St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-06
THE NE.KINLEY BILL.
The Usual Sopslistries Regarding
Its Benefits.


And now a few words in regard to the eX-
listing tariff law. We are fortunately able to
judge of it's influence upon production and
prices by the market reports. The day of the
prophet of the calamity has been succeeded
by that Of the trade report. An examination
into The effect of the law upon the prices of
protection products and of the cost of such
articles enter into the living of people of
small means has been MADE by a senate COM
mittee. composed of leading senators of both
parties, with the aid of the best statisticians,
ana the report, signed by all the members of
the committee, has been given TO the public.
No such wide and careful inquiry has ever
before been made. These facts appear from
the report:
First-Tbe cost of articles entering into
the use OF those earning less than $1,000 per
annum has increased up to May, 1892, 3 4 per
cent. while in farm products there has been
an increase in prices. owing in part to an
increased foreign demand and the opening
of new markets. In England during the
same eriod the cost of living increased o
per cent. Tested by their power to purchase
articles of necessity the earnings of our
working people have never been as great as
they are now.
Second-There has been an average adj
vance in the rate of wages of .73 of per cent.
Thlrd-There has been an advance in the
price of all farm products of 1867 per cent,
and of all cereals $3.50 per cent.
The ninth annual report of the chief Of the
bureau of labor statistics OF the state of New
York. a Democratic officer verv recently
issued. generally corroborates as TO that stale
the facts found by the senate committee.
His extended inquiry shows that i'll the year
Immediately following the passage of the
tariff act of 1890 the aggregate sum paid i'll
wages in that state was s6,377, OPS in excess
and the aggregate production So, 3l5, I30 in
excess of the preceding year.
In view OF this showing of an increase in
wages a reduction in the cost of articles OF
Of in, ha
price of agricultural products. it is plain that
this tariff law has not imposed burdens, but
has conferred benefits upon the farmer and
the wOrkingman.
Some special effects of the act should be
noticed. 1t was courageous attempt to rid
our people OF long maintained foreign
monopoly i'll the production OF tin plate,
pearl buttons silk plush, linens lace, ETC.
Once or twice in our history the production
of tin plate had been attempted, and the
prices obtained by the. Welsh makers would
have enabled our makers to produce it at
profit But the Welsh makers at once cut
prices to point that drove the American be-
ginners out OF the business, and when this
was accomplished again made their own
prices.
A cores ondent of the Industrial World,
the Official organ OF the Welsh tin plate
workers. Published at Swansea, in the issue
of June IL, 1892. advises new trial of these
methods. He says:
DO not be deceived. The victory of the
republican party at the polls means the re-
tention of the Mckinley law, and means the
rapidly accruing loss of 80 per cent of the
export American trade Had there been no
Democratic victory in 1890 the spread of tin
plate manufacture in the United States
would have been 10th rapid and bona fide
1t is not too late 10 do something to reduce
the price of plates Put them down to IL
shillings per box of &c 14x2o. full weight
basis: let the workmen take half pay for a
few months, and then turn out more. Then
let the masters fOrgO profits for the same
time
And again that paper says:
IL is clearly The interest of both employer
and workmen 10 produce tin plates, tariff or