The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-05
PROTECTION IN GERMANY.
Improvement in the Industrial Situation
Increase Of Wages.

Washington Special.
Two reports received at the State Department.
from the consular officers in Germany indicate
that the policy of protection adopted there five
years ago has resulted so favorably that its ex-
tension is highly probable. Consulg general
Vogeler, of Frankfort on-the-M Main, gives in his
report a synopsis of the proposed amendments
to the tariff law. In proposing these amend
ments he says the government remarks: THE
reform Of our tariff law Of July 10, 1879, has in a
general way brought about the desired results,
in this, that it has not only produced a decided
increase of revenue, which has greatly relieved
the financial situation of the several German
States. but has also strongly fostered the indus
trial activity Of the Nation. 1t would, however,
contrayene the public interests which the tariff
has to serve in the first place if legislation should,
as is demanded in some parts, consider the
tariff, which has now been In
force nearly FIVE years, as something nearly
Interchangeable. Such strict adherence
to all the provisions of the tariff is forbidden on
the one hand by the constant development of
the manifold industries affected by the tariff;
while, on the other hand, in many instances, ex-
perience alone has enabled a competent judg
ment as to whether the provisions of the tariff
Of 1879 have hit the right thing (das rechtige
g~etroffen haben) as well in the classification OF
the articles as in the height of the several rates.
Among the changes proposed by the govern
ment are the following: The duty on laces and
embroideries is increased go per cent; on pre-
pared ornamental feathers, 300 per cent; on
spirituous liquors, 100 per cent: on embroidered
and lace dresses, 1873 l3 per cent; on artificial
flowers, 200 per cent; on variegated needlewOrk,
80 per cent. on laces and embroideries wholly
or partly of silk, SO l3 per cent.
In the report of Consul Warren, Of Dussel-
dorf, the effect Of the protection policy on wages
and the demand for labor are summarized in al
interesting manner. The consul says: From
my own observation feel quite safe in asserting
that wages in this district have undoubtedly
been on the rise since the Introduction of the
German new tariff. Competition with foreign
imports has greatly diminished, and there has
not only been an increase in the demand for
home production, but the quality of the article
manufactured has become BETTER
The consul gives a synopsis of some facts OBJ
tanned by the German Steel and Iron Industry
Association from 800 iron works, foundries and
machine shops in various parts of Germany.
These facts he summarizes as follows: I'm Jan
uary, 1879, there were employed in said 800
works Isl, 582 workmen, with monthly wages to
the amount of 81, 280, 375. against 202, 1888 work
men in January, 1884. with So, 468, 024
monthly wages. According to these fig
ures, the number of workmen increased by
so, 306, or 80. 2 per cent and the wages by ST.
087, 648 1922 per cent per month. From 1879
to 1882 the number of workmen employed in the
machine works increased by 29.3 per cent; from
1879 to 1883 by 80. per cent, and from 1879 to
1884 by 529 per cent. This gives an increase Of
the single wages from 1879 to 1882, 14.6 per
cent; from 1879 to 1883, Is per cent, and from
1879 to 1884, 49,. per cent. Since 1879 the num-
Der OF workmen employed in the iron works in
creased by 26.3 per cent, the total wages by Al. 4
per cent, the single wages by Ills per cent. In
comparison to those figures Of 1879 there has
also been an extraordinary large increase of
labor and wages in the iron works. Since then
the number of workmen has increased by 26. 3
per cent; the total wages advanced by 41.8 per
cent, and the single wages by Ills per cent,
many works in England-and some in France
and Belgium-had to suspend operations aud
thousands of workmen were thrown our of EN-
ployment, with considerable reduction of wages"