Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-16
Sensible Words on tho Tariff.

The New York Press is doing valuable
service for the cause of American Labor
and for the Republican party by the tariff
talks which it Is having the sagacity and
the enterprise to secure from various bust
ness men who have thoroughly practical
knowledge on the subjects about which
they express their views. Recently the fol-
lowing presentation of facts was obtained
from representative Of foreign import
ing house in New York, who called at the
office of Bedding Brothers, silk manufac-
turers of Boston, few days since with
his line of samples of goods to sell
In the conversation that took place with
the Treasurer of the mill, the commercial
trade, and said he hoped for an improve
ment in business to result from the repeal
or reduction of the tariff as recommended
In the Presidents message. The manu-
facturer's reply has been sent The Press:
"Ycs, am looking very hopefully for
an Improvement I'm our business IA soon
IA Congress shall adopt the policy of the
Golden Club so ably set forth by the
President in his late Free trade message.
| have noticed that the manufacturers en-
gagged In our line of business in Europe
get along and thrive under Free Trade or
under a very low tariff about IA well
as we do here. They make Just as
much money, apparently live just as we'll
as we do, enjoy as many or more Of the
comforts and Injuries of life, occupy just
rs good positions socially and in society
and in every way seem to prosper under
Free Trade
$40 be sure, while it may be said that
the manufacturers abroad are in every
way "a well situated as we are in this
country, the work people in Europe do
not IA n rule live as well ~ our work
people do here, and in fact with the much
lower wages they earn they cannot. One
of the first effects of Free Trade policy
for this country will be a reduction of
wages very nearly or approximately to the
European standard of what Is paid for
the same kind of work, and look to
saving to the manufacturers of this
country of from one half to two thirds OF
the existing difference in wages in Europe
and the United States.
This on our weekly pay roll in our own
business, employing in our different mills
some seven or eight hundred employees,
will be a large saving to Us, and with the
reduced price on free trade basis for
many of our materials and supplies will
enable us to do our business on much
less amount of active capital or permit us
to use our quiet assets to better advantage
in other ways.
AS an illustration of the difference In
wages alone and the saving to us in cost
of manufacturing resulting therefrom
whenever we get on to free trade basis,
we have at work today in the winding
room of our mill here a young girl, whose
work Is of a light, pretty character, on a
machine of the easiest and most improved
kind, In large, eapacious, airy room, well
lighted and heated and in every way made
rs comfortable rs the custom and usage in |
the mills in this country call for. She
works ten hours per day, with half holi- |
day on Saturday, and for her work we
pay her eighty-six cents per day. This |
same girl three years ago was doing pre- |
cisely the same kind of work in mill in |
Germany. under much less favorable con-
ditions than we furnish her here, and for
doing the same work for which we
now pay her eightv-six cents per day |
she was receiving in Germany 81 per week,
working twelve or thirteen hours per day. |
Take another case. We have in our
employ as an overseer in one of the rooms
In our mill here man from Lyons,
France, whom we are paying salary of
$1,000 year. Only few years ago the
same man was doing precisely the same
work in Lyons and was receiving $500 per
year, which was an average price for his
work in Lyons.
Now, a large part of the difference be-
tween what we are now paying these two
and all other people in our employ and
what they would be receiving for the
same work in Europe we should save. To
be sure 1t would come rather hard on our
work people; but, Of course, the general
welfare Of the whole country would be
80 much greater under Free Trade than at
present under Protection that the work
people would overlook their own discom-
fort and be content to live as the work
people In the mills do in Europe for the
good Of all. Do you think they would or
would noty'
such plain, frank statement as this,