Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-10-12

SO. To what extent would labor in
the United States be interfered with If all
taxation on imports except for strict pur-
poses of revenue were abrogated?
"a. 1t would be extremely difficult to
show that as many as ten persons out of
every hundred who are employed in gain
full occupations in this country could be
injuriously affected by any competition
of laborers in other countries whose pro-
ducts could be sent here, even if there
were no duties whatever on foreign i'm
ports.
30. How can this be demonstrated?
ga. We export in defiance of the COM
petition of all the world nearly every va
riety of our agricultural products. Out
of the whole number engaged in agricul-
ture in the United States, not five per-
sons in a hundred, and those mainly the
growers of sugar, of rice, and of wool to
Il very small extent, can be subject to any
foreign competition in the sale of their
products.
"Miners and engineers are not protect
ed, and protection cannot extend to law
yers or other professional men, or to SER
wants and men engaged in trade and
transportation.
"Not ten dollars worth in every hum
dred of all the manufactured goods of
every kind, which we produce, could be
imported if there we've no duties upon
foreign goods of like kind and if there
never had been.
, SO. So hat under the existing tariff
+ policy from 80 to 95 of the bread-winners
f in the United States are taxed to increase
D the wages of the other 3 or 10?
, ga. There is no doubt as to this be-
ing the case.
, 80. Then there is no foundation for
the claim that wages in the protected in.
dustries of the country regulate the gen.
eral rates of wages?
"A. Not the slightest. The protected
industries of the United States are in pro
, portion to the other industries of the
country, to state the case moderately, a;
l to 10, and it is the employment of the
ten that fixes the general price of labor
and not of the one. The great mass o.
the farmers and mechanics, therefore
who are not protected make the STANDARD
of wages in the United States.
20. But does not a protective tariff s,
affect the condition of supply and de
mand for labor as to increase the rate O
wages?
"a. Any extraordinary stimulus CIV
Ell to any industry by either natural o
artificial influences generally increase
the rate of wages in such an industry b,
occasioning an extraordinary demand 70
labor; but such an increase is Away
temporary and limited in its sphere of in
fuence.
u so. For what reasons?
IL "a. Because no labOrer in any cour
er try where personal movements and tn
choice of occupations are unrestricte
ia will long continue to receive higher was
es in a protected or unnaturally stint
as lated ~kindustry, than are paid for a
lg equivalent service in industries that al
v unprotected and not stimulated; and q
n. the great majority of all the industrit
is in the United States, as above demon
lie strated, is not protected by the tariff
e. and from the nature of the case cannC
to be, the average rates of wages paid
such industries must of necessity regl
nv late the average rate paid in all.
IN so. What was the value of the ayr
ps cultural products of the United State
II. marketed in 1880?
"a. The estimate of the United State
in COMMISSIONS of Agriculture was SO, 726
IN 331 ,422.
- 80. What was the estimated value {
the products of agriculture of the Unite
States that were exported or found
market in that year in foreign %countrie;
~ "a. $685. 6l ,091.
20. How many persons in the Unite
States were dependent for their bushes
and living on this export?
u "A. A careful estimate of the averae
81 product, in quantity and value, of til
Us workers engaged in various agricultur;
a pursuits, leads to the conclusion that tt
D. total number in 1880 was at least lap
at 1877.
as 20. So there are more persons Ell
gagged in agriculture in the United State
who are dependent for their living on tt
he sale of their products in foreign mari
al cts, and who cannot be protected by an
RI tariff, but only injured, than are occ'
pied in all other industries of the coul
try that can be benefited by protect,
w. duties?
=" "a. There is no doubt of this fact.
- 80. If a foreign market could not /
found for our enormous surplus of agr
w. cultural produce, what would happen?
- IA. The surplus would either not /
- raised, or it would rot on the GROUND
. and the 1,4l2,l37 persons who are en-
90, ployed in raising it would seek other en-
Nv th,o .oo- ao..>o.:4.-