The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-08-17
lornnn rAurrr LnssoS

sOnh tariff matters. Tho EN'
prtfg some time sincs came
nearly being led as.ray by rush light
after the manner Of Mn. VOORHEES, whom at
the Georgia exposition. In the neighbor
hood Of the Alamo City are some magni'
Gcent WOODEN mills aud finely successful In
all heir work. This has possibly had
something to or much to do with the wishes
AMI hopes Of the Express in the tariff bus
mess. We dislike to make such
frequent illusions TO those tariff
matters which ought by this
time to be plain to our people, but the
truth is that scores of them see as yet as
only through a glass darkly. Our sheep
Users and wooden manufacturers have been
| especially appealed to with arguments to
have them believe that these high tariffs
are fair and just things, especially for them.
Just before the adjournment of congress,
few days ago, there was an amendment pro-
posed to be tackled on to what was known
as the knit goods section Of the wooden tar
| if article. This amendment provided that
the duty upon all wool shall not exceed %
per cent. ad valorem, and the duties upon
all manufactures of wool, of which wool
snail be the component material OF chief
value, shall not exceed 50 per cent. ad
valorem." In this mornings issue we pub
| lish the pertinent remarks of our SENATOR
COKE on that amendment, uncovering the
profits which manufacturers make with
even the concession that amendment
allows. And yet the favored monopolists
were bitterly opposed to, such reduction
they could make large percentage OF
profit ON their investment in the knit
wooden goods business. There was already
duty of IS per cent. on knit wooden
goods, and by the so cents per pound de-
manded it gave dutiable tax of from 70 to
90 per cent, virtually prohibitory figure,
as shown, indeed by the returns, as in 1880
the entire revenue derived from one grade
of these goods was only 1855! while from
another grade it was only $39.39, the rates
OF duty being about9l per cent. for that
year. In 1881 the entire revenue derived
| from these same two grades was only about
| $3j.02, the rate Of duty averaging q
per cent. Surely here Is crushing OF
commerce and Sitting Of trade. Now of
these wool manufactures there are in the
country some 3ji establishments, the num-
Der of hands employed being 23,325; the
amount of capital used being some $751;
100000 The consumption OF foreign wool
last year was some 10000 pounds, and
that of domestic over $4,000 pounds. The
total value of the material was $4,000, 900,
and of the product $25,600,000. A calcula-
ton fairly made Oh these data gives some
10 per cent. per annum clear nett gam.
Now, tile clamor Of these knit WOODEN goods
manufacturers for more, more, more, is
simply illustrative of the Others OF the mo-
nopolists. And in support Of their de-
inunds they urge that this "iair ballot and
| fee count" arrangement in the shape OF an
enormous, oppressive tax upon the great
mss Of consumers throughout this coun-
ry, IS not for Jheir own private pockets,
at all, at all, but for the necessary protcc-
ton Of American worhuEmen, and also us
matter of necessary income for the gene
rnl soyagumaut with its annual eS2endi-
ture Of 800 90. low farit helps the
worsilrmen ,h9w much proportion
OF the tay thay s.caye, Is ably shown by
SENATOR Coke in his remarks, when he
I ilu5trltes that OF the tariff in question al-
loving 5lpec cent, p per cent. represents
the duty on tl9 raw material, and That III
per cont. ad sajpr.m Represents all the
money paid for labor which leaves the cap
Ii,aHst Is per cent. besides .3r the puro pro
lection OK hts capital. Increase tLe taZ too
&C. cent, aua how much, pray, viii The
J bo--r p3eEe? Perhaps Che following e.
.ra.. from tho Census Report advance
shectl viii throw a HJtle light hereou. II
say-: "Ibore were "a 1889, IN round num-
5ers, 05l,0JJ persons cmpioyciin mauusic-
turing in Tho twenty principal cities Of Tie
United states. There was paid TO them
.SIJ go 90 in wages or S33j each per an
mum. The material they used was valued
az 81, 3lj, 900 go. The value Of the product
was S2,l2o,OOo0C0. The net l1'''s OF their
laoor, therefore, was $11JsJo,oCo The
amount OF capital invested was
1852 600. The net profit appears
lol.to L.-.,y'cJ p,g cent. Til - g
remarkable showing Of profit. The aver
age wages were less than sGG0per week for
operatives, while the apparent profits
were thus large. About one-iourth OF these
laborers were blacksmiths, shoemakers,
carpenters aud bakers. These are supposed
to.yst WAGES something like double the ay-
erags here given, which would diminish
the weekly wages Of the other three-iourihs
to only about s. per week. These seem to
be incredibly low figures and do not justify
the continual plea Of the protcctionisis that
the enormous tariff put upon all goods is
necessary TO Keep up the wages Of laborers.
There does not appear to be any light in
Which this manufacturing subject can be
viewed that will make the position Of tie
PROFESSIONALS appear tenable." The sim
pie meaning Of this whole thing j., as SEN-
AroR vases observed, 'thcy want law
passed, Of course not to enable than 10 pay |
higher wages, but TO compel you and me to
pay their wages. When you pat Tie ques-
ton as have TO them, Why do you not
Day them higher waros; Jet Us know the |
answer Is, we cannot afford it, Can we
afford it7 II You cannot, how can II II
csnDot. and you cannot, how can the
women and children and the birelings, the |
dav-iaiorers and the consumers over
The whole Of this broad land az
ford TO pay your vOrkinpncn higher
razfs7 You are getting al the profits"
Rot re are told the tar Is required for the
-.nersl government. Reduce the tariff
tsr. say they, AMI the government must
tex somehow else. sEzAroh 'CoEE answers
lbs when be shows that il was estimaied
IA, the tariff Oflsfs would protuce 81
4ao01 vbea under a reduction il pro