Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-20
A TARIFF ON LABORERS.
Henry @. Rev 80 the Tariff Conn
miss10ners-Wante = Tariff ON
LnborerR.

CHICAGO, October 100 the HonOYG-
bic Tariff Commissioners an session at
PHILADELPHIA | have watched with a
great deal of interest the doings of the
commission in its travels about the
country and the character of the testi-
mony offered, the greater portion of
which has been in the interest of a con-
tinuation of our present high tariffs, and
in many cases the imposition Of still
higher duties.
There is one interest, however, which
has not been represented before the COM
mission, and for that interest desire to
be heard. 1t is the interest of the labor
ing classes, who are the principal buyers
and consumers of goods manufactured
under the commercial policy known as
protection to home industry" The
Constitution of the United States guar
antees to every citizen equal protection
before the law. In case, therefore, that
the policy of protection" is to be con.
tinued, it is most important that tariffs
should be adopted that would guarantee
to the laboring classes and buyers
and consumers of goods equal
protection with the manufacturers
| would therefore suggest that for
the protection of the laboring classes
high tariff be imposed upon the fur
ther importation of labor, in order that
the price of labor may be advanced to
correspond with the prices laborers now
have to pay for manufactured goods.
The protective" influence caused by
the exclusion of the Chinese is already
being most benefcently % felt upon our
Western coast. Wages are rising and
the laboring classes are receiving a most
substantial benefit. A protective or ex-
elusive policy upon our Eastern coast,
shutting out the further importation of
laborers free of duty, would be followed
by an increase IN the wages received by
laborers in the Eastern States. AS at
present adjusted the tariffs act in an ex-
tremely partial manner, and amount
practically to the robbery of the
many for the benefit of the few.
Whereas the manufacturers may at
any time import from any country in
Europe shipload after shipload of labor
ers free of duty, the laboring classes are
shut out from European markets and
cannot import the manufactured goods
required by them free of duty, but are
compelled to pay heavy tribute to "pro-
tected" home manufactures. "Protec-
ton to home industries" as it now exists
is, therefore, shown to be the protection
of classes and the non protection of the
masses. AS laborer, therefore, and on
behalf of the laboring classes of the
United States, do urge upon the COM
mission the Importance of the imposition
of such duties upon the further importa-
ton of labor as will raise the rates of
wages to correspond with the advance in
the cost of all articles of consumption
which has been caused by the so-called
protective tariffs.
When tariffs hive been so adjusted
that each interest throughout the cOun-
try is equally protected, it may be
found that neither manufacturers nor
laborers are benefited by the high tariffs,
for, while manufacturers would be ena-
bled to get higher prices for their wares
than if goods were admitted to our mar
kets from all quarters of the globe free
of duty, they would have to pay CORE
spending prices for labor and for all 9TH
er goods consumed by them. Laborers,
on the other hand, would learn that,
though they obtained higher prices for
their labor, they would also have to nav
corresponding prices for all goods con-
sunied by them. AT such time it would
be in order to sweep away all restrictions
upon immigration and trade and return
to the only sensible policy-namely: a
tariff for revenue only, this being the
only and best protection that our govern
ment can offer to all interests alike-to
manufacturers as well as laborers and to
buyers and consumers of goods as well
as to producers
This would open up the markets of the
world to our manufacturers, and the
trade and commerce of the globe, now
largely controlled by England, would be
open to the enterprise of our own peo-
pie. Our fleets and merchant marine,
now practically annihilated would soon
again whiten every sea, and America
would take the proud rank to which she
is justly entitled by her commanding
commercial position. situated. as
she is between Europe on the
one hand and Asia on the other
namely: the very centre of the worlds
manufactures and exchanges. With the
ultimate end in view of an entire sweep
ing away of the Chinese walls with
which we are foolishly surrounding our
trade and manufactures, | would like to
see protection" carried to its legitimate
conclusion by the adoption of such tar
ifs as will equally protect manufacturers
by preventing the laboring classes from
importing manufactured goods free of
duty; and also protect the laboring
classes by preventing the manufacturers
from importing laborers free of duty.
Had been in Chicago during the SEES
sion of the commission | should have
presented these views before it in person.
Very respectfully yours,
HENRY G. REV.