New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-29
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


SoNS-A BoMBsHELL FOR
MR.. CLEVELAND.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSH.l
Albany, Aug 2s.-IIad a bombshcll dropped into
the Democratic camp from clear sky, it would
not have sent greater CONSERVATION into the
hearts of the Cleveland Democrats than did the
ninth annual report of the Democratic Commis-
sioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Charles
F. Peck, made public to-day. Senator Hill and
his admirers, including Mr. Peck, look
upon the dissatisfaction caused by this
unanswerable statement with grinning coun-
tenances They bear no love for Slr
Cleveland, and have not forgotten the insults
heared upon them at Syracuse and Chicago by the
Cleveland faction. They look with evident relish
upon the true statement which Mr.. Peck presents
of the prosperous condition of affairs, feeling that
that statement brstles with stubborn facts which
the Cleveland men cannot shake. The Rcpubi-
cans say the statements made by Mr.. Peck carry
great weight
Mr. Pecks totals show net increase in wages ftf
1891 over 1890 of S6,377,925, and net increase.
in products in this State, during the same pericdi
Of S3l,3l5,13O The report of Mr.. Peck shows
only partially the prosperity of the country under
the protecting tariff. No better arguments ar'.
needed for the workingman than these continued
favorable reports of business and the better condi-
ton of the wagc-earners.
commissioner Peck talked freely TO newspaper
reporters tonight. IIc gave as a reason for
selecting the tariff as the subject for his ninth
annual report that it especially affected the
working classes He had found that the state
ments of tie Democratic speakers were not borne
out by facts Governor Campbell hal said that
not single workingman's wages had been raised
az the result Of the Mckinley act My reports
show that there were just 2S5,ooo men whose
salaries were raised as the result Of this law,
asserted the Commissioner. Mr.. Peck added thab
he was free TO admit that his report was not in
harmony with the platform adopted at Chicago,
in 50 far as it related to the subject OF the @riH'
However, his report was as he had found the
condition of affairs
Tho summary prepared by Commissioner Peck
says, in opening:
In pursuance Of law, the undersigned has com
pleted the work attendant upon the Issuing OF the
ninth annual report Of the Burceu Of statistics OF
Labor and herewith gives brief summary OF the
contents % the same It's completion has been
necessarily delayed by rason OF the unusual amount
and important character OF the work under'akeh vi
all the varied subjects Investigated and reported upon
during the bnrvau's nine years existence none nave
born. closer relationship to the welfare Of the wage
- ,ba ,Nr1i In al
With statistical data so valuable to comprehensive
understanding Of the practical workings Of the one
great economic question Of the present day than the
tariff Tariff whether levied 81 for revenue only
or for and the incidental pr"tecuoh oi
American manufacturers and American labor is GER
tainly question Of such vast import as to enlist tho
most thorough and dispassonatc Investigation at the
hands Of the American people. Ana "hle Tue
present report has under the law, been confined to
the state OF Ncw-Yorl Its results can but be taken
as Indicative Of the conditions existing In every sec
ton OF our country where manufacturing and IN
dustral pursuits are followed.
With the exception OF limited number OF the
great Industries carried In country, no state
I'm the Union offers a field 50 varied or extensive
within which the satlstician carry his work
with greater assurances OF intelligent success than Is
presented by the State OF New-York. Within It's
borders arc to be found by far the greatest number
OF manufacturing establishments, the most visied In
dustrfcs and the largest number OF hldNiuml em
movers and wage-earner OF any Of the forty-four
commonwealth embraced In the United States. ~
that. whatever the statistical data collected ana tan
ulat,d may prove, relative to the effects OF PRO
trctlon" on labor and wages In New-f York, may
Justly be taken as fairly representative Of the con
dltlons throughout the whole country.
Not for many years had the subject OF the tariff
assumed such great proportions as attached to 1t In
1888. Always Important and interesting question
Of political economics for discussion by our states
men, yet, by OF the President OF the imted
States making II the sole subject OF his annual mes
sage to Congress In December. 1887, Interest In II
became general among the masses and memorable
campaign OF education followed during the ten
succeeding months OF 1888. 1t Is not the province
of the undersigned to here discuss the merits OF
protective tariff" to pronounce for or against
the public policy OF tariff for revenue only"
majority OF the American people declared by their
votes in 1888 In favor OF the latter policy and yet
their candidate defeated by reason Of our electoral
sysem the minority candidate and II Congress In
sympathy with the Chief Executive being elected The
canvass carried with relentless vigor by both
Sides and public interest was unusually aroused In
question Of great public policy, rather than as TO the
personality Of candidates. The selfish business
interests OF the manufacturers and their employees
were Appealed to: larger production, wider markets
and increased profits were promised the employers
More work. higher wages. shorer hours Of labor and
unexampled prosperity were among the Inducements
held out 10 the wage-carners by the advocates OF
Protection" On the other hand. the advocates Of
the policy OF a tariff for revenue only" contepdcd
that only through reform Of our tariff laws, ]. e.
a reduction OF revenues to basis OF raising
Just sufficient money to defray the expenses OF the
Government, honestly and economically administered
could all OF these desirable result lie attalnel
Almost lnnumerable queries were made OF this
bureau by the great writers upon economic subjects
the leaders OF thought and discussion In pui
pits on the rostrum and through the public press
for reliable data and statistics bearing upon this
very important subject. And 1t was by reason OF
this situation. less than with a view to establish
the truth fality OF the premises taken by the two
great political parties OF the country that the under