The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-28

SaW York Not the Only state In when
Wages Have Been GIliaed-commis-lon-
or wRdliu, of Massachusetts, shows
What Has Been Done In That state.
BoGoa Weally Idgeritr.
The report Of Commissioner Wadlin,
just issued by the bureau OF statistics OF
labor, shows very conclusively that
New York is o the only state in which
the Mckinley tariff law has been fol-
lowed by a distinct and decided increase
in wages az well as by an evident season
OF prosperity Tor manufacturing inter-
ests in general. When the tariff OF 1890
was passed democratic orators asserted
vehemently that New England had
been sold out to Pennsylvania" and
that the interests OF New England
manufacturing industries had been
sacrificed to those Of other sec
tons. Whether this criticism wus
made Tor political purposes or not, is
perhaps not worth consideration ut this
late day. The fact remains, however,
that such comments have been shown
to have been unjust and basoless and
the report OF Commissioner Wadlin
clearly proves that under the Mckin-
ley tariff wages have risen in a decided
manner and that the protected indus
tries OF Massachusetts have been able
to pay on IN average nearly SAP TO
every workman in 1891 who received
but S43S in 1890. More than this tho
figures show that the Massachusetts, in
dusries were enabled TO turn out above
5000, 600 worth OF goods in 1891 more
than in 1890 and that employment was
given to over 24,000 persons, by this en-.
larged output, above the number en-
ployed in 1890.
The question OF wages is a very vital
one, and the TACT that Massachusetts
manufacturers paid out in 1891 about
81, 1886, 600 in wages more than they paid
in 1890 is q very noteworthy one. The
most important increase is to be found
in thccot:on goods industry, which paid
over 100000 more in wages in 1891
than was paid in 1890. The wooden
goods industry shows a wage advance
OF Sal, Ol0; the machinery industry, an
increase oil 100000; the paper and
paper goods, an advance OF $4,000.
The increase in wages would have been
still larger had it not been for n decrease
in the boot and shoe leather trades, in-
d;istries which have 'freeraw material
for their encouragement; and as those
industries have been affected by adverse
conditions in the last few years, it is
possible to find reasons in the Lynn
fire, the strikes, andother outside causes
to show that have been exceptionally
unfortunate. Even including these
branches OF manufacture, however, the
TACT remains that the total amount OF
wagos and the average yearly wages OF
Massachusetts workingmen have in
creased in a very decided and salts
factory manner
In regard 10 the industries them.
selves, also, apart from the standard OF
wages, there is a highly favorable show
ing. The increase in capital devoted to
production in 1891 was nearly Sl0,000.-
900, an increase OF 2.34 per cent, al
though the increase in the value. OF
stock used amounted to 2.77 per cent.
In other words the manufacturing in
dustries, while employing nearly 5000
more workmen while turning out a
larger mount OF product and while
paying higher wages to workmen, have
produced their goods ut prices which
are in many cases lower than before,
and yet at a fair profit. This is a show
ing that fatty and very plainly contra
diets by actual results the rather dis
NAL prophecies made in 1890; but it is a
showing which isquite in line with the
facts and figures published elsewhere
during the present year.
The fact is that the developments
which have taken place in Massachu-
sets have been found TO exist all owe
the country. Wages have risen here
under the Mckinley bill; but they have
risen in New York and elsewhere.
More men are employed in Massachu-
sets, and more are employed elsewhere;
prices OF the common articles of daily
use have fallen, not only in this state,
but in others; more money is being in
vested in manufacture outside oil, as well
as within, Massachusetts. In brief, the
general showing made by the report OF
Commissioner Wadlin corresponds
more or less closely with that given in
the report OF the New York bureau OF
statistics, and with the results of the
non-partisan investigation conducted
by Senators Carlisle, Aldrich and others
OF the committee on finance. Even il
Commissioner Wadlin were to be as
saulted as vigorously as Commissioner
Peck has been, the Massachusetts re-
port itself will Generally be taken as en-
iirely in accordance with the facts.