New-York tribune., 1890-06-05
A OEESTLON OE LABOR.

When the Senate Committee votes this week
on the tin plate duty it will remember that the
real question is whether this country should
employ 10000 American men who want
work or as many men and women in wales 10
supply this necessity. The work in wales is
| largely done by women as is much OF the work
I about coal and iron mines. This country mas
better employment for women in raising uselul
American citizens and sovereigns, and If IT had
10 nav more money in order TO get the work
done bv American men instead of Welsh wom-
en- would find the investment a good one.
Is it or is it not true that thousands OF
American ldborers are out of employment and
seek if in vain because industries are de-
messed? The Free Traders, from Mr.. Mills in
! :. Tho Forum, down to the least distinguished
editor or speaker, assert that it is If so, the
| ouestion is whether these people shall be sup
norted without work by their friends or the
community. and S21 100000 paid to Welsh
men and women besides for the tin plates re-
ouired The support of the unemployed, II
there are really 10000 of them, must cost at
the lowest estimate $50 year for each, or
-, 600. 600 in all. whereas, the added duty
under the House bill on 73J.000,0O0 pounds
Tin plates imported last year, if the whole were
enhanced in cost 70 the full extent OF the
advance in duty, would be but Ss,seOO 600.
But in fact the domestic plates must cost less
than the foreign or they would not be bought
instead. So the account stands thus:
Under Under
Free Trade. GrO'c'tlon'
For tin plates TO so,oo,ooo
For tin plates, in ~ o.ooo ooo
creased duty ..... Less than e'7-o"o'
suPPTIt IIP2rd IIoeTc9ns I T1gIi; 100000 Nothing
Total .... s3O.OoOOOo Less than 500, 10000
Rut the tin plates would not only cost less
but ? great deal less than they do now, for
two reasons The first is that the price abroad
is controlled by foreign trust, which has eA-
| torted from Americans what II pleased ana
| has but now ordered a stoppage OF works Tor a
| fortnight in order 10 prevent any decline III
price through overproduction. It's profits have
| doubtless been more than 10 per cent OF the
| selling-price OF the product, and 1t Would
| sooner surrender part or even the whole OF
that profit than to lose the American market,
for without that market half the works it con-
trolls would have to stop. The trust would
therefore sell for Els. 100000, or even less,
the same quantity of tin plates for which
| SCI 900, 900 is now paid, and the account
would stand thus:
Under Under
Free Trade. Protection.
For tin plates foreigners s2i 100000 000
inTport ingreo Of Of unemployed 100000 Nothing.
| ro,a, ....... $50 900 s27 200 900
But the other cause of decline in price would
| bo the competition of American producers.
which would soon force down the price as fast
as the developing manufacture should be able
IN reduce the cost. In the case of steel rails the
nrice has been reduced 10 the actual cost IN
England. and probably it would be in time IN
the case of tin plates. With better machinery
| and more intelligent labor the work can be
done as cheaply in this country, in all prob
ability. even though the wages paid t. labor
NAV be much higher. In that case the account
would stand
Under Free Trade, Under Protection
| r A., r,o,es sol 900 900 sol 900 900
support , Of unemployed 100000 Nothing
ro,al $50 100000 s41 100000
In these comparisons the duty now pad on
Tin mates is left out Of sight 10 avoid con-
fusion. and only the proposed increase OF duty
s considered but if the cost Of the plates coud
hv home competition be reduced to the foreign
| level the saving 10 consumers Wonid DC over
81. 600 900 more In order to start on that
road Of industrial development which leads r
prosperity thc/ Senate must have the courage
to vote that The manufacture in this country
shall be so protected as 10 put IT beyond th'
mower of rich foreign trust TO break II do"n