The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-13
Washington.

A COTToN-NAEUfACTURER BEFORE MR.. HEW-
TITS LABOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DOMAIN
HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT
MR.. HAYES RESOLVED TO ADHERE TO HIS
SOUTHERN POLICY SUGAR BEFORE THE
WAYS AND MEANS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BLANE's BLooDY-SHIRT SPEECH A FAIL
uRE-THE TOBACCO BILL TO BE TAKEN UP
TUESDAY.
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, December 12.-Mr. Edward
Atkinson. OF BrookIine, Mass, occupied
the entire session of Mr.. Hewitt's Labor
Committee to-day, and was listened to With
marked attention. He had been cotton
manufacturer for twenty-five years, and
when questioned as to the adequacy OF
wages Of the laboring men at the present
day, he replied that the purchasing power
of what those with steady employment now
receive is greater than be had ever known
it to be. There is more trouble, however,
about the adequacy Of employment. The
cause OF our financial and labor troubles
grew out OF the fact that while there were
million OF men in the field during the war,
among those who remained at home pro-
was stimulated to the highest possible point.
This alone would have brought about col
lapse at the end OF the war: but the rail-
road corporations embarked in extravagant
schemes Of railways. and gave employment
to three hundred thousand men. When this
speculative fever subsidized municipal corpo-
rations all over the land INDUCED in eXpen-
sive improvements, and went into debt
without q thought of the consequences, and
hence the evil day was further diverted, but
it came in 1873. Then it was found that an
abnormal supply OF laborers had been con-
centrated in all the large cities and trade
centres, and how to get rid Of them was the
difficulty. In five years, however, many OF
them have been distributed throughout
the West and other sparsely-popuated
sections, and he thought the trouble
would work itself out without legis-
latiye or artificial aid. European coun-
tries, having no uHoccupied lands, have
to relieve themselves when similarly stu
ated By emigration. He did not think we
would suffer from foreigners coming to this
country, because only the most energetic
and sensible leave home, and they can take
care Of themselves. We have an adyan-
tage over Great Britain, now suffering from
the aggregation of laborerS, as at Oldham,
| because our people are OF more elastic
temperament, and move long distances
more readily. We have learned one les
son, MIR. Atkinson said, and that Is that
the way to get rich is by saving. He
| did not believe Great Britain can ever
compete with Us in the manufacture OF
staple cotton goods, and therefore he
did not think these fabrics needed
any protection. He was for tariff for rev.
enue only, but thought neither tariff nor
free trade amounted to rs much rs their re-
spective advocates would have us believe.
In five years there has been greater im-
proyement, he said in American manufac-
lures than in the preceding fifteen years,
and it now takes only seventy-fiye men to
do, with improved machinery, what it re-
REQUIRED one hundred prior to 1878. We
can stand this, but he did not think we can
stand any greater reduction.
COLONEL p. DOMAIN INTERVIEWS r. B. II.
| In company with Senator Armstrong, Nof
Missouri, Colonel P. DOMAIN called OH Pre-
sident Hayes to-day, and he informs me
that the impression made upon him was
that Mr.. Hayes means to adhere to his
southern policy. The President remarked
that he had done as much for the South as
a Democrat could have done, and instanced
| A. klnD lx,c oh ~fS
day was not OF so deep shade as that dis
PLAYED in the Senate two years ago.
TIE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE DECIDE TO
CONSIDER THE SUGAR QUESTION.
The Ways and Means Committee to-day,
by resolution, not only determined to 60 to
work in earnest on the sugar question, but
MIR. Sherman and other officials are to be
1 invited to appear before a subcommittee
next Tuesday, SC that their views may be
ascertained and laid before the whole COM
mittee. Immediately after recess sugar
men are to be given q hearing. The i'm
portance Of the subject is shown by state
ment OF the fact that Of the one hundred
and fity-odd millions raised by the tariff
last year, sugar paid over thirty-seven mil
lions. Your correspondent ascertained
that the Louisiana sugar-producers want a
tariff on Iow-grade sugars OF 80 cents per
pound, and on higher grades of $50 and
80. The refiners want the Demerara and
other low grades OF sugar admitted free, but
urge stiff duty on refined sugars. The
importers want all free. Mr.. Sherman ad-
vocates the use Of the poariscope instead OF
the Dutch standard. He deems change in
the mode of collecting duties on sugars as
imperative.
PERSONAL ITEMS.
Messrs. Echols, OF Augusta; Kyle, Of
Carroll; Niche, of Albemarle, and Fulton,
OF Grayson, members Of the Virginia Lee
gislature, and Cashier B!edsoe, OF the Ma
tional Valley Bank, Staunton, are here.
Senator Withers returned from his Masonic
visit to Richmond, and is in bis seat to-day.
Mr.. Willis, of New York, spoke to-day. in
the House on the Geneva awards, and when
he said, sHas it come to this, that Amerl-
can legislators are to be governed in their
action by the opinions Of English counsei!"
member remarked, in low tone, that ne
had known members often influenced in
their actions by French brandy. d.
Mr.. Eustis, Of Louisiana, endeaYored to
convince the Senate that Congress, under
the Constitution, has the right to aid in the
CONSUMPTION OF the Mississippi leyees. "A