New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-19

than any other comparison yet f,und pracu-
cable the actual change in the wges OF iaooi
in manufacturing mechanical ad mlnihR 'n-
dustries IN this country. Co,trasted WIN
Professor Lewis statement, whrh SHOWS Rai"
of per cent in the earnings OF bri'lsn ''''c :,
in similar industries from 1861 10 1907 ~
moro than justifies the statement that IN 'hese
industries. as in agriculture, wages In ,his
country have advanced moro than twice as
much as they have advanced in Ureat Dri'a'i.
Rut II will also be observed that the rate Oh
Gain has been very different in different IN
dustries. If it be true. IS Free Traders assert
that tho tariff has nothing 10 oo W."
wages.~ then it might Re expected that IN ,nso
industries in which machinery ana capi'a' ~,
been most largely employed. and IN "hic' snD
labor If women has in other lands prseN
taken the place of the labor Of men, aJu boy
and girls have been largely employee ih',e""
If mon and women, the rate Of VICES mere
vould not have advanced. or at iesV "ou'u
have advanced less than in other ccupauons'
Just the contrary proves to be the a0'' ~
all have gained, and in not a shgie 'huus'''
which comretes with British Tfoduc.s ~'so'
have failed to gain moro herr thah Ill urea'
Rr;tsin the gain in those industries whlch are
commonly regarded as objecs OF protection Ids
been little more than in ,thers'
Uero II is proper to notte that the diherihG
,o,o of increase results ir some instances from
differences in the rate Of protecuoh a'iorueu
bv The tariff Thus tie average rate oil uu's
on imported steel rails is "a per ceht' anu '"c
wages Of hands in plling mills have galned
since 1 $50 71.4 per cent, while the rate OF duty
a., lo,tber is Int 3Oper cent, and the wages OF
tonners have gained since 1860 3O.I per cent,
The rate of duty On glassis 90 per cent ana on
o,rtbenware 81 nsr cent; the increase in wages
in each industry Is about 80 1-2 per cent The
duty on tinware is 40 per cent ana the gam
in wages 42.8 per cen the duty on carpets
is AZ per cent, and The gain In wages ~ -
per cent; the duty on manufactures OF leather
is 80 per cent, and tie gain IN wages III DOC,
and shoe manufactur. is 1858 per cent. These
comparisons certaDy suggest that IN many
cases there has beeT close correspondence be-
t,vecn the measure of protection afforded by
the tariff ant the increase, sine that tarin
came into effect. in the wages of workers en-
ployed
In other CASES, such correspondence is OBJ
yiously prevented by important changes IN the
conditions of manufacture and the cost Of pro-
duction. eithe- abroad or in this country, which
have rendered the tariff less effective than 1t
was intended to be. Thus the unprecedented
fall in the prices of grades of wool used in the
worsted manufacture and rulings of the Treas
ury Department in hostility to the intent of the
law. bayeexposed that industry to degree of
competition which few manufactures have to
meet. AMI accordingly the increase in the rate
of wage, has to this day been comparatively
small. so the great decline in shipbuildng
in this country, from causes not due to the
tariff. has made protective legislation Of no
avail 10 that industry, and the wages of ship
carperters have gained only l 3 per cent while
the wages of other carpenters many of whom
are employed in protected manufactures, have
gained 80 per cent. Where the protective
duties have been maintained and enforced, and
have been adequate, the increase in the rate
of wages has in every instance been marked.
Bat by far the greater part of the benefit has
been of a kind which all wage-earners share.