Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-25


iron industry the wages were higher in
Rhode Island than in Pennsylvania.
Increased productive power, high rate of
wages, low cost of production followed
each other as the night followed the day.
The fact that the rate of wages was higher
in this country than in England meant
that England was distanced in the great in.
dustrial contest in which the United States
had entered. He cited from a table COM
piled by an English gentleman sent over to
investigate the cotton industry of the Uni
ted States to show that in every case the
labor cost OF cotton goods was lower here
than in England.
Mr.. Milliken, of Maine-If that is 80.
what harm does the tariff do?
Mr.. Mills-What good does it do? IT.
enables you to make trusts and combine
tions and pools. applause on the demo-
cratic side.)
Mr.. Mills then proceeded to say that
though the labor cost was lower aud the
rate of wages higher here than in England.
yet England beat US because she produced
the goods at total cost lower than ours,
1t was not labor; it was material.
Mr.. Brumm, of Pennsylvania-Did I
understand the gentleman to say that the
cost of cotton goods in England was less
than IN THIS country
Mr.. Mills-The labor cost in producing a
pound of print is lower than in England,
but the total cost for material and every
thing is lower in England.
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, protested
against the interruption.
Mr.. Mills-I don't. (Applause)
FOREIGN MARKETS NECESSARY.
The facts could not be overthrown,
What was it that prevents US from becom-
ing the greatest manufacturing country in
the world? We had no foreign market.
We were welded to high tariff, and that
made the cost of production higher and
drove us out of the worlds markets. The
greatest people on the globe-the highest
and greatest diffusion of intelligence; utiliz-
ing the power of machinery beyond any other
people; having cotton aud wool and hemp
and fax and rich beds of ores-we were
guilty of suicidal policy that closes the
markets of the world against us; that plum
ders the agriculturists of one-half of their
earnings. (Applause.) Instead of de-
stroying our foreign commerce we should
encourage it as we had our home COM
merce.
Our prosperity was due to the intelli-
gence of our labor and to the unrestricted
movement of our exchanges among sixty
million of our people at home. 1t was this
interchange of thirty-ive thousand million
dollars of internal commerce that made us
a rich, prosperous and powerful people.
And we had grown SO, not by the aid of
restrictions on foreign commerce, but in
spite of them, (Applause.)
The policy which was now being pursu-
ed might for awhile satisfy the demands of
the capitalists who had their money in our
factories, and they might build up the COM
binations that seemed to spring out Of the
earth. But what was to become of the Ia
borer when they shut down their fires and
turned the employees into the street?
He wished to show that the tariff was not
for the beuefit of the workingmen; he wish
ed to do this by figures given by the man.
ufacturers themselves, exhibiting the total
cost of the prodnct and the labor cost of the
articles they were making. He had put
the tariff table by the side of these figures
to see whether in the little reduction the
ing beyond that pied e made by the demo-
cratic party that it would not reduce taxa
tion so low as to expose labor. This show
ed that the tariff was not intended to bene-
fit the laborer; that the benefits of the tariff
pass into the pockets of the manufacturers
and never come to the pockets of the Ia.
borers.
Taking up the case of pair of blankets,
where the tariff exceeded the labor cost by
81 %. Mr.. Mills declared that every dollar
of the excess was reaped by the manufac,
turer.
| MIR. Grain, Of Texas Interrupted to ask
how the Ways and Means Committee had
| treated those blankets
Mr.. Mill replied that it had reduced the
| tariff on the blankets from 81. n to seventy.
one cents. (Applause.)
Continuing, he said that it was asserted
that Congress had intended to benefit the
laborer by the tariff. It had failed, and
not dollar of the protection afforded got
beyond the manufacturer. He, however,
hired his laborer at the lowest rate in the
open market. The committee had left in
the bill more than enough protection to pay
for all the labor and bonus besides.
The present policy, he said, built up
palaces, it concentrated wealth, but it dis
tributed not of its benefcence in the homes
of the poor laborer. It compelled the gov
eminent to take large share of his daily
earnings. 1t was making vast distinction
in this country between two classes-one
poor and numerous one small and powerful
and rich. The concentration of the wealth
of the country in the hands of few men
would overthrow our free government.
| In conclusion he said that he hoped that
the bill which the committee had present
ed-which had met with favor throughout
the oountry-would receive majority OF
| the votes of the House, though 1t was not
all that the committee could ask. It was
a very moderate bill, yet it would send
comfort and happiness into all the homes
andsbosoms of the poor laboring people OF
this country, and he asked the House in
behalf of these people to consider their
claims and help to reduce the burdens that
had been loaded upon them. Applause
side.)
Result of the primary election in Richmond
There were many candidates for nomina-
tion and many offices TO be filled and there
were many more votes polled than at any
previous primary election, the vote being
Total number of votes cast............8,6 0a
Irregular votes (rejected) ............."... 651
Regular votes (counted) ..............7,9 GAG
The competing candidates for nomination
for Mayor wereJ. Taylor Eilyson and Geo
A. Ainslie-the former was elected-the
vote being for Ellyson 4, 1873, and for Ainslie
8, 796-maj)rity for Ellyson 567.
Omitting the nominees for Alderman,
Councimen, and Justices, they are as fol
lows
Mayor, J Taylor EilysoD.
Attorney for the Commonwealth, Muscoe
L. Spots xnod.
Sheriff, Lewis P. Winston.
Auditor, Miles Turpin.
Treasurer, John X. Childrey.
| Collector, Frank W. Cunningham.
Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert B
Munfofd.
High Constable, Edward Z. Garrison.
Sergeant Robert A. Carter.
Clerk Chaucery Court, Charles W. God
din
| Clerk Hastings Court, William p. Law.
ton.
Clerk Circuit Court, Alfred Shield.
Messrs. Winston, Turpin, Munford, Gar.
rison, Shield, and Lawton are present in.
cum bents, aud Messrs. Turpin and Lawton
had no opposition.
Messrs. Eliyson, Spotswood, Cunning
ham, Goddin, r. A. Carter, and John K.
Chidrey are new nominees; but against the