New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-26
GA USES OF DEPRESSION.
TESTIMONY OF THE MERCHANTS


TESTIMONY OF THE MERCHANTS.
J. j. HEXCHMAN ARGUES THAT LABOR IS US-
EQUALLY DIsTRIBUTED-MANUFACTUR OVER
DOEE-P. B. THURBER on THE COST or RAIL
ROAD OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TESTIMONY
The committee appointed by Congress to in
vesugate the of business depression listened 10
testimony Saturday, from John j. Henchman, ouee
dry-goods merchant and resident OF Brooklyn; from
Francis B. Thurber, member OF the firm OF H. X r.
b. Thurber wholesale grocers, and from Silas r. Ken
yOn, of Newark, N. j.. mechanic. Mr. Hewitt and Mr..
Rice the members Of the committee present.
Mr.. Henohman exhibited several tabulated state
ments and said that he intended TO prove from them
that we have made too much Of certain commodities
and too little OF Others" Upon one OF the tables were
statistics giving the total production Of the lead
ing farm products from 1850 TO 1870 From 1850 to
1860 there were only three artcles-rce. sugar and
home productons-which were decreased in amount Of
production There wero five articles which showed a
loss relative 10 the increase Of population namely
sheep swine oats rice and WOOL During the period from
1860 to 1870 there eighteen articles which showed
loss In gross production, ana twentyfour which lost
relatively to population In this decrease we're included
cheese butter, market gardening homemade products
neat CATTLE swine mules rye corn rice tobacco and
cotton. Mr. Henchman argued that these statistics
showed that labor had been attracted from the farms
into manufactures and that this change detrimen-
tai to the country. Food the first thing necessary
to a country in his opinion. next clothing, and finally
shelter. Labor had been unequally distributed among
the occupations, and distress had naturally followed
But the amount Of distress had been exaggerated The
percentage Of suffering among the laborng classes as
whole, was small. The remedy for the distress was
the return TO the farms OF those who left them to into
manufactures. Mr. Henchman said that he believed In
free trade doctrines and thought that protective tariff
system among tue causes which led the community
into financial swamp. He thought the Government
however, could do little 10 better the times Necessity
was the best spur TO induce 10 work He did Think
nevertheless that the Government might wisely exer
else some control over the savings banks NJ Hewitt
said he hoped would be taken OF the fact that In
the large number Of letters received by the committee
on labor questions the chief evil complained Of was the
savings bank system. to which large proportion OF
labor difficulties we're ascribed.
Mr. Henchman said nc deemed it unwise for the Gov
eminent give and people who desired TO settle upon
its lands. He said Those who would suffer them
selves TO be transported free the public lands wouldn't
be worth the freight" The Government he believed.
would not be able TO select men worthy Of such aid
Men who earnestly desired to 20 West woald somehow
get there The railroads might wisely offer special In
duoemens 10 settlers to attract them to their lands
Mr.Henchman concluded his testimony by suggesting that
the committee accompany their report with statistical
tables showing the basis OF the opinions arrived at Mr.
Hewitt answered that the committee INTENDED to do So
and added that the next census report W0ul also
valuable statistics bearug on The subject OF labor
L. b. Thurber IN beginning bis testimony said: be-
'cye there Is substantial basis for the dissasfac-
ton which exists among toe WoFkng classes ana na'
while OF their demands may be chmerical ana in-
practicable others again are quite Just and must IN one
form or another be recognized believe that the egis
latiOn Of the last quarter OF century has been more
largely the interest Of capital and CORPORA ions than
il has been in the interest OF the people and that the
poorer and middle classes are Sustaining h0te
support Of Government" There one Kind
OF taxation IN his opinion Wnieh was NOT appre,,
coat Of railway transportation The report OF the state
Engineer showed that the receipts Of the railroads *
ouehaf OF this would i0per cont interest on the
capital actually paid by stock aud bond holders In pro
yldng these facies The entire revenues OF the state
derived from taxation were In the nelghnorhood OF
So aud great hue and cry was raised whenever
II was proposed TO this sum even Tor the most
necessary purposes while all the time the public were
sustaining axatouin the shape OF excessive charges
for transportation many times greater than the entire
snonn rs9nleo if t . ~ h,cb he ioborng classes
were complaining steam aud electricity which, IN
connection with labor saving machinery, had within
comparatively few years reyolutionzed commerce. and
altered the manners and customs Of fr Machinery and
steam power had vastly increased toe producing clplCY
OF the world and only natural that markets should
bo more frequently oyer-stOcked now Than when the
producing capacity wa less. Inc only remedy Tor lhe
present was to walt until notion caught
mo with the production again. This was nearly accom-
pshed, and the nation was about TO enter upon ne"
The witness thought the currency question much
rated in importance. The persons clamOrng Tor more
currency overlooked the fact that the great bulk OF
changes performed by checks and drafts aud that
bstb the paper and allie money issued by the Govern
ment did only comparatively smi amount OF service
IN this way Commercial credits contributed largely
also toward moving the great staples OF commerce
Concerning the tariff question, the witness said no
Thought that while II was no doubt true that class inter
ests were extent favored at the expense OF the
general puhic yet 10 10 his opinion great deal bet
ter 20 lei II stand than for the Government 10 DO
santly nkering ut and Keeping the commercial com
muniIy In suspense proposed changes which might
not he any improvement Presidential elections were
also among the disturbing causes which hurt business
II might be well TO elect President only once IN SIX
years. Concerning lntempeiance' the witness saiu ne
thought II indeed very great evil Legislation
might accomplish something toward checking 10 by
heavily taxing all sDiruOus liquors. The substitution
do "A great deal OF good The condition OF labOferA was
much improved when compared with their condition
half century ago, but still they had not shared IN the
increase OF prosperity 50 much as the capitalist
cass They were determined To have something ana
the sentiment Of the community In favor
of giving them oil that right aud practicable.
committee the subject OF railroad transportation, crit
csed the policy OF inc New-York Central and Hudson
River Railroad. He said that Mr. vanderbilt after eay-
ing the steamboat business had enormously increased In
wealth. aud that tho increase was unlnsty contributed
by the shippers Of freight His remedy for the evil was
tine appointment OF competent National Board OF lsa-
boards every state. With Mr. Adams ne believed ia
the greatest possible publicity In the affairs OF the rail-
roads mic argc corporations ho thought that the
general tendency OF tue times IN AL branches OF INDUSTRY
and that 10 would result IN beneftting the country.
Sjas r. Kenyon said that lac Thought the labor troubles
were due 10 tho want OF confidence OF one man In
another There were, also too many men Ia the cities
unemployed, who should be put upon the public lands at
the Governments expense Inc GOYernnent should lake
charge OF thB savings Institutions, aud should make
every post Office In tine land depository for the savings
of the people, paying them small rate Of interest
-----
THE SANTO DOMINGO REVOLT