The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-16
AN AMERICAN MEASURE.
The Real Effect Of the New Tariff as
Viewed Through Foreign Spectacies.
Montreal Gazette

Montreal Gazette.1
Mr.. Smyth. the United STATES commercial
agent at Huddersfield, in report to the de-
partment of state, declared that serious alarm
exists amongst the manufacturers of the dis
trict to which he is accredited over the antici-
pated effects of the Mckinley bill. Hudders-
field is a center Of the wooden fabric trade
and has found in the United States, in spite
of that country's former high protection, a
market for an important share Of the output
of its actories. The increased duties on
worsted and wooden fabrics now to be en-
forced, duties made more onerous by the
amendments TO the customs appraisment
law, are naturally expected to reduce the
ability of the Huddersfeld manufacturers to
retain their market in America, so long as
their mills are situated across the water.
This is also the anticipation Of those who
framed the Objectionable tariff. duty that
by the time the actual consumer buys an ar
ticle, increases the foreign market price 100
per cent, is calculated to stimulate the home
production, even where the differences in
natural or artificial advantages are much
greater then they are between Yorkshire and
Massachusetts,, They can be little doubt
that the alarm felt by the manufacturers of
Huddersfeld much better represents the
feeling of English and European exporters
generally than the articles iof those news
papers which profess to believe that the
Mckinley tariff will be an evil to the United
States and an absolute good to all its indus
trial competitors. Such contention as the
latter is really against reason. Not bringing
into question the wisdom or unwisdom of pro-
lection there was great deal of force In Mr.
McKinley's claim that the high duties of his
bill were compensation to the United
States manufacturers for the difference be.
tween prices paid to labor in Europe and
prices paid in the United States. This differ
ence in wages is really the great factor in
settling the issue of industrial supremacy Ii
matters not in discussing the question whether
they are artificially or naturally higher in
America than in Europe, or whether, consid-
cred as to the cost of living, a worker is bet
ter off wi h small income in Germany. or A
moderate one in England, than he is with a
larger one on this continent. He thinks this
side of the Atlantic is the best, and comes 10
this side in swarms. The difference in his
recompense, speaking generally, Is the ad-
Van.age tne Enropean manufacturer has
this was seen in Quebec lately, where dur
Ing the last electi IN cOntesr, the purchase
OF irou bridges In Belgium was defended be-
cause they could be bought there cheaper
Imam from canadian makers. The proceed
ipgs at tne recent mining congress show why
this Is. Belgians work longer hours than
canadians Tor less actual wages, and in the
mines and collieries whence their raw ma
.eriai is drawn women and children toll like
peasts OF burden. They do not in Canada.
Wages aside, the American manufacturer
can OBTAIN the same machinery for MS
WORKS, and skill Of as high class to operate
". In this respect he stands on an equal Ioot-
| Ing with all the world. The wages ne pays
directly. and the higher cost OF raw materiaI'
| the result to an extent also of higher wages,
are his disadvantages. The tariff that re-
moves the effect OF this difference gives Work
in America to men that would otherwise Use ,D pe
employed in Europe, and SO increases e sdonts sdo
protective policy. The people see the effect Gs
and many of them directly profit by 1t. This
| is why the extreme protection Oh the Mchln-
| ley bill may prevent Its repeal ior many
|