons
~ the square mile succeeding generations could not
be so wen cff ia the natural course OF things. Mr..
Hewitt inquired IL the witness thought tho laboring
glasses NJ Tue present tlmo were MS we'll OIL In this
country as IN England. Wituoss said hc thought moi
Witness said In Belgium there were AGO persons TO tho
sqnarc mile. aGd Ar Hewitt asked II ne knew what
the laborcrs there suOsistcd 90. Witness sad inc
poorest classes subsised almost nothing but tho
average class iivcd very comfortably Mr. Hewitt
asked u SIMILAR state OF Affairs would not lead
to revolution. fhe witness answered tuat revolu-
ton would DO no good. la times OF depression men
might stay where they were and Kill somebody, but
the better way was either to stay and improve matters
or so away aud ind something better
NO EVIDENCE or GREAT DISTRESS
Professor Sumner said no was unable 10 And any
strong evidence great distress In tuis country The
only Dit OF evidence bo had prepared py Pro-
lessor Wright, OF Massachusetts, who soowcu that
IS people, OF whom 900 malcs were out VI
employmc 10 that state Massachusetts, the witness
thought, was as badly OF auy state IN tue Union
pernups worse; II tnere was one worse OF than Mas
saehusetts IL vas PsnusyivaniA Americans nae lam