The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-03
THE TARIFF AND INDUSTRY

W Ill give LQS question UlG l6dSL
will see that high wages in America are due
altogether to causes independent of the tariff
The tariff advances the price of iron by put
ting duty on iron and if these statesmen
who favor a tariff because it makes high
wages were in earnest they would enact law
to tax imported labor so high it could not
come in competition with that of America;
yet hundreds of thousands of foreign labor
ers come into the country every year with
out any questions being asked. The failure
to protect wages as iron is protected is known
by all who consider this question i'll any OF
its phases but it is seldom confessed by the
organs of the protective tariff."-Louisville
Courier-J ournal.
1t is to be noted, in this connection, that
under the operations of a protective tariff
wages are maintained at better figures than
elsewhere in the world, despite the fact that
hundreds of thousands of foreign laborers
come into the country every year. Just how
long this stream of immigration would con-
tinue after free trade ideas have put foreign
workmen in their native lands on an equal
ity with American mechanics is not stated
by free-trade journals. By some course of
reasoning, not yet made plain free
trade papers have convinced themselves
that prices for labor will be main
tanned as they now are, after the price OF the
product of labor has been cut down % and in
some instances 60 per cent. Or, will they
presume to argue that present prices of man
ufactured products in America will be main
tanned? 1t would seem superfuous to argue
that prices are relatively much better in
America than elsewhere. If not why then
does an army OF foreign mechanics 100000
strong annually leave friends and homes
to come to America? This is no colored
exodus, blindly flying from one misery only
to encounter another. The men who come
are intelligent, energetic, and possessed of
some means, all of which go to increase the
prosperity of America. The time has not
yet come when this influx must be kept out.
1t would not be necessary to keep these
people out in case free-trade ideas prevailed.
The inducement would be removed, and they
would of themselves stop coming. With
those in England, Germany, and other Eu-
ropean countries, there would be no incentive
to come, and immigration would cease.
1t is not claimed by protectionists that
duties in all instances are levied exactly as
they should be. There are doubtless some
articles of American manufacture that
should be open to foreign competition, and
this is true in all instances where it is found
that Americans can compete successfully
with the old-established manufacturers of
Europe. The duty on other articles should
be done as speedily as possible. An earnest
of this intention was given in the passage of
such bill by the late Congress. Developed
by the necessities of war and the consequent
expense entailed, taxes of all kinds, customs
and excise, were imperative. The war tariff
has been largely reduced and the modifca-
ton will be continued by friendly legisla-
ton as the necessity develops. The few items
in the new law to which exception is
taken are the natural result of human falli-
bility. The question of a detailed tariff law
it in it's entirety is next to impossible. To
do so one must understand the profits and
workings of every branch of industry affected
thereby. To expect a perfectly adjusted
tariff in every detail is simply to demand
superhuman wisdom of men.
A glance at the new census report, pages
92S-931, will show that American industries
have made rapid strides since the protective
tariff of 1861 was passed. In 1850 the total
value of manufactured products was 81 ,019,-
106 GIG, and the total amount of wages paid
respectively were Products, $685., 1851, 676;
wages, 1878, S7S, $685. Increase for the ten
years: Products, about IS per cent; wages,
about 60 per cent The record at
the end of the next ten years
shows: Products, 81, 1872 1926, 442; wages,
$778 5S4, 343 Increase under high protective
tariff products, 125 per cent; in wages, about
10 per cent. In 1880 the value of products
was S., 369 579, 191, and wages paid, $947,-
953 795. The total number of hands en-
poyed in 1850 in the United States was 957,-
O59 in 1860, 1911, 246; in 1870, 2,053, 1885, in
1880, 2,73S, 1896. Such is the exhibit made
before and after an exhaustive civil war
The increase is simply marvellous. The vast
sums realized through the tariff went to pay
the extraordinary expenses of the war, and
thus lifted much of the burden of taxation,
which but for the tariff would have been
raised directly from the people. So that,
the tariff has been nearly or quite
balanced by increased prices of