New-York tribune., 1888-08-24
WAGES AND IBE 7ARIFF-IT.


all occupations" objectors say. 1t fails TO
lift wages in all occupations equally above the
level Of foreign countries, and fails to raise
wages higher in the occupations especially pro-
tected than in those not directly objects OF
protection and therefore it fails to protect a.
ALL" These objections seem to many sincere
inouircrs SO conclusive that they refuse 10
credit the protective system with any eievarng
influence whatever upon wages. 1t is there
fore pertinent to meet these MISUNDERSTANDING
before completing the comparison OF wages
here and elsewhere.
above the level Of wages in England" i'm
plies that there is a level there, but there IS
not. Wages abroad are constantly shifting
with the increase in the demand for particular
kinds of bor or for particular products. lhey
are at all times higher in some occupations thah
in others, as figures already given show, aver
aring in Great Britain S6 so IN potteres for
named occupations and $S 43 for all male
adults. but only S4 81 for ma'c unskilled labor
They differ widely in different parts OF Great
Britain in the same occupations, as they do IN
this country. dead level Of wages IN all
occupations would make some impossible IN
Great Britain and some in this country
dead level In all places in Great Britain
would kill all competition between different
producers at different points, and so ID thls
country il would make the development OF
many industries impossible except ID the To-
caities most favored by nature, or by priority
Of occupation. For instance, it would abso-
lutely forbid the creation OF iron WORKS ID
Southern States.
The tariff puts up barrier against the dl-
rect competition Of products OF foreiSh iaoor
with products Of American labor, so that the
importation Of products shall not destroy OF
degrade the labor here. That done. it leaves
wages to be governed by the differing demand
and supply in the different localities and occu-
nations But its tremendous effectiveness Is
demonstrated beyond question by the fact
which Free Trade dispuants refuse to see'
that in every one Of more than 100 occupa-
tions, of which wages have been given the
rate in this country is higher than in Great
Britain. Nay, MORE In the very branches OF
industry in which wages here are lowest or
least advanced above those Of other countries,
the difference between wages here and else
where Is always greater than the rate Oh uuIles
on imported products Thus in carpets, wages
are only 50 per cent higher than in Great
Britain. but the duties average only I.64
per cent. In every industry, therefore, labor
pets all the advantage which the tariff gives,
and something more, due to favoring crcum-
stances here. or to its own greater efficiency.
He who persistently ignores this vital iac'
shows that he is net trying to debate the ques-
tion honestly.
Behind this barrier wages rise or vary IN
natural conformity to local demands. mus
they are In some occupations 100 per cent
higher than in others, but are at the lowest far
above the wages Of similar occupations abroad
In some localities they are | 90 per cent higher
than in the same occupations at other points
in this country, but at the lowest points they
are far above the wages paid at the lowest or
even at the highest points in Great Britain
That is the test which, to all CANDID mnos'
conclusively proves the effectiveness OF the
tariff barrier in elevating labor. Ii labor here
is scarce at any point, it rises; If over-ahuh-
dant or in less demand at any point, 1t iaIls !;
but il nowhere falls TO or near the wages oil
similar labor abroad.
So of every mechanical trade or other oc-
cupation; it is powerfully Affected by the
tariff in late of wages. even though its prod
ucis cannot be transported across the sea
Ready-made houses cannot be imported. Bnt
there are fewer carpenters and masons in this
country because hundreds OF other profitable
occupations have been opened by the protec-
ton of manufactures, and Of the carpenters
and masons that are here great many find en-
ployment at good wages in connection with
manufacturing establishments which could not
exist but for the tariff. Thus the supply Of
labor in these occupations is diminished and
at the same time the demand for il is directly
increased by the tariff which Free Traders ig-
norantly suppose has nothing to do with wages
OF mechanics.
Before continuing the comparison Of British
and American wages. il is also well to observe
that the tariff has to defend labor here, not
only against the competition OF Great Britain
but Of other countries whore wages are much
lower. British wages are higher than wages
in Germany or France. Mr. MulhaIl, the Eng
Iish aatistlcian puts the difference thus: In
Creat Britain 81 i8 weekly: in France. So o.
weekly, In Germany 1884 weekly. But his
figures are tao high for each country, for the
renort Of German wages. prepared with great
care by the Statistical Society Concordia'
quoted BY Mr.. Schoenhof, an official expressly
employed by President Clevclands Admins
tration TO collect Free Trade statistics. shows
the average wages of workngmen employed
in trades and factories in different provinces
Of the German Empire as follows tSee " hr
Industrial Situation" by Schocnhof, page | o.:
s., 60 40 Bavaria s......... So 20
-, p-..sia az Uannyer ........ 3 90
pnssr 90 paisp. p.............. 3 -
Pomrran.R...s-....- 2Os Aishcr-I orf'lho...--. a.
B,audenbu-g ....... 90 Wur cmhefg = q"
saIouy, Kngdon.... 2 "a Nes'pahlla -
Anhst ........ 2Js Rhenith Prussla..... : 80
Ssfonv. PrGssa...... 3o4 -
Uss.s- -Snssau........ 3l5 Average S3 Il
BrsurscB weig..-.... 32S