Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1883-05-17
Wages and Protection.

much interested and concerned about the wei
fare of American laborers, and We would like
very much to believe that this concern on
their part is as real as they pretend, but OBJ
seryatlon does not exactly confirm US in the
belief that they have the interests Of labor so
much at heart. as some people seem to think
they have. Is it not characteristic OF the men
who are carrying on any industry-especially
industries protected by high tariff duties, to
be so much concerned for the welfare Of the
men who work for them, as to voluntarily in.
crease their wages, and to bestow benefits
upon them unsolicited, or to offer to share
with their employers, any Of the profits Of
the united investment of labor aud capital in
such industry. Perhaps there are few
isolated instances of such generosity on the
part Of employees, but it must be admitted
that these are exceptions and not the rule.
ProtcCtiouists claim that their business need
protection on account Of the higher prices of
labor IN this country as compared with labor
| in European countries. We freely admit that
wagOs are higher here than in the old coun.
tries. out 1t does not necessarily follow that
| this difference, in the price of labor is so great
H. 20 ncccsSitate the imposition Of such high
t tariff duties on imports as they claim. How
much more will this ditierauce in the price OF
wages make ton Of iron cost in this country
than it cost in Englaud. Suppose that a ton
Of ircN@ sad is worth $50. The cost
of laGNn ! + Of il pu, tif theIprqnor:ion
is the same there as il this couutry,l is %
per cent. OF the value Of the product, or $500.
worker wages, than the wages OF English
iron workers: Before we decide fully on this
question. let us bear in mind. (l.) That
American workmen have the reputation Of
being Of Il quicker turn than most CT thcir
foreign cousins and consequently they do
more work per hour, and Of course are worth
4 little more per day 10 Il manufacturer ou this
account. (2.) In this country We have the
tries they only work eight hours per day. II
| | am not mistaken, the eight hour system
exists in England: Ii needs no argument to
prove that men ought to receive more wages
| iOr working ten hours ! day than Tor working
only eight hours day-so this is another
reason why wages are higher here than il
those countries. The average per diem
wages in the iron and steel business as iudi-
Gated by the census in this country, is 4l.3l.
! In iron mining, it is only 81. do not know
what wages are paid to laborcrs engaged in
those industries ia England, but for tho sake
Of Illustration we'll suppose that they are
but little over half rs much as our labOrcrS
get. Then if tho English manufacturer can
pay his labOrcrs 20 cents per day, and pro-
| riucr u ton o! iron for $50, the labor in said
ton Of iron costing as | have stated $500, il
! follows that the cost of the labor in ton Of
! american iron would be about 1920, or
s.. 30 more than the labor in q ton Of English
iron. Consequently it would make the cost
OF the ton OF American iron -. GO greater
! than Tic cost nt a ton Of IRON manufactured
by the "panncr labor Of Europe. In plain
! language. Il The English iron manufacturer
can produce ton Of lron with his paupcr
labor for $50, the American manufacturer
'an produce the same ton Of iron with his
high priced labor Tor $3.50. That is. the
;:,Dtrc!'g in lie y,1.':a - 771or h"r4 ant "a
EmgiiF W6HiH 0niq a&nk1 IL d;Vsrenrc If $500
in iir 1,.'yH; r'Dst al H.. k,n nt' irou rh'~ ~
= difference OF only ~ PER cent. liu: lhr
tariff duty on iron ia from II to - per cent
: Now where is the necessity for such an IN
reasonable tariff on this commodity. have
made The calculation on tho surpos!!jon that
wages IN England are oulY about hail wha:
they are here. [ have not taken !Gto the
calculation the fact that our labnrcrs do mere
work III day than the tOrHjgn workman, nor
the cost Of bringing English iron TO or
market Vet it shows that ii The high priv"
of labor in this country is the only CXc9Sc for
y high tariff ~ iron. that a % per cent Int '
would effectively exclude The foreign article,
AMI la. there Is no need d The high rate Of
duty that is now levied on imported iron. il tiH
| protection Of -tmcrirGn htjor IS all il is d'"ac
FAR. J. {. W.