New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-27
REAL WAGES DOUBLED UNDER PRO-
LECTION


The great service rendered by the Senate
Finance Committee in determining the course
of prices within the last three years begins TO
be recognized. The fact is established beyond
dispute that retail prices are not higher than
they were before the Mckinley Tariff was
enacted. but that it actually costs little less
TO live than it cost before that enactment 1t
is also established beyond dispute that the
wages of labor are, on the whole a little higher
than they were before that enactment. Though
in both respects the differences arc small, they
suffice TO refutc all Free-Trade theories and
they are both distinctly in favor Of labor.
The Investigations of the committee as to
wholesale prices and wages prior to 1889 have
not been completed But tables not of official
character, compiled from public records for
the years 1860 to 1875. inclusive, by Mr.
Grosyenor, and kept by him since 1873 afford
a basis for comparing the course OF prices dur
ing the whole thirty-two years which include
the entire history Of Republican Protection
These tables include wholesale prices of about
900 articles and grades representing great
part of the consumption Of the people, and the
prices are reckoned upon the basis of allowing
each article its proporiOnate importance IN
the aggregate consumption of the Nation. The
same quantities of the same articles and grades
which would have cost 500 in 1860, before
Protection began, have averaged in 1S92 thus
far S7591 in cost. showing decline OF Sllght-
" over - per cent. 1t may be added that the
average for this year thus far is little lower
than for any other year since 1850, the nearest
apprOaCh being in the year 1889 in which the
committees record Of retail prices begins.
This means that the workers who now re-
ceiye in a given period $40 actually get a.
much wages. in purchasing power as to things
entering into consumption and the cost Of
living. MS the workers who received 500 in
1860. But the change in wages has been
vet greater advantage to the workers. The
proof on this point is derived first from com
pilation of the wages from 1860 to 1850, which
are given in Volume Xxx on Wages, Census
Of 1880 II is found that the wages of LOO
hands in distinct occupations and classes are
given fer the twenty years and these averaged
SI42 Is in 1850. against 500 in 1860. That
is the same men who earned 500 in their
various occupations in n given time in 1850
averaged earnings 42.GS per cent greater after
twenty years Of Protection.
The comparison for the last twelve years Is
unofficial and includes much smaller range
of occupationS but il nevertheless sufficient To
leave no room for reasonable doubt that there
has been n further advance of nj least Ia
por cont since 1850 These tables essentially
correspond with those of the Senate committee
for the two years covered by the latter, indi-
eating but Il small advance. not per cent, in
that period They cover wages OF mechanical
and factory labor only. and the official report
made by the Department Of Agriculture this
wear shows that the advance in wages of farm
labor since 1879 has been over - per cent.
Snf reckoning only the computed advance IN
stmo other wages. it appears that the general
average may be safely placed at Sl5l 60 in
1Sl9. against : 100 in 1860. Undoubtedly, all
labor considered the advance has been some
whit greater.
Putting these two gains together by dlyid-
mc the amount Of wages received by the prices
# constant quantities If things consumed. ii
appears that the Same hours, days or months
# work which would have bought 100 in the
quantities Of all things consumed in 1850 would
buy 1871 in quantities OF the same things
in 1892 That is the Wagc-carncr can prac-
tic1lly bny almost twice n much with his labor
c,,t Of all commodities considered, AZ he could
buy with the same labor thirty-two years ago
under the last Democratic revenue tariff
system which Just doubles the remuneration of
labor within the term Of a single generation has
notbinc TO ask but fair field and no favor.