Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15
1'his !. An average increase q >. per cent.

This r an average increase OF Il per cent.
( The commissioner Of Labor cOncurs IN this
view N - report Of ISss in which he states that
iu 49, thc per cent Of wages paid 10 the value o.
1roducuou in over 2 GOO esiablishraents va "a IS
and that IN 1880 II was only zo7s. a decrease OF
oue-sxth n fve years
/ y equally true that in considering the value
Of iinol We should take iuto consideration its efh
cieacy or IA other words It's capacity 10 increase
/ productioa.
a superteial examination Of the relative cost OF
lan9i per day IN America ara England would AZ
oer suggest the conclusion that the price Of labor
I IS much higher IN this country than abroad. but
Wien We take into consideration the efficiency oil
tne American laborer, and compare the relative
yt-ie IN Prise, measured b. the value Of the pro-
@-.. OF the two we at once realize that there l.
h.t-e n any difference.
Nc. Evsrts. then Secretary OF state, in present
ing 10 Congress he reports Of the United States
Sonsas IN relation 20 the state Of labor IN Europe
IN letter dated Nav u $50 sums up the inior-
mauou embodied IN these numerous reports. and
,nreierring TO the relative value Of work per
.otinea oY the American and European worknen,
he SAYS.
The average American workman performs
nom one and half TO twice a. much work in a
siven time as the average European workman.
Ahls - 50 important point in connection with
our ability 10 compete with the cheap-labor manu-
iActures OF europe aud II seems, or first thought,
50 strange, that viii trouble you with somewhat
..e,1sthy quotations rom the reports in support
And on page q he suggests the reasons for this
1iiiercnce IN eihciency IA favor Of the American
Workman. lie saws.
''There is something in the Republic which
gives an individuality TO the people Of the United
states possessed bv no other people to such a
degree. Our inventive genius in mechanical ap-
planes = original, and at least twenty-five years
ahead OF Europe Our people accept innovation,
are prepared fer II by anticipation. Europeans
DO not. One workman Ia the United states,
rs VIII be seen from the foregoing extracts does
A. much work as two wCrlSm n IN most OF the
countries Of Europe; even the Immigrant from
Europe attaius this progressive SPIRIT by few
years association with American workrnen. We
have no oppressed and stupid peasautry, little
more intelligent than the tools they handle All
are seitthiukinC. self acting and self supporting
Mr. Blaine, while Occupying the same position,
IN transmitting similar reports TO Congress, refers
90 The subject Of wages in the cotton factories IN
The following language:
Uuioubtediy the inequalities in the wages of
I'm ,li,h and American operatives are more than
eQuaiired by the greater efficiency Of the latter
add theig longer hours Of labor. II this should
Prove 90 be fact IN practice, as II seems 10 De
proven from ofscial statistics, Il would be very
important element In the establishment o. our
ability 10 compa,e with England for cur share oi
the cotton goods trade Of the world.
Mr.. Frciinghuyscn. in transmitting n similar
report in referring Go the cost OF labor tor wetV-
ms and printing cloths IN England. remarks.
Your readers viii gather nom the INJURIES
given I'm The foregoing table OF costs that M the
matter of wages, America Is as cheap as En6-
lana."
au analysts Of the reports Of our consuls IN
Europe Is confirmed by an examination OF the
estimates as 20 The number of hands employe!
in thc manufacturing industries IN England ana
America and ths value Of The product turned out
by them:
United states. Great britain.
Hands err,o'oved $4,000 SI4o ooo
Value Of product SSooc,ocoooo Siooo. COO COO
The utterances upon this subject TO which
have referred are the mature judgment OF leaders
Of the Republican party Giter careful invesnSa
ton OF the facts and made in their otlctal chlr-
acter 90 Congress upon subject that would neces-
sariiv cutter into It's consideration IN framing leg
is'a,iou bearing upon these economic questions.
No element that composcs our great popuia-
ton has given more anxious ndcareiul consider
alton 90 The effect Of the tariff on wages than the
iahoriug masses. The organizations which have
sprung mp throughout the whole country have
tended TO EDUCATE those directly interested IN the
subject I'm the practical effects OF its operation
The dav has passed when the American laoorer
can be inislcd By the catch-words, Protection Tor
American labor 80
The address issued by the workingneu's Tariff
Reform Association Of Philadelphia TO the work
men Of The United states shows a keen apprecia-
tiou o. their relations 90 high tariff. and boldly
prociams who in fact are the benshciaries Of TINS
legislation IL declares.