National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-11
Inc,ensod Acll,ltx in 1,n.ino...

However much Of decentralization Of bus
incss may have resulted from the numerous
strikes that have recently occurred or are
now IN progress in various parts Of the
country, the impression that these disturb.
0nccs indicate industrial depression IS en-
tirely erroneous. Such MISUNDERSTANDING
between employers and employed arc,
OF course, injurious alike to labor and cap
ital, aud 1t is always a public gain when
strike is averted by q fair settlement Of q
disputed point
But SO far from indicating increasing
hardness of the times, the strikes recently
reported owe their inception TO the general
belief that, under the impetus of better
times, capital has Of late been getting more
than its fair share Of the Joint earnings Of
cash and toll As labor was compelled to
accept reductions during the long period Of
depression, 1t now demands return to the
better wages which It believes are war
ranted by improved conditions. In some
instances the demand has taken the shape
of shorter days for the same wages, which
is practically an increase of pay.
The general public has noted with pleas.
urc that, in numerous instances the de.
mands Of labor have been promptly COM
piled with With still greater pleasure the
cheerful spectacle has been bcheld Of great
corporations voluntarily advancing wages
or shortening days without waiting for any
lntmaton of strikes. These facts would
seem to furnish conclusive proof that labor
was not far wrong in It's diagnosis of the
situation.
But these are not all nor arc they The
most positive and irrefutoble evidences
that we have entered upon au era Of indus.
trial and commercial prosperity 1t is re.
ported, with Official sanction, that there
will be q large increase 0fITeceipts over last
year in the bureau N internal revenue.
The FIRST six months showed an increase Of
overSl 800, O,0C0,aM the second half will prob.
ably be an Improvement upon that. The
receipts and prospects Of internal revenue
are claimed to be reliable indication Of
gcneYal revival Of business.
Capital that has long been lille Is now
being modified; railroads are making many
additions to their rolling stock, so that Gu
ginc aud car builders have large orders
ahead; new railroads are being laid out,
and construction has already been begun
on several lines Of considerable Importance.
All this means "good timcs"-an increased
demand for labor and material. OF course
material means labor in condensed form.
In carefully considered article on the
business situation the Boston Past cites the
unyOrying testimony of its clearing house
figures from week to week, and asserts
that:
They show a steady strength aud activity
which are gratifying. They tell Il story Of con.
slant and very marked increase as compared
with the corresponding weeks of last year.
/ This cannot be accounted for on the plea Of q
! speculative market. True, there is more to
tempt speculation now than for some time
TGst, but the gratifying future of most of the
indulgence In this respect is the fact that even
! speculation IS based upon actual values. on
the other hand, these evidences Of increased
| prosperity are quite as marked in the cities
| where solid business transactions are the rule
and speculation the exception, as in the large
| financial centors The basis of the coming
seasons business seems to be a sound one.
Our own city is to be liberal participant
| in the general increase Of prosperity.
Aside from various works contemplated By
the government, the building boom has set
in with uneXamplcd strength. The pessi
mist may still be heard croaking, as of old
"for It's his nature to-" but the average
business man realizes that the outlook Is
extremely cheerful,