New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-05
that the work they do commands that amount Of


pay.
This question of Mr.. Ashworth's leads up TO
another question quite different. Ii is this:
Would it not be well for the people Of the United
States to put some restriction upon Immigration
of foreign laborers into this country" That is
an entirely different question from snbjecting
those people who are permitted to come and live
within our borders TO a different law as to wages
from those who are born and raised in this coun-
try. / am clearly Of the opinion that wise legisla-
ton can be had in the direction of putting
stop TO the influx of ignorant and inefficient
labor into the United States. l think there may
be sense in some such kind of legislation. But
the moment we permit people to come and live
among US and become citizens OF this Republic,
see no reason why they should not be placed On
full and equal footing with all own citizens in
the great struggle for life. 1t seems to me that
this writer is confused by not making the proper
distinction between the men who stay in Europe
and labor under the conditions existing in the
Old World and those who come to the United
States and enter upon work in this country under
the conditions with which they are surrounded
here.
LET me repeat once more the only possible way
to protect the American laborer against the cheap
labor of the Old World is to prevent the adoption
of the free-trade plan, which would permit the
products of cheap foreign labor to be brought into
the United States and placed on our markets on
equal terms with the products of orr own working
men. Something perhaps might also be done TO
prevent the coming of these cheap workingmen
to this country Once here they are entitled to
our protection and the benefits OF our high wages
and higher civilization.
His last question, Is there not higher tariff
upon coal than the amount Of labor required to
die it? p" am unable TO answer. Anthracite coal
is on the free list. The tariff on bituminOus coal
is rs cents per ton. On slack and small coal 1t
is 80 cents per ton. just how much work 1t
costs to dig coal l do not know. l believe 1t
varies in different localities. l do not think, how
ever, that the digging of coal ls'all there Is
of the labor which enters into 1T per ton when
delivered at the point of consumption. Recently
in nv trip through West Virginia, the coal-pro-
ducers of that State were unanimous in their
statements to me that were it not for the present
duty on coal (which sends such large amount OF
the Pennsylvania production all through New
England there is hardly mine in all West VIZ
GINA which could be run single day. am
sure of one thing-that when that tarlf duty was
placed on coal it done for the purpose OF estao
fishing the mining and furnishing OF full supply
of that enormous product from the mines VI ',i'
limited States. 1 will guarantee that if MIR. Ash
worth will look up the facts, by examining all inc
statements made to the Tariff Committee on thdC
subject. he will become satisfied that that duuy
was levied for the sole purpose Of enaoiing Uhe
coal producers of the United states to pay men
who mined coal better wages than they get Ill
England or anywhere else outside of the Uhlted
States In conversation during the last two
weeks with a large number of men who WORK aO
digging coal in the hills of West Virginia, the
men who are doing the mining Informed me- wlth-
out single exception, that they receive to-uaS
more than twice the wages they used TO receive LII
England for doing the same kind Of work. lhese
men worked in both places; and L take IL Ior
granted that they know better about that matter
than do / have never dug any coal IN either
country If such should turn out to be the TACT IN
reference to any large number of men who dig coal
in this country. then fer one shall make no COM
plaint about the tariff coal So long as the duty
goes TO nav good wages to the men who produce IL,
then | am in favor of the duty. Whether it does
or not is the question. So far as have been able
TO learn. the 1hngmen get the bulk of that
duty If any one thinks they do not l am open
to proof upon that subject. / am in favor of the
protective system, because it insures good wages
for men who work. and also because it enables our
own manufacturers to do business prosperously
failing concern is always an injury to any com,
immunity ------. n. q. HORR.