The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-11
TARIFF AND WAGES.

1hhAfc AMI WhUEo.
We are rather pleased that our good
friend of the Amertcan Glass Worker, a very
handsome and ably conducted weekly pa
per recently started in this city, shows a
disposition to enter into candid and man
ly discussion of the tariff question with the
FREE TRADER. Now perhaps we shall be
able to get an answer to the conundrum
which was 30 adroltly and persistently
lodged by our contemporary of the Ottawa
RepuJlican IN tariff discussion with this
journal few months ago, to w.t. "ln what
way does tariff taxation increase the wages
of labor?"
The idea of the FREE TRADER is, that
the wages Of labor are regulated by the
law OF supply and demand, and that as
there 10 no tariff restriction on the importa-
ton OF labor into tins country, but our ma
nufacturers enjoy perfect tree trade III that
article, the wages of labor are entirely out
side and independent of tariff regulation.
For example: Statistics show that the
average difference OF wages between blanket
hands in free trade England and this coun-
try is about IL per cent. A tariff of II per
cent, then, with cost of freight, as wool
costs about the same in England as here,
ought to afford all the protection the man
ufacturer in this country needs to place
HIM on an equal footing with his English
rival. In point OF fact he has 60 to 1O4 per
cent. protection, but wages remain at IL
per cent. above English rates.
More yet. American consul Shaw at
Manchester, England, in recent report to
the state department at Washington, gives
tables showing the wages paid tor weaving
piece of SO yards at four different places
in England and at the same number of
places in the United States. From these
tables 1t appears that the average wages
per piece in this country was 20.7O cents,
IN England it was 1904 cents, or 30 per ct.
more for the same quantity OF cloth. AS
regards wages, therefore, it is the English
man, and not the American, that needs pro.
lection.
So the secretary of the Illinois labor bu-
reau lately prepared some interesting ia
bles on the question of wages as affected
by the tariff which 60 far to destroy the
absurd claim that American labor will be
"pauperlzedn if the present protection
policy is not maintained. He finds that
the average income OF workingmen IN
Chicago is $G0S70, and that the protect
ed" tradesmen receive the lowest wages.
The truth is, on thorough investigation
it will be found that the tendency of our
present vicious tariff system IL to lower,
not increase, wages. We contend that 1t Is
system of dishonest bargains-of corrupt
log rolling While our glass blowers are
protected by 10 per cent tariff on glass,
that protection il neutrallzed by tax on
soda ash, arsenic, &c, which they are forced
to nav. So our cotton manufacturers are
protected by 40 to 60 per cent. tariff on
their fabrics, but 1t is all neutrelized by the
additional cost the tariff puts on their ma.
, chinery, dyes, merchants, buildings, &c; so
that the more enlightened Of our cotton
and WOODEN manufacturers now admit thai
the tariff does them more harm than good
by excluding them almost wholly from for
, eien markets. They can increase their
output only in proportion to the home de,
demand, whereas if they had free trade in
+ raw materials they could compete with
England and France for the markets of the
/, world and soon quadruple their output and
i, IN the same proportion quadruple their la
bor forces, with the increase of wages
=, which this increased demand for labor
would necessarily bring with it.