The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-11-04
DOCTORING FIGURES.
HOW BOSS" PLATT "FlxES up"
TARIFF STATISTICS.
Industries Selected Which Have Shown u
Temporary Improvement, While Those
In n Depressed Condition Have Been To-
tally Ignorod-The Republican Way.

Temporary Improvement. While Thos,
In Depressed Condition Have Been To
tally Ignorod-The Republican Way.
a Manufacturers National league
having Mr.. Thomas g. Platt for its guild
ing spirit, has undertaken to re-enforcc
the statistics of Commissioner Peck. In
answer to circular inquiry of the club
about 100 manufacturers in New York
New Jersey and Connecticut have made
statements concerning their business and
payments for wages since the enactment
Of the Mckinley tariff. While most OF
the correspondents declare that they have
paid out more money for wages in the
nine months ended Sept. 30. 1892, than
in the corresponding period of 1890 and
1891, there is no prctense of an increase
in the rate of wages The answers of
one or two Of them will indicate the
character Of these manufactured statis-
tics: The Ludlow Valve works at Troy,
n. Y, report that there had been no in
crease in the rate of wages, but that
there had been an increase of per cent.
in the payments for labor, because
there is more demand for labor" The
Rome Steam Knitting mills report that
the Mckinley tariff has made differ
ence Of Is per cent. in the amount of
money paid ont for wages. In explana-
ton it is stated that tho company is
making styles now which it could not
compete with formerly" and, in conse-
quence, it employs more hands. No pre-
tense is made of an advance in the rate
Of wages under the Mckinley tariff.
On the other hand, S. Fitch Ss Sons, of
Rockville, CoGu., manufacturers of knit
goods, state that the Mckinley tariff has
not increased their business. George A.
Shepard, of Westport, Conn, in tho hat
manufacture, says he pays IL per cent
more for labor than he did, because "as
the importation Of hats has decreased
our business has Increased" There is 10
mention of an increase in tho rate Of
wages in consequence Of this increase Of
business. Most Of the replies are con-
fined to a simplestatcment of an increase
in the amounts paid for labor in 1892 as
compared with 1890 and 1891.
In the majority Of cases the increase
III the payment OF wages has been in in
dustries which were not affected in the
least by the Mckinley tariff. Among
these are manufacturers of waterwoyks
supplies, mining iron ore, shoes, leather,
harness, castings, window shades,
plumbers iron goods, silks, tissue pa
per, wooden boxes, horse cars, agricul-
tural implements, etc,
The reason of this method of doctoring
labor statistics is easily explained. As
no increase in the rates Of wages could
be shown, it was necessary to select some
industries in which there had been more
employment Of labor by its diversion
from other pursuits. What some indus
tries have lost in the changes in the
methods OF production and in the tastes
Of Consumers others have gained But
it suited the purpose Of the tariff mon
gers to carefully select a few branches
Of industry that have profitel by such
changes or have received II momentary
flip OF prosperity through the obstruct-
i've operation Of the Mckinley tariff.
The numerous industries that can show
~ A4ltI Ne1sG VI kt-N llI-4llS lOl ldDOI nave
been kept in the background in this pro-
cess Of manufacturing tariff statistics.
Had there been any pretense of an in
crease in the rates Of weekly wages in
industries enjoying the especial favor OF
McKinleyism the workingmen and WON.
en- would have risen up to give it q
prompt contradiction. All the profit has
gone into the pockets of the protected
manufacturers.
So far from corrobocating Commits
sioner Pecll's alleged statistics, this Plat
report contradicts it iiatly in an import
ant detail. In the summary to Peck.
report the manufacturers of agricultural
implements in New York show q de
crease in the payments of wages. In tn,
Platt statistics the Washington mills
manufacturers of agricultural imple
ments in New York, report an increas,
of 1873 per cent. in payments for labor
There is no doubt that by reason of tn,
abundant harvests in 1891 and 1892 othe
manufacturers of agricultural nipple
ments have also increased their business
This industry, however, owes nothin,
to protection. Many manufacturers O
agricultural implements, notably M. D
Harter, of Mansfield, o., and A. B. Far
Quhar. Of York, Pa. are ardent advo
Gates Of tariff reform.-Philadelphi
! RanorJ