Evening journal., 1888-12-22
TALKS ON THE TARIFF.
Mr. Pettifsr Tells His British Feflow
Workmen some American Truth.


Mr.. Pettifsr Tells His British Fellow
Workmen some American Truth.
New York Press.
Mr.. II. ]. Pettifer, since his return TO
London, has been telling the Workmen' 8
Association for Defense Of British Indus.
try about the benefits Of protection to
this country He is reported by the Lon
don News as sure as free trade between
Great Britain and America would in the
long run be injurious 70 British
workman, as one of the FIRST re-
suits OF it would be the bringing down
Of American wages to the English level.
OF even below it, and with reduced
wages the Americans would not only be-
come great competitors in foreign mar.
kets, but would also lose their present
purchasing power, and consequently
could not buy as much off US as they
do now. The only people
he found in America who were in favor
Of what is there called English free trade
were the professors Of political economy
at the different colleges AS proof of
the purchasing power Of the wages OBJ.
tanned in the United States, Mr. Pettifer
showed the boots he was wearing bought
in Boston, Mass, which could be pur-
chased there by one days wages. while in
this country it would take at least two
day wages to buy pair Of the same
quality.
He also gave the actual earnings Of
twenty girls taken haphazard from the
wages books of Goff & Sons braid works
Pawtucket, r. l., showing that they
averaged $35 per month, or thirty Ave
shillings in English money per week.
these young women being able to earn
enough in oRe week to keep themselves in
board and lodging over three weeks. He
also stated on the authority Of Mr..
Conant, superintendent of Messrs. Coates
thread works in the same CITY.
that they paid double wages in their
American factory to what they paid in
Paisley, Scotland Mr.. Pettifer gave
other figures TO show the difference in
wages between England and America in
a variety OF trades, but maintained that
after all comparisons Of wages are always
more or less misleading. The true test
Is, what has the wage Garner got left
after paying for rent, clothes. food and
taxes2 Looked at from this point Of view.
and supposing the people in both coun-
tries to have steady work (which as a
rule they have got in America and have
not got In Englsnd), we find that at the
end Of the year the American workman,
on en- average, will have $175, OF about
e36 in English money, left 10 spend in
Injuries or to save for old age, and the
English workman will have $50, or about
e1O in English money, left to use for the
same purpose.
Mr.. Pettifer told very amusing anec.
dote about free trade Englishman he
visited while in the state of New Hamp.
shire. This man. although admitting
that he had been forced to emiRrate
because he could not compete in England
with German productions, was almost
moved TO tears when he said This
tariff is tax. We in America are taxed
from the crown Of our head to the sole
OF our foot, from hat to boots it is one
long tax, and looking round his well.
furnished sitting room for an illustration
OF his argument, he went on to say
THAT piano is taxed that sewing ma
chine is taxed, that carpet is taxed. -" and
finished up by saying that he never had
to pay tariff tax on these articles while
in England. That is quite true. in.
terTupted the wife, because we never
had them in England And. as Mr..
Pettifer remarked, that put the whole
matter in nutshell In America. where
all these luxuries are taxed. the working.
man has got them; while in England.
where they are allowed to come in duty
free, he has to do without them.