New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-03
INDUSTRIAL GERMANY.
NV ROBERT p. PORTER, MEMBER OF THE LATE
TARIFF COMMISSION.
rsNDrNCY OF WAGES AND COST OF LIVING

TENDENCY OF WAGES AND COST OF LIVING
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE ihibOSh'i
RyprIN. Prussia, July 2.-Dnring my stay In
serl,n have had ar interview with Minister oar
80, and in the course of our conversation the
effect of the New German Tariff was discussed. Mr
SARGENT said that from personal observation and
conyersatiop with those thoroughly informed on
the subiect he should unhesltatlngy say that upon
tbs whole the effect had been beneficial to the in
dustries of the Empire and especially to the work
ing classes To be sure. isolated cases might DO
given of the new tariff increasing the cost OF some
articles which, though in themselves manufactured
articles we're raw materials" to other industries
But after this was all carefully considered and also
the fact that at first the cost Of provisions In
creased there remained the undisputed TACT. that
Is a nation Germany was more prosperous under q
protective policy. Wages had largely lnciesseu
and the working man was far better OIL IMAM ever
before indeed, Mr.. Sargent assured me. on semi
Official Authority, that in twenty years wages In
Germany had in many branches of industry In
creased 100 per cent. There are some public men,
among them John Bright. who actually believe that
England is the only country in which tue lot OF the
workipgman has improved In the last generation,
and vet find on examining tho economic progress OF
the protective European countries, that IL can oe
statisticay proved that relatively nearly all THESE
countries have made greater industrial progress
.;nce tina British custom duties were repealed than
has Great Britain and Ireland. The many political
administrations, and territorial changes which oil
late years have taken place in Germany render IL
almost impossible to produce comparison between
It's present condition and that Of earlier years. an
idea however, may be formed OF the great progress
male by this nation by study OF the value NJ the
.xports according to Spollart, which increased
IN z mil Inn
marks in 1870 The national income has. also &C
cordinc 70 Ur. Soetbeer increased in Prussia from
q e69 million marks in 1872 to considerably over
& 600 million marks at the present time. Est-
mating simply from the income tax of Prussia, the
increase in wealth since S54 is over 800 per cent
have obtained here IN Berlin some interesting
facts and figures showing the present prosperous
condition OF German industry and which in man-
ner not to be mistaken prove the fact that wages
m different classes of industry have an upward
tendency.
Fret comes the Board of the Northwestern Group
of the association of Iron and Steel Manufacturers
with report recently published showing that at
six works the number of hands employed bad
increased. during the year ending in 1882, per
cent On the average wages for the year fiityeight
works sent In reports at works 1t fell of. by 40
per cent at the one by 69i per cent at the other 1t
cot higher at forty-uine works, and remained
stationary at seven works AT twenty-five WORKS
1t went up to per cent; at fifteen, up TO III per
cent; at three to per cent; at six to 1888 per
cent On an annual average, lad worklngmen
earned 1920 at minimum but the fact is IN This
instance specially mentioned that they carry on
farming as u secondary business. Furthermore, on
yearly average 1927 workme1 earned from $50 to
5000; 32.73S, from 500 to $780, 1886. from
$3.50 to 5000; aud 73s over $500. After careful
analysis of these figures the report concludes in the
following words:
We think therefore, entirely entitled to assert
that also past the condition OF working people
has again improved Tor there was more Work and the
work more renuneratiye
Turning from the IRON industry to that OF velves.
velvet ribbons, etc. find by statistics collected by
the Board of Trade at Crefeld and reproduced dur
ing my stay in Berlin by the NorddeutSche AiIge-
sneine Zeung that this industry has been far more
prosperous since the Empire returned to protection
Here are the figures: