Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-29
WHERE LOW WAGES ARB FHE RULE
Under a Tariff Protective" Almost to Pro-
hibitOn.
SHE HAS THE HIGHEST TARIFF
In the World, Outside Of Russia and the
United States, and Lower Wages,
Increased Cost Of Living and In
ported Pauper Labor is
the Result.

turn from Europe Mr.. Blaine told the
workingmsn Of New York of the dreadful
state of things resulting from free trade
which he had Witnessed there; although as
a matter of fsct every European country,
with the siugle exception Of England,
where wages are highest, is more or less
protec'ionist. In his recent speeches in
Maine Mr.. Blaine has more than once 10.
ferred to Canada as a low-tarif country,
and has asked the workingmen of the
United States how they would like to &C
cept Canadian wages. Il 80 happens,
however, Canada is a high-tariff country.
In fact, leaving out the United States and
Russia, Canada possesses the highest tariff ol
any couut-y in the world. The Dominion
tariff was adopted in 1879 For some years
prior to that time the Canadian farmer
had suffered fron POOR hsrvssts, and he
got it into his head that protective tariff
-imiiar to that of the United States would
be good thing for bin. After nine years
experience with protection he has come to
the conclusion that his condition is worse
than before. Everything he eats, wears
and uses is taxed, 80 that the cost of pro.
ducing wheat, cattle, barley and cheese
has been much incre ssed; but the tariff
does not add csnt to the market value OF
those products. Under the exhorbitant
duties levied on foreign goods combines of
all sorts are enabled to fattsn upon his Ia
Dor.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS ARE TAXED
35 PER CENT;
furniture, 35 per cent on sugar the duty
is prohibitory; on iron the duty is 2S.78
per cent, although there are only five
rolling mills, and so on through list OF
about two thousand articles. But the
duty is not the worst part Of the system.
Oar cuet )ms laws are unique bits Of des-
potism. Thus, If consignment Of goods
arrives from the States, the customs Off
cers are at liberty 70 ignore the bona tide
valuation set forth in the invoice and to
fix an arbitrary valuation of their own on
which the duty shall be levied. Again:
Importers are watched and dogged by Gus
toms spies and detectives, and if these
harpies choose to suspect a merchant
of uuderyaluation the law insists, not that
they shall prove his guilt, but that he
shall prove his innocence to their satisfac-
ton. When they succeed in conyicting On
importer by means Of this peryersion Of
the fundamental principle of criminal law
they are allowed share of the fines i'm
posed upon their victim; in other words,
the informers work for blood money.
The condition of the Canadian artisan
under protection deserves the attention of
the protected workman in the United
States. In the first place, wages in Can
ada are higher in any Of the industries
which are not protected at all than they
in the protected ones. The shanty men
who work in the woods, for instance, get
higher wages than the cotton or sugar cp-
eratives. Secondly, every article worn
and eaten by the Canadian mechanic is re-
morselessly taxed for the support of
INDUSTRIES WHOSE INFANCY NEVER
ENDS;
while foreign labor is admitted free so that
wages may be kept down to the lowest
notch. For year or more, large numbers
of Door mechanics have been shipped to
Canada from England by the poor law
guardians as we'll as by philanthropic 80
cieties. 1t is cheaper 20 send q starving
family TO Canada than to maintain it In
the workhouse. On their arrival in Can
ada many of these uufortuuete5 either be-
come burden upon the public charities,
or else drift to the United States. Those
who can get employment in Canads, OF
course, become competitors in the labor
market against Canadian labor, with the
result that Canadian wages are depressed.
In numerous cases the Canadian en-
ployer advertises in the English papers
for q cargo of immigrants, and then pro
ceeds to cut the wages of his workingmen
at home, knowing that the latter cannot
afford to strike with a ship load OF poor
souls on the ocean hnrrying to supplsnt
them.
Lsst spring the stonecutters in Hamilton
struck for higher wages. Forthwith the
government immigration agents In Europe
sent patches of English stoneCutters to the
rsscus of the master builders. In like
manner, when the carpenters Of Toronto
contemplated striking this summer, Eng
Iish carpenters weIe imported by the
dozen, and on their arrival the employers
dismissed the Trades Union men ana
Knights of Labor who had been prominent
in the agitation. The discharged union men
moved across the lineinto the United States
Hence. the whole importation Of psuper
labor of ssmi-paupsr labor from the United
Kingdom into Canada results In the long
run in the displacement of American labor,
inasmuch as the Canadian artisan wfo Is
driven out of work is compelled to crcss
the border and underbid the American
srtissn. It should be borne in mind by
American workmen that the importation
of foreign labor under contract Is nor only
nermitted in Canada but encouraged pJ
the Domiuion Government, which SPENDS
S3OO 600 year in promoting immigration
20 tb;s country, as well rs promoted by
ths poor-lsg guardians on the other slde Oh
tbs Atlantic. This fact accounts for the
snormous influx of native Canadian artis.
ans into the northern cities OF the united
Buffalo, Rochester, oswego,
Svracuse. Troy and Albany-Hhere, as
has been sid, their presence inevitably
tends 10 lower the American scale OF wages
TIE TRADES UNIONS IN CANADA
bavs nrotested against this unfair system,
hnt tha manufacturers and other employ
srs have more influence than they with the
Government. It is evident however,
something must be done soon In view OF
the passage by the British Pariiamsnt Oh
what Is known a. the Local GoVernment
Nil This measure provides, among otneI
.hinoa hin that any municipality in England
o- Scotland shsll have power to borrow
money for the purpose OF getting no o.
ssoss % Who are or who threaten to become
chsrys % on the municipal rstes. Under tins
cIause the export Of psupers to Oanaaa
Iii be carried on in wholesale fashion
nnlssa the Canadian Government inter
Sanss. As matters stand at presen. .ne
Poor Law Board is the only public authority
smnowered to aid the paupers abroad, anu
y can only make uss Of the ordinary Iuno,
:. ia disposal; where's, under the Local
s1nmsnt bill the municipal councils
, inr engage In that work practically 70 sns
Extsnt of their credit.
manner in which the foor-La~